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I just read in a boating magazine, feature on trailering, (actually with the new Honda truck, rated at 5,000lbs) that the installation of a weight distributing hitch (writer had it done at U-Haul for about $350) will elimiate some of the rock and roll experienced going over bumps and stopping. Recommended that it would help in most cases where the boat/trailer was over 50% of the maximum rating. In my case, I am going to pull a Seahunt 212 CC, with tandem EZ Loader trailer. I figure weight is about 4,300 lbs. My 4-Runner is rated to 5,000. I won't trailer it a lot, but want to be safe.
Who has experience with weight distributing hitches? I called 2 local U-Haul places who deal with hitches and it was clear that they didn't know much about them.
A weight distributing hitch sole purpose is to relieve tongue weight. That's why you see a dead weight rating for the different class of hitches along with weight distributing weight.
For instance a vehicle is rated to tow 8,000lbs. The class III hitch used on this vehicle is rated at a dead weight of 5,000tow, tongue weight 500 (10%). The same setup on a class III will allow 8,000 tow with 800lbs tongue using weight distributing configuration. Why because the WD setup relives the 800lb tongue weight to no more then 500lbs by distributing the load to the frame of the truck. This is why the up and down wave motion is relieved less tongue weight. The reason they use 500lbs and 800lbs respectively is because this is the rule of thumb for tongue weight, 10% of the total tow weight. In the boating world you should be able to tow with 5% to 7% of your total tow weight. The 10% rule was devised by the RV world. So if you can tow your boat safely at 5% tongue weight the weight distributing hitch will have less of an effect. It still will relieve tongue weight but there is a point to which there is no more gain.
I put a weight distribution hitch on my old 1975 convertable Caprice Classic back in the days when I was younger, thinner, single and had a 24' heavy CC to lug around. What a rig. The weight distribution hitch was the best investment I made. I had to use those monster torsion bars (is that the word?) to attach the hitch to the trailer. Made a world of difference in the ride and also was a terrific safety measure on long hauls. It also was awesome helping to pull the boat out of the water on bad ramps. Can't tell you how many laughs I got backing the old rag top down some crappy ramps with crowds of people watching (and some making rude remarks). But they all shut their pie-holes when I pulled the boat out with no slips on the ramp. Never once had a problem. Would do it again in a heart beat.
Weight distributing hitches can make a huge difference. The up and down part has already been discussed, but you should also mention the side to side changes. A weight distributing hitch also tends to cut down on sway.
For those who haven't seen one up close, picture two horizontal metal rods sticking out of your trailer hitch in a V, with the point of the V near the ball and the rods extending out and back towards the boat. Now after the trailer coupler is attached on the ball, the two rods are a few inches below the trailer frame and parallel to it. The rods are then connected to the trailer with chains, so that the chains try to pull the rods up. The ball acts as a fulcrum and the net effect is to move weight from the rear axle to the front axle.
If you have surge brakes, make sure the design you choose doesn't restrict the brake actuation from working. I have surge brakes, searched around and bought an "Equalizer" system. It has helped a lot, and my brakes still work. http://www.hitchsource.com/equalizer.php
__________________ PAX River, MD
Fisheye
Channel 69
Thanks guys, great answers. That helps a lot. It has surge brakes, so the equalizer may be a better solution. Maybe I should call EZ Loader, talk to them.
Weight distributing hitch? 
