kells4

Bought a new 23.6 Grady White and a 25 Road King trailer I slid the Crank post back to distribute the weight on the tongue; but it still seems to put too much pressure on the hitch. My Lexus GX 460 rides low with the boat attached. I was thinking of getting a Reese hitch that angles upward to off set the weight distribution.
Any advice is appreciated. The vehicle has a 7,000 lb towing capacity.
Thanks all

HTJ

With some fuel/tackle/junk in the boat plus the trailer you're at 6K on the hoof if not more....unless you're making really short (and infrequent) tows you need to look for a truck - just not much way around that.

In the interim you can slide the axles forward 6" or so to get some weight off the car.

RD1234

Can you loosen the bolts on the winch post and slide it back some therefore moving the boat back on the trailer some?

Door#3

Totally agree.

Plus there are lies, damn lies and advertised towing capacities.

I really wouldn't want to ruin that really nice car by towing a boat of size with it :-)

jeffnick

I towed with a Crown Vic that had the same problem. Air springs did the job for me. Pump them up while towing, bleed them off for normal driving.

gem58

From what I read, your vehicle weighs about 5300# with a gvwr of 6600#, therefore, your cargo (people + luggage + tongue weight) can weigh about 1300#.

Your max tow is 6500# with a max tongue weight of hitch is 500#. So, any tongue weight would reduce cargo (ie 1300-500= 800) by same.

Road King states that a boat on their trailer should have a tongue weight of between 3% to 7%. My trailer manufacturer gives a 5% to 7%. But the important part is to know boat trailers are not like travel trailers or equipment trailers which recommend 10% to 12% or more. I would guess that you have to much time weight .... But, I'm sorry to say, if you are correct about the 7000# boat, you may not have enough vehicle.

There are many more factors like GCVR and axle weights, but I don't believe these will be a factor for you ... you first need to get these in line.

There are several good articles and forum threads that can be found ... make sure they concern "boat" trailers as there are differences.

Good luck to you.

8gv

When I got my new boat this spring the trailer set up was not good.

Speaking with the tech service guy at Venture I learned:

1) Get the ball up higher. 22" was the ideal for my model.

2) On Venture trailers one can easily adjust the axle position because there are no fixed locations for the mounts.

Also...

3) If you move the winch post back you should remount the bunks (if you have bunks) so that they still extend a bit beyond the transom. You don't want the hull to get an undesigned hook.

Takes Prizoners

your towing capacity without a weight distribution hitch is 5000lbs. You're 3900lbs on the hull. Add 600lbs for a single motor. Then 700lbs full of fuel. Plus whatever gear you add. You're looking at 5200lbs+

phillyg

Weigh the tongue to make sure you're no more than 500lbs. Need pictures to see what you can do if your tongue is over.

HS2300

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Please provide a picture of the boat/trailer only (not attached to truck) and then attached to the truck.

The pictures should be good side views.

Gmart

Plus add 1200lbs for the trailer...

HTJ

And X for weighty options like a hard top, 2nd battery etc, it adds up quick.

I have a similar size/weight boat now - moved it 100 yards once with a Tahoe - no way I would take off down the highway with that or other family wagon. OP's Lexus is a great ride but out of it's paygrade here.

kells4

Thanks all for our great responses.

8gv

I took my boat to the town transfer station (dump) on a quiet day.

The boat with motor and a full tank of gas, sitting on its trailer weighed in at 3,150#.

I measured the height of my ball and set up a scale at that height.

It weighed 285# which is 9% of the total.

It rides just fine.

BillTex

Tongue weight is your friend for safe towing. Give your Wife her car back and use your truck for towing the boat.

captpepin

Like stated before do you have pics?

Probably not enough truck. You could look at adjusting your axels or one axel a little forward bunks and winch post back etc.

Lt.mike

going a little heavy on tongue weight is a lot safer than going to light.
If you move that center of gravity too far back on the trailer to lighten the tongue weight you risk that death wobble.
Having experienced it once and make it out safe you’ll never risk it again.
It’s a sick and scary thing.
Besides an improper weight distribution speed also plays a huge factor.

rdiesel01

this should pretty much sum it up

Harpoon

Are you pulling a Grady White Gulfstream ? I have experience there, it ends up somewhere near 7500lbs or so all-in. I'm not sure a different hitch will be very helpful.
On that note, if you just put in and out at either side of the season you can rent an F250 for about 130.00 per day at Enterprise.

A 150/1500 or Tundra tows a Gulfstream very nicely also.

Takes Prizoners

"Dangerous" is towing with a Mustang. Lol