Question: Aluminum Boat Trailer (4500 lbs loaded) Can’t Take Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH)

[Dave-in-RI]

I’m set to pick-up a 22’ boat on a dual axle aluminum trailer that the manufacturer says cannot accept a WDH due to strain on the “Y” shape. It’s in their FAQ on the website, and I’d read that is the case for many aluminum boat trailers (vs galvanized steel boat trailers or other shape trailers, eg flatbeds, dumps etc). I have a stock 23 Gladiator Diesel Willy’s with 6500 lbs tow rating; loaded boat trailer 4500lbs. I’m assuming for quick math that the rear axle weight will be fine (will check later), but am considering adding both air bags and a mechanical sway control. If the increased weight on the rear axle from using air bags (it makes it more than just straight bumper carry, according to a video I watched that weighed with and without airbags) keeps me below the axle rating, and I use a sway control, do we think that’s sufficient? Overkill? Would one be better than the other if I only did one? Is straight bumper carry ok? The trailer has surge disc brakes but no controller. I considered sumo springs and similar but feel the air bags make more sense for my use case. I’ll be driving 8 highway hours to purchase this boat, and then back again, so it’s something I wanted to get right ahead of time. (Why? It’s a rare boat in this part of the world and the price is right). Thank you for any insight from people who have gone through this.

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[DiehardTory]

For my $0.02 .. I go with Airlift Bags on our roof top tent Gladiator to keep it level so we do not have to re-adjust the headlights; keep it at 5-10 lbs.. Have never pulled a trailer that long, the weight you indicated should not be an issue; however you did not discuss the Tongue weight. No experience on WDH setups. Good Luck safe travels.

 

[Dave-in-RI]

For my $0.02 .. I go with Airlift Bags on our roof top tent Gladiator to keep it level so we do not have to re-adjust the headlights; keep it at 5-10 lbs.. Have never pulled a trailer that long, the weight you indicated should not be an issue; however you did not discuss the Tongue weight. No experience on WDH setups. Good Luck safe travels.

Thank you. At 10% quick math that’s 450lbs, so two big boys on the tailgate having beers. It’ll sag down but I can’t imagine it’ll go way down. I just wanted to get a solution before going in case the thing disappoints and really looks unsafe. With a WDH I have no doubts it’d be fine as it’s rated for more. But not being able to use one, I’m expecting moderate sag based on this forum. Boat is a C-Dory 22 Cruiser, so more air drag than a runabout.

My hope is I do nothing, find it’s adequate, get it home, and solve the problem once I know all the variables. Maybe sumo springs would be fine, or air bags are extremely indicated; etc.. I just want to be able to leave the guys yard ha

 

[RudeJeepin]

Thank you. At 10% quick math that’s 450lbs, so two big boys on the tailgate having beers. It’ll sag down but I can’t imagine it’ll go way down. I just wanted to get a solution before going in case the thing disappoints and really looks unsafe. With a WDH I have no doubts it’d be fine as it’s rated for more. But not being able to use one, I’m expecting moderate sag based on this forum. Boat is a C-Dory 22 Cruiser, so more air drag than a runabout.

My hope is I do nothing, find it’s adequate, get it home, and solve the problem once I know all the variables. Maybe sumo springs would be fine, or air bags are extremely indicated; etc.. I just want to be able to leave the guys yard ha

Could be up to 15% for the tongue weight. Any chance the current owner knows the tongue weight? Or maybe the trailer/boat manufacturer?

That is a good looking boat. Normally I'd suggest to just go get it, but 8hrs on the HWY. That's a long tow if it's not setup right, or close to it. Any chance for a different tow vehicle for the initial pickup? Maybe even a rental.

 

[grein46087]

I’m set to pick-up a 22’ boat on a dual axle aluminum trailer that the manufacturer says cannot accept a WDH due to strain on the “Y” shape. It’s in their FAQ on the website, and I’d read that is the case for many aluminum boat trailers (vs galvanized steel boat trailers or other shape trailers, eg flatbeds, dumps etc). I have a stock 23 Gladiator Diesel Willy’s with 6500 lbs tow rating; loaded boat trailer 4500lbs. I’m assuming for quick math that the rear axle weight will be fine (will check later), but am considering adding both air bags and a mechanical sway control. If the increased weight on the rear axle from using air bags (it makes it more than just straight bumper carry, according to a video I watched that weighed with and without airbags) keeps me below the axle rating, and I use a sway control, do we think that’s sufficient? Overkill? Would one be better than the other if I only did one? Is straight bumper carry ok? The trailer has surge disc brakes but no controller. I considered sumo springs and similar but feel the air bags make more sense for my use case. I’ll be driving 8 highway hours to purchase this boat, and then back again, so it’s something I wanted to get right ahead of time. (Why? It’s a rare boat in this part of the world and the price is right). Thank you for any insight from people who have gone through this.

Go with an Airlift bags. I had these installed on my Chevrolet and was the best upgrade I did on that ever, and now the airlift company just came out with a product for Gladiators this is my next upgrade for my Mojave. and to make it even nicer a a pump with remote control to air up or down on the fly

https://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/57415
https://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/25980EZ

 

[ivanfrank]

Traditional rental car companies don’t allow towing with their vehicles, it would have to be a U-Haul and if its an 8 hour drive that means a lot of $$ in mileage charge.

Really comes down to tongue weight. Keep the truck bed and rear seats completely empty, one passenger for assist should be fine. If you can shift the boat slightly back in its trailer even better

Also if its 8 hours as per google then its going to be closer to 10+ hours towing as you’re not going to feel 100% comfortable going full interstate speeds as you get passed by truckers.

you’ll be fine for the initial tow but consider an alternative boat trailer that can take a WDH. With our travel trailer with aluminum frame, they added reinforcement plates for wdh

 

[kevman65]

Okay, spitball time.

Buy a ticket for a jet ride. Rent whatever U-Haul truck/van that is rated to tow the boat, one way back home.
Get it home and do the goes intos and such and figure out exactly what you need.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I’m set to pick-up a 22’ boat on a dual axle aluminum trailer that the manufacturer says cannot accept a WDH due to strain on the “Y” shape. It’s in their FAQ on the website, and I’d read that is the case for many aluminum boat trailers (vs galvanized steel boat trailers or other shape trailers, eg flatbeds, dumps etc). I have a stock 23 Gladiator Diesel Willy’s with 6500 lbs tow rating; loaded boat trailer 4500lbs. I’m assuming for quick math that the rear axle weight will be fine (will check later), but am considering adding both air bags and a mechanical sway control. If the increased weight on the rear axle from using air bags (it makes it more than just straight bumper carry, according to a video I watched that weighed with and without airbags) keeps me below the axle rating, and I use a sway control, do we think that’s sufficient? Overkill? Would one be better than the other if I only did one? Is straight bumper carry ok? The trailer has surge disc brakes but no controller. I considered sumo springs and similar but feel the air bags make more sense for my use case. I’ll be driving 8 highway hours to purchase this boat, and then back again, so it’s something I wanted to get right ahead of time. (Why? It’s a rare boat in this part of the world and the price is right). Thank you for any insight from people who have gone through this.

You don't "need" mechanical sway control.
Most boat trailers around here don't run WDH = and I don't run it on my car hauler and the manufacturer says "DO NOT RUN WDH ON OUR TRAILERS!"
And it's been totally fine.
I did install air bags in my last JT - a 2022 Overland and have a set to put in my Mojave to prevent sag, but that's it.
These have computer-controlled sway control - and it works fine.
If you have things properly loaded in and on the boat and trailer, it should resist sway anyway.
Air bags make more sense for towing - you can fine tune them as needed with air pressure.
I did tow my car hauler without air bags - but it sagged enough I was getting headlights flashed at me at night. Not horrible, but annoying and it just wasn't right.
My car hauler with car and tools and straps is about 5,000 pounds. I used a scale and got it configured to about 525 tongue weight. (10% is fine) and it towed just fine, 30 psi air in the bags, it sat level, no headlight issues.

I would use a receiver type hitch - you can control or adjust the height of the ball to keep the TRAILER level. That's important. If it rides too low up front, weight shifts to the front. If the tongue is too high, then the trailer is butt-heavy.

I hate bumper ball setups - you just can't control how level the trailer tows, and that is important as well as other things.
You may be ok - could be that trailer is built so it tows fine with a bumper mounted ball, but a receiver type gives you a lot more options.

I literally used an 8 foot level on the trailer to make sure things were - well - level -

 

[JeepinPete]

Airbags are cheap insurance for the 8hr tow. Maybe you don't need them, you're out $150. If you do, that is going to be a miserable drive home.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Airbags are cheap insurance for the 8hr tow. Maybe you don't need them, you're out $150. If you do, that is going to be a miserable drive home.

About $110 on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z45CDR9

 

[Gladiatorguy]

Follow what ivanfrank and Shadowspapa said. I tow my 26’, 6,000 lb sailboat with a WDH, no problem, hd galvanized trailer. Sway control not likely needed, especially on a 2-axle trailer. The boat actually tows better than my 3,000 lb single-axle camper. I thought about air bags, but didn’t go that route. I added a light-duty WDH just this year to the camper for a cross-country trip. I was a little concerned about stress on the trailer frame, since it is only a steel c-channel. So far, no signs of fatigue. Previously no WDH and no problem towing, but I adjusted my headlights aim down. A word of caution, if the trailer has torsion axles (like Dexter or similar), make sure you are towing level so you don’t overload one pair of trailer tires.

 

[bgott]

I’m set to pick-up a 22’ boat on a dual axle aluminum trailer that the manufacturer says cannot accept a WDH due to strain on the “Y” shape. It’s in their FAQ on the website, and I’d read that is the case for many aluminum boat trailers (vs galvanized steel boat trailers or other shape trailers, eg flatbeds, dumps etc). I have a stock 23 Gladiator Diesel Willy’s with 6500 lbs tow rating; loaded boat trailer 4500lbs. I’m assuming for quick math that the rear axle weight will be fine (will check later), but am considering adding both air bags and a mechanical sway control. If the increased weight on the rear axle from using air bags (it makes it more than just straight bumper carry, according to a video I watched that weighed with and without airbags) keeps me below the axle rating, and I use a sway control, do we think that’s sufficient? Overkill? Would one be better than the other if I only did one? Is straight bumper carry ok? The trailer has surge disc brakes but no controller. I considered sumo springs and similar but feel the air bags make more sense for my use case. I’ll be driving 8 highway hours to purchase this boat, and then back again, so it’s something I wanted to get right ahead of time. (Why? It’s a rare boat in this part of the world and the price is right). Thank you for any insight from people who have gone through this.

My ‘23 Willys has Electronic Trailer Sway Control listed on the window sticker. Don’t they all have it? Stick some air bags in the rear springs to get the headlights down and bring it home.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My ‘23 Willys has Electronic Trailer Sway Control listed on the window sticker. Don’t they all have it? Stick some air bags in the rear springs to get the headlights down and bring it home.

Yes, they do all have it, as do many other vehicles today with ABS and traction control. It's quite interesting how it works.

 

[Dave-in-RI]

Thanks, everyone. I’ll look into what’s involved with adding airbags myself or if that’s an appointment somewhere. I use the receiver hitch frequently for light trailers but will need to get an adjustable drop hitch so I can set it so the trailer is level post-sag. Appreciate the tip about not overloading one axle; I’ve only towed single axle prior.

Great group.

 

[HueCity0846]

My Mohave sagged too much with 450# on the tongue and Airlift bags were the answer. No need for sway control and follow trailer manufacturers warning on WDH.

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