I have a 06 F-150 4x4 SuperCrew that I bought brand new. I got it with a 5.4, 3.73 rear end, and the trailer tow package. According to Ford Web Site: Includes Class IV trailer hitch receiver, 7-pin wiring harness, upgraded radiator and upgraded auxiliary transmission oil cooler (requires 4.6L or 5.4L Triton® V8). My issue is the rating sticker on the actual hitch shows only a 500# tongue/5000# trailer weight for a weight carrying hitch (900/9000 for weight distributing). Has anyone else seen this? I am getting ready so start pulling my new boat this spring that will be around 6300# on a tandem axle trailer. Tongue weight should be less than 600#, probably closer to 500. Any thoughts or suggestions as to if I should be worried about the factory hitch?

 

The tongue weight should be 8-15% of trailer weight loaded. With that it makes it over 500, even at 8%. You will be far better off with a WD hitch. Also need brakes on the trailer.

 

I was under the impression on a boat trailer the tongue weight was normally 6-10% on average of the total weight. The trailer is a new Rolco Custom Signature tandem axle trailer with surge brakes. I've been considering a Weight Distributing hitch, but I've been hearing bad things about using them with surge brake trailers.

http://www.rolcotrailers.com/custom.html

 

Some hitches will work.

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/produc...patibility.php

Also, "technically" surge brakes are not legal per DOT.

But as the article states, they will continue to be used.

http://www.redtrailers.com/ShowArticle.asp?id=2

 

Get a WD hitch, a brake controller, and a trailer with real brakes, not surge brakes. Ideal tongue weight is 12% of the total trailer weight.

 

X2, that is the right way to go.

 

In my state (can't speak for others) trailers with weight exceeding 3,000 pounds must have real brakes... electric or hydraulic are your choices?

 

Would you want to take the tension off of the spring arms before dropping the boat in the water? I would think that would be alot of tension supporting the 4500# of boat on the trailer and then immediatley not having a load on the trailer I would think could lead to some problems.