Trailer hitch

[Shad_Master]

Last week end I pulled a guy's boat to the lake with my truck.  His trailer set higher than mine and bottomed out before we covered the ball.  So we reversed the ball and now it sits higher but will still hook up to my trailer.  He said that boats tow easier if they sit higher.  Is this so? How come?

[kybassangler]

I am just the opposite I want mine as low as it can ride without damage. This for me is about loading and unloading. If you have a reese hitch you can get an adjustable drawbar, that would make it easy.

[R520dvx]

I believe the proper height is level to SLIGHTLY high in the front.

[CGH]

New one to me, but lets play with this theory for a sec....   :

Boats ride better on plane, and when they are on plane only the rear portion of the boat is in the water, and the rest of the boat is out of the water floating on a cusion of air (at least that how it seams to me)

Maybe this is what cause a boat that is higher in the front at the ball hitch to pull better.  They catch the air and act as an airfoil (wing) and provide lift making them ride lighter on the trailer and somewhat given the driver of the tow vehicle the feeling that they are pulling a lighter load.

Now, under other side of that coin is the fact that if this is waht is actualy happening then your boat is literaly fling on the road surface and is just seconds away from disaster!!   Also i would guess that it would cause you to burn more gas due to that 500 to 1500+ pound kite that you have hitched to the back of the tow vehcile.

Me I try and tow with all thing level to include the tow vehicle.  that way i would hope that I will have generate no air tuburlance or less of it and just slip through the wind ristance and get to where ever it is that i am going.

I could be wrong, more than likely wrong but hey I rater take a S.A.G (Smart Azz Guess)at it than to leave you hanging  

[kybassangler]

If you can get the boat in the water and then get it home I can't really see a wrong answer here.

[cart7t]

By raising the trailer up at the tow vehicle you're shifting the weight distribution to the rear of the trailer. This is a no-no and is the primary cause of sway which in extreme cases can lead to loss of control of the tow vehicle.  Dropping the trailer lower than the vehicle shifts the weight distribution forward which can lead to steering problems in emergency braking situations or steering problems period on winding roads.  

Ideally, your boat should be level with the tow vehicle.

Trailer Loading

The way you load the trailer can determine how easy you can tow it. While loading, keep in mind that the tongue weight should be 10% to 15% of the overall trailer weight. One of the main causes of trailer sway is not having a large enough percentage of trailer tongue weight compared to gross trailer weight. To help prevent the trailer from swaying back and forth, a few things can be done. Try placing heavier cargo in the front of the trailer, ahead of the trailer's axle. Also center the cargo left-to-right and use tie-downs to keep the load from sliding.

Trailer Sway can also lead to a loss of vehicle control. When starting out with a new load on a trailer, make sure it will not sway by gradually increasing your speed in intervals until highway speed is reached. If the trailer does begin to sway, try adjusting the cargo and equipment accordingly and then repeat the test. If repositioning the load and equipment did not help reduce the sway, a sway control or a weight distribution system with sway control may be needed.

http://www.etrailer.com/faq_trailertowtips.aspx

[HPBB]

I try to keep my trailers riding level.

I have two boats, and two SUV's that I tow with

One of my  boat trailers sits higher than the other, and one of my SUV's sits higher. so depending on what SUV and what trailer is being towed. I have two draw bars one has the ball low and one has the ball high and use what ever combo lets the trailer sit level

[Triton21]

When I bought my boat the owners manuel for the trailer stated that the trailer tounge should be 16 inches from the ground.  I got a drawbar for my reese hitch that matched that hieght and it tows great.  Towed it to Fork from E Central Illinios last March without a wiggle.

Kelley

[jdw174]

Dead level is the only way to fly.  Can't tell you the number of boats I've seen going down the highway (and other trailers as well) that were too high/low and were all over the road.  Not a good thing.

[RobDar]

Last week end I pulled a guy's boat to the lake with my truck. His trailer set higher than mine and bottomed out before we covered the ball. So we reversed the ball and now it sits higher but will still hook up to my trailer. He said that boats tow easier if they sit higher. Is this so? How come?

a balanced load is best...level to slight high is correct...well if that is how you get a balanced load.

people say high is better because it moves the center of gravity backwards, taking weight off the tongue...but that does not mean that high is the best way to tow.

Too much weight forward and too much weight on the tongue makes the rear end feel sloppy and you get alot of drift and draw when towing. ( or...like in my father in laws case...you just may need new truck LOL!) You see these guys all the time going down the highway with campers and moving trailers...they change lanes and the trailer weaves back and forth, back and forth, for the next quarter mile or so. Or every touch of the wheel sends the trailer weaving back and forth...

that is a sign of an unbalanced towing load, overloading, or a crappy truck! LOL!

Having the load too high with actually pull up on the rear end and effect your traction...not to mentions that the trailer is not designed to hold weight that way. Hard on the trailer reciever...bearings...bunks...