Wired2Cruze
Member
- Jun 11, 2010
- 122
- Boat Info
- 1996 Sundancer 250, Garmin 431S GPS, towed by 2006 Dodge durango
- Engines
- 5.7L Merc w/BravoIII
I'm shopping for a WD hitch to balance out pulling my soon-to-be-picked up 1996 250DA with a 1997 Ford Explorer.
I'm figuring on a tow weight of approximately 7500-8000 lbs on a 1997 Eagle tandem-axle.
The Explorer can handle about 6500 lbs, if using a WD hitch.
(Yes I know my vehicle is under-rated, but I don't plan on towing very far until I can upgrade it).
I'll be towing it just 2 miles from where the boat will be stored to the ramp, but I will be taking one trip this summer to Lake Erie, about 120 miles away.
I figured better safe than sorry, so get a hitch for that trip, and I can use it in the future with another tow vehicle.
I've done a fair amount of research, and I'm looking at a Valley hitch rated at 800 TW/ 8000 GTW.
BUT it seems that every Curt WD hitch sold has a disclaimer that it is NOT compatible with trailers using surge brakes.
Curt sells both the round bar and trunnion bar types, which look basically the same as the hitches sold by Reese, Valley, Draw-tite, etc.
I know that using an anti-sway bar prevents the surge mechanism from functioning properly, but I don't see this added on the Curt hitches as standard equipment.
My questions:
1. Are most WD hitches compatible with trailers equipped with surge brakes (as long as they don't include an anti-sway bar)?
2. Is there something in the design of Curt hitches that prevents the compression/return of surge mechanism? (or are they just being extra careful to avoid potential litigation)?
Sorry for the lengthy post, I just don't want to do something that results in a dangerous situation.
Thanks
I'm figuring on a tow weight of approximately 7500-8000 lbs on a 1997 Eagle tandem-axle.
The Explorer can handle about 6500 lbs, if using a WD hitch.
(Yes I know my vehicle is under-rated, but I don't plan on towing very far until I can upgrade it).
I'll be towing it just 2 miles from where the boat will be stored to the ramp, but I will be taking one trip this summer to Lake Erie, about 120 miles away.
I figured better safe than sorry, so get a hitch for that trip, and I can use it in the future with another tow vehicle.
I've done a fair amount of research, and I'm looking at a Valley hitch rated at 800 TW/ 8000 GTW.
BUT it seems that every Curt WD hitch sold has a disclaimer that it is NOT compatible with trailers using surge brakes.
Curt sells both the round bar and trunnion bar types, which look basically the same as the hitches sold by Reese, Valley, Draw-tite, etc.
I know that using an anti-sway bar prevents the surge mechanism from functioning properly, but I don't see this added on the Curt hitches as standard equipment.
My questions:
1. Are most WD hitches compatible with trailers equipped with surge brakes (as long as they don't include an anti-sway bar)?
2. Is there something in the design of Curt hitches that prevents the compression/return of surge mechanism? (or are they just being extra careful to avoid potential litigation)?
Sorry for the lengthy post, I just don't want to do something that results in a dangerous situation.
Thanks