Towing capacity

[phdoc]

I am in the market to get a 1977 22' O'Day boat (4 hp outboard, too) and I was wondering if my 2003 Kia Sorrento (4WD) would be able to handle the towing of the boat from lake to lake. I live in the Finger Lakes region of NYS and would rather trailer sail than dock the boat. The towing capacity of the Sorrento is listed as 3500 pounds. I currently tow a camper that weighs 3450 pounds without any problem.
Bill

 

[Steve677]

Should be fine...

An O'Day 22 on a trailer is just under 3,000 lbs. Shouldn't be a problem.

 

[George]

Towing

This question comes up frequently. Yes, you are probably in the ball park, but since you've weighed your camper and know the exact weight, why not weigh the boat also?

An easy condition of purchase would be to require the seller to provide a certified weigh ticket.

More on this subject at: http://h260.com/travel/travel.html

 

[Big Windy]

Weight

Don't forget to check the GCWR, it is important as the towing capcity of your truck.

 

[Patrick S/V Shangra-La]

Check the owners manual

It will tell you your towing capacity.

 

[Recess]

Weight Distribution system

If you have a class IV hitch, just add a wieght distribution system and you will be more than covered as far having that trailer behind you under tow. Brakes would be a real good idea too for better stopping and control.

I have a very similar Reese hitch set up on my truck and my O'Day 25 tracks right behind my truck. No wiggle at all when passed by a Semi or other large truck. The three point connection makes it really solid behind you. For $250, you get a lot of ease in towing any trailer.

 

[George]

Weight Distribution Hitch

If you have surge brakes on your trailer the conventional equilizer hitch is not your best choice.

More at this link: http://h260.com/travel/travel.html

 

[Recess]

The advice on that page is very dependent

on how your boat trailer is constructed. My boat trailer is more heavy duty than the one showed in those pictures. I have two beams that come together right by the trailer hitch. That eual-i-zer system would never work on my boat trailer. That trailer has a single beam that goes rather far back. A three point hitch would never work for that trailer set up. It is pretty straight forward that you disconnect the bars on a three point hitch if you are backing the trailer in a tight turn or if you are backing it down a ramp where the trailer will pivot hard against the bars.

 

[George]

Equalizer Hitch

There are two basic type of trailers, the "A" frame and the "Pole" frame. The latter is more commonly used on boats the latter is used on travel trailers.

The Equalizer Hitch works on both "A" the "Pole" type. Here's a picture of the hitch set up for use on "A" frame trailers.

More on this hitch at this link:

 

[George]

Equalizer Hitch

There are two basic type of trailers, the "A" frame and the "Pole" frame. The latter is more commonly used on boats the former is used on travel trailers.

The Equalizer Hitch works on both "A" the "Pole" type. Here's a picture of the hitch set up for use on "A" frame trailers.

More on this hitch at this link:

 

[George]

Equalizer Hitch

Good Point. If you look closely you'll see that the Equalizer Hitch is designed specifically for your trailer.

There are two basic type of trailers, the "A" frame and the "Pole" frame. The latter is more commonly used on boats the former is used on travel trailers.

The Equalizer Hitch works on both "A" the "Pole" type. Here's a picture of the hitch set up for use on "A" frame trailers.

This link shows the hitch used on pole type trailers. http://h260.com/equilizer_hitch/equalizer.html

More on the Equaliz-zer hitch at this link: http://www.equalizerhitch.com/

There are significant savings to be achieved by shopping around.

 

[Recess]

I think they are both good systems

I guess the thing that stands out to me is the claim on that page that a Reese weight distribution system is not designed to work with surge brakes. I checked it on some Reese sights and found they do make systems for surge brakes. I think the splitting of the hairs is when you incorperate a seperate sway bar, from what I read on a towing forum. When I towed my boat trailer I found that my added sway bar was at too tight of an angle with the boat A frame and the three point system prevented any sway, so I did not use the additional sway bar. I need the additional sway bar with my horse trailer because of shifting weight.

I have no doubt the Equalizer hitch is a good hitch. I just think the person that put together the page for the Hunter trailer went a bit far with their recomendation of one over the other.

For me, I already had the Reese for my horse trailer and and camper that I own.

Using an additional weight distribution system makes a rather significant difference in towing. If I was buying for just a trailer with surge brakes I would want a system designed specifically for it. I am not sure that knocks Reese out of the picture. Another aspect is availablity. We snapped a part of the hitch once in Saint Augustine when I missed the turn in to Anastasia park, I went a little further up the road to the light house to turn around and the turn was soo tight, it snapped a piece where one of the bar connects. I took it to a local shop and they could not weld it because it was poured from a mold. I needed to get the piece and they had it in stock.

 

[Capt. Kermie]

Wheel Base

Does anyone factor in the wheel base required for towing?
A rule of thumb recommended in the RV towing industry is 110" of wheel base for the first 20' of trailer and 4" of additional wheel base for every foot of trailer there after. Of course a boat can be lighter and more aerodynamic with the pointed bow so one could modify the RV specs somewhat. I noticed a huge difference going from towing with a 100" wheelbase on my Chevy Blazer to 129" wheelbase on my newer Trailblazer.