Choosing the perfect hitch for a boat trailer can relieve stress and discomfort. So, you must know which is the best fit when you need one.
Because many hitch types exist today with various sizes and performances, you need an eagle eye to spot the one that will give you an optimal performance.
Consequently, following a series of exhaustive research and testing, we have developed this helpful guide that can enable you to understand how hitches for boat trailers work and how to choose the perfect one suitable for any boat trailer.
Factors To Consider Before Procuring The Perfect Hitch for A Boat Trailer
When you weigh the risks and frustrations associated with getting the wrong boat trailer hitch, you will agree with me that the only option left for you is to make the right choice, irrespective of the hassle the process of selection might pose.
You will learn that cost implication is one of many elements you should be concerned with during this process.
In this expository episode, we have explored a list of factors necessary for consideration when deciding on the boat trailer hitch most suitable for you.
Drawbars
One of the major areas you need to look closely at is the hole size in the drawbar. This part links the trailer to the truck.
The gap in the drawbar should be a manageable width so that while it allows for easy connection with the vehicle, it should also prevent significant damage that could arise when something is trapped in it.
Importantly, you should ensure the proper amount of drop or rise, hence balance regarding your drawbar.
Such a balance can save your device from encountering severe damage inside since the mechanism is prevented from a one-sided orientation.
Hitch Ball Mounts
Another critical component of your boat trailer hitch you should focus on while deciding is the hitch ball mount.
The hitch ball mount should be simple to connect the boat effortlessly, thereby saving your time or energy, which could be expended while assembling it for action.
Additionally, it must be sufficiently strong since it connects the trailer to your vehicle. A weak or faulty hitch ball mount cannot support the boat’s weight or any hitch-mounted load mover it drags.
Ball Size
The diameter of the hitch ball is known as the ball size. Provided you want the perfect hitch for your boat trailer, it is imperative that the hitch ball size appropriately matches your boat trailer’s coupler.
A 4-inch ball cannot fit perfectly with a boat trailer with a 3-inch coupler; hence, you risk damaging the fundamental components in such a scenario.
Therefore, you should contact your vehicle’s manufacturer or visit your vehicle’s owner’s manual if you are still determining the actual ball size you need for your boat trailer’s coupler.
Weight Capacity
Your boat trailer is rated for the combined weight of the boat and the trailer labeled on it.
This is critically the overall performance indicator as the combined effects of frame construction, tire capacities, and axle ratings determine it.
This spec is alternatively known as the gross trailer weight (GTW), and it’s an essential scorecard on which to base your selection when you’re prospecting to buy a new boat trailer.
You can determine whether a specific trailer has a suitable GTW specification by contacting your boatbuilder, trailer shop, or dealer.
Hitches for Carrying Load
The Weight Carrying Hitch (WCH) is the most predominant type for towing trailers, particularly for big boats. Based on the combined weight of the boat and trailer, the WCH is categorized into different classes.
It is also essential that you know what kind of WCH that is best suited for you.
What Best Class Trailer Hitch Is Best Suited For A Boat
Class III
Consider class III receivers for trailer-boaters towing loads up to 5,000 pounds. However, if you are interested in those with larger rigs, look out for a heavy-duty aftermarket Class IV or Class V hitch.
Class IV
Unlike Class III receivers which are most applicable for towing lesser loads, Class IV frame-mounted receiver hitches are graded 10,000 pounds GTW and 1,000 pounds TW in weight carrying capacity.
The GTW and TW ratings are improved by Class IV hitches’ weight distribution mode to 14,000 and 1,400 pounds.
However, this class of receiver hitches has a load-carrying capacity restricted to a drawbar 2 inches square and is most predominant on full-size trucks.
Class V
The Class V receiver hitches are graded for 12,000 pounds GTW and 1200 pounds TW; hence they are most applicable for heavyweight vehicles.
The matching drawbar is 212 inches square, which denotes an expansion size. The trailer lights can glow to 17,000 pounds GTW and 1,700 pounds TW by incorporating the Weight distribution system (WDS).
Top 5 Best Trailer Hitch For Towing A Boat
B&W Tow & Stow 14,500 GTW – TS20048B
The B&W TS20048B is the best hitch for a boat trailer. The B&W has been in the business of making goods for towing vehicles for over two decades now.
This hitch for the trailer has a 5-inch drop and a 14,500-pound hauling capability at its peak performance and is heavyweight, fashioned to operate with 2.5-inch receivers.
The B&W has reinforced strong trust among its customers owing to commendable customer service and first-class merchandise, which have boosted patronage.
They utilize artisans and novel technology to manufacture their products. The Turnoverball TM gooseneck, which has transformed and modernized the business, is their most prevalent gooseneck hitch in the USA.
This brand, just like most producers of gooseneck hitches, currently utilize tow balls storage and mounting technique.
Rugged
This American-Trailer Hitch product, fabricated using steel that resists corrosion, has high strength, making it more durable.
It consists of two strata of protection viz an e-coat and ironclad black powder coat, and it withstands the harshest conditions due to its durability.
Adjustable
The Ball Mount Trailer Hitch can be adjusted in height for level hauling. The adjustment is configured for the two stainless steel adjustment pins to amend the hitch to the perfect position to enable the best combination of the vehicle and trailer to be made.
Effortlessly revolve the ball assembly to swap between ball sizes. Stow the hitch under your vehicle to avoid striking your shin or the garage door when towing is completed.
USA Made
The Tow & Stow Adjustable Ball Mount Trailer Hitch is produced and coupled entirely in America.
Pros
- Heavyweight. This product performs when it comes to endurance and durability.
- Modifiable heights for pulling trailers of diverse heights.
- Versatility due to multiple ball sizes.
Cons
- Care must be taken to select the correct size that fits the receiver because some products may come in bigger sizes.
General Evaluation
The Tow & Stow adjustable ball mount trailer hitch allows you to swap ball sizes due to its versatility.
As a result, the reliability of this equipment gives the user confidence and enablement to do a great job.
Weigh Safe 180 Adjustable
The Weigh Safe 180-degree Hitch Chrome Edition is widely regarded as the best-rugged drop hitch on the market.
It is fashioned to perform flawlessly with all your trailers while offering you the best towing satisfaction.
Additionally, it is easily adjustable and has a heavyweight towing capacity.
A critical feature of this product is its first-rate aluminum, which will give it appreciable durability.
It also features an array of hitch ball sizes, fostering adaptability.
Consequently, snow-elimination processes that use magnesium chloride instead salt are friendlier to the environment.
Adjustable ball mount
This 10 Inch drop hitch allows the user to tow trailers of several heights with the matching car, making it an excellent adjustable Trailer Hitch Ball Mount.
All our locks come ordinary with a modified fitted mud cowl to lengthen endurance and durability.
This drop hitch features a conventional Safe ball mount with a mighty Dual Lock that protects the trailer to your drawbar. It equally adjusts 1-inch increments so one can get the perfect match.
Easy to operate
This adjustable ball mount is flexible while maintaining a sound, safe, and stable towing practice. As such, it allows one to tow quickly and effortlessly.
Corrosion resistant
The combo ball is constructed of High-Strength Chrome Plated Steel, which is highly corrosion-resistant. In addition, the user can seamlessly switch from a 2-inch ball to a 2-5/16-inch ball.
Pros
- Foster’s ease of work due to the in-built tongue weight scale.
- Amendable 1-inch will facilitate convenience at work
- The use of a slider to switch the balls makes the process effortless
Cons
- There are no included pins
General Evaluation
The Weigh Safe Steel Adjustable Ball Mount’s built-in Gauge makes adjustment seamless and easy.
Moreover, the product has a heavyweight towing capacity, constructed to perform effectively while offering the best towing satisfaction possible.
CURT 45900 Adjustable Trailer Hitch Ball Mount
CURT adjustable channel mount is a powerful Trailer Hitch Ball Mount that eliminates the need for all other ball mounts.
This widespread ball mount could be adapted to fit the tow job of whichever trailer or boat. As a result, this product saves you the financial stress of buying another ball mount for your hitch.
In addition, the adjustable channel mount is also an exceedingly flexible hitch ball mount choice.
This product incorporates a standard receiver hitch shank, a high-level channel, and an identical trailer ball attachment, allowing for the effortless lifting of different types of the trailer with a complex list of ball mounts.
The dual-ball head of this channel mount helps with multipurpose towing possibilities. Its feature also involves a highly resilient construction fashioned to endure the elements and built-in anti-rattle features for even, soundless towing.
The complete head tightly attaches to the adjustable shank using the included hitch pins and clips, which can be substituted with a hitch lock set for extra safety.
The product has standard 2″ and 2-5/16″ diameter trailer balls to fit two different size assemblers.
Accurate fit
This adjustable ball hitch is best for most class 3, class 4, and class 5 hitches. It features a standard shank to fit nearly any 2-inch x 2-inch trailer hitch receiver.
Dual ball
Another advantageous feature of this product is the ability of its user to easily switch between trailers due to the incorporation of two trailer ball sizes.
With the involvement of an adjustable hitch ball mount, you can easily find the perfect product in the range of multiple trailers you can select.
Powerful
This adjustable hitch ball mount is mighty, made of high-strength steel. Additionally, the 2-5/16-inch ball is graded for 14,000 lbs., while the 2-inch ball is rated for a capacity of 10,000 lbs.
Resistance to weather
This adjustable ball mount is protected in a hard-wearing carbide black powder coat surface to guard against dirt, rain, and other toxic conditions—furthermore, corrosion-resistant zinc plating features protect the dual ball attachment.
Pros
- The product is enormously versatile.
- It is very durable
- The product is made of alloy steel
- It is powder coated
Cons
- The receiver hitch pin is separately sold, leading to a surge in overall cost.
General Evaluation
The CURT 45900 Adjustable Trailer Hitch Ball Mount generally makes hitching up the trailer and towing easy and enjoyable.
Coupled with its durability and versatility, which offers a level of towing and long-lasting service, this product is precious for its users.
CURT 13333 Class 3 Trailer Hitch
The CURT class 3 trailer hitches are built and verified to feature various towing applications based on towing capacity and destination.
With this trailer hitch, you can comfortably haul equipment and tools to various sites, drive the family to any occasion and even haul your boat to its terminal.
This trailer hitch is practically used on various things, such as vans and crossovers to light-duty pickup trucks and SUVs, as well as full-size cars.
The Class 3 trailer hitch is also perfect for adding storage space to your vehicle with a bike rack or hitch-mounted cargo carrier, with care taken to remain within the lowest-rated hauling component.
Class 3 trailer hitches are impeccable for lugging fishing boat trailers, utility trailers, popup campers, and ATV trailers.
Resistant to rust
The Class 3 trailer hitches feature an exceptional dual-coat finish of liquid Bonderite, which is highly resistant to rust, and a black powder coat, which is exceptionally durable.
Easy to install
There is a convention, factory fit on select model years of the Ram 1500, 2500, or 3500 and Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, or 3500, which the hitch offers.
Versatile Design
This class 3 hitch can accept a ball mount, cargo carrier, boats, bike rack, tow hook, and many other features or components that foster versatility and flexibility.
Pros
- They offer a variety of weight capacities and receiver tube sizes which are heavyweight.
- They operate with a towing capacity of 6000 lbs
- They built five classes
Cons
- There could be a better endurance rating.
General Evaluation
CURT 13333 Class 3 Trailer Hitch offer the weight capacity for various hauling performance and ratings for any aquatic escapade you wish to embark on.
Bulletproof Hitches™ 2.0″ Adjustable Medium Duty
The BulletProof HD256 is constructed from solid steel in the USA, making lowering and lifting the boat easy and seamless.
This durable and long-lasting product makes it well-known in the towing industry.
This BulletProof HD256 includes a first-rate BulletProof hitch ball with a gross trailer weight capacity of up to 22,000 pounds with additional heavyweight military-grade steel hitch bars on its sides to aid replacement and use with any other receiver.
By dragging the two pins and sliding or moving the tow balls in the hitch up or down, the user can lower or raise the ride height effortlessly.
The device is also corrosion-resistant and resistant to ultraviolet radiation, rust, wear and tear, and other harmful conditions.
The device also maintains its nice appearance even during prolonged usage.
Pros
- It has a hauling capacity of 14,000 lbs
- It is a heavyweight product
Cons
- The black coating on the ball is not durable
- It meets agility requirements
General Evaluation
Bulletproof Hitches 2.0 Medium Duty 6″ Drop or Rise Hitch has widely tested and exceeds SAE-J684 testing requirements. It is also not among our competitors’ products.
TOP 10 TIPS FOR SAFE BOAT TOWING
1. Complete a full pre-tow safety inspection of your rig before using your trailer.
2. Ensure your truck’s load is even and level.
3. If you notice sway in your rig, slow down instantly, pull over, and amend your load. The range for your tongue weight should be 10- to 15 % of your load; otherwise, the trailer might sway.
4. Considerably increase the breaking distance when towing a heavy load.
5. Until you’ve backed the boat into the water, don’t remove the winch strap and safety chain. If you remove the strap and chain, the boat can slide off the trailer and crash onto the boat ramp.
6. You can lessen the impact of wind blasts on your rigs by taking your foot off the accelerator. Avoid matching on the brakes.
7. Do commit practice of backing, turning, and making other maneuvers in an organized location.
8. Always inspect the trailer hubs to ensure everything typically works. If they’re hot, the bearings aren’t operating appropriately and must be repaired immediately.
9. Avoid clipping a curb or other obstructions by making wide turns.
10. Focus on using your side-view mirrors rather than the rear-view.
Boat Trailer Laws, Rules, And Regulations
It is necessary and beneficial to know all of the laws, rules, and regulations about trailers before engaging in your towing adventures.
Usually, each state determines and sets its own rules and laws for regulating the private use of trailers and trailered boats.
Therefore, there may be significant variations in regulations from state to state. Based on this, you should research extensively on the laws and regulations relative to your state by visiting your state transportation department.
Trailer Weight
The vehicle owner’s manual usually has a chart specifying the maximum trailer weight and the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight (GCVW).
The GCVW is the weight of the boat, trailer, and the weight of the tow vehicle, passengers, and gear.
This underpins the significance of including the weight of the trailer and boat in most towing regulations. Hence, ensuring that your tow vehicle can comfortably tow your boat is in your best interest.
It is needful to check the trailer capacity before buying if you are buying a used boat.
Most producers are careful to provide a trailer with sufficient capacity for the boat, but if you carry a lot of gear, you could make the process more seamless.
The most efficient way to know the weight of your trailer is to scale the trailer and boat. The following items or procedures capture the steps or what is involved in this process.
- Weigh the trailer for a small fee.
- Take the weight of the trailer off the vehicle hitch, and weigh the boat and trailer with the fuel tank full and all the gear (as typically contained in the boat.
- The vehicle’s maximum towing weight should be at most 80 percent for some degree of safety.
- You can check the VIN sticker on the trailer to ensure that the trailer and its tires are graded to convey the load it bears.
Trailer Width
Fundamentally, a trailer whose width exceeds 8 feet 6 inches is regarded as a “wide load” in some states.
However, this is overly subject to a range of regulations, such as limits on when the trailer can be on the road, special permits, flags or banners, and many more.
Trailer Length
As earlier stated, trailer specifications and regulations vary from state to state. Meanwhile, if your rig exceeds the usual length, you may still be able to haul with an over-size load permit and some restrictions.
Generally, the maximum allowed length varies from 30 to 60 feet, depending on the state. States also specifies that the joint length of the tow vehicle and trailer should range between 50 to 85 feet.
Speed Limits
Depending on the length and weight of the trailer, some states have a lesser speed limit for vehicles hauling any trailer.
Avoiding excessive speed when towing your trailer can help you remain safe and protected, as you can have sufficient time to anticipate sudden trouble.
Trailer Lights
The Federal Department of Transportation regulations has lighting specifications for trailers which trailer manufacturers adhere to.
Therefore, it is beneficial and security-friendly always to check the tail, brake, and signal lights before embarking on your journey.
By ensuring that your lights are working perfectly, you will always have no course for worry.
Trailer Brakes
The truth is that some states have no rule vis-à-vis brakes, and others need brakes on all trailers.
While some states require brakes on all axles for trailers with axles exceeding one, some require brakes only on a single axle.
Generally, the most prominent law requires any trailer whose weight exceeds 3,000 pounds to have brakes.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What are the things I need to know before towing a boat?
- Have the brakes examined before towing the boat
- Check the tire pressure and condition of the tires and ensure they are in the proper condition
- Check the air pressure in the trailer tires before embarking on every trip.
- Study the owner’s manual for towing guidelines, such as over-riding the transmission overdrive.
How fast should you tow a boat?
You have to remember that driving faster than the specified speed may cause damage to the towing hitch and make the boat lose balance and flip.
For safety, boat producers have specified a 60-70 mph speed when driving down an interstate when boat towing is going on.
How do I protect my boat while towing?
You need to wear an approved U.S. Coast Guard life jacket anytime you want to commence towing, even as the law requires.
This will make it easier for you to rest in the water when waiting for the boat.
Tow ball vs hitch?
Usually, the trailer hitch features a ball mount as part of a more important mechanism, which is the significant difference between the tow ball and a hitch.
Is an aluminum hitch better than steel?
Since pure aluminum is relatively substantially weaker than steel, hitches, particularly heavyweight ones, work optimally in steel material compared to aluminum.
Conclusion
It is evident that choosing the suitable hitch of the perfect size remains a guaranteed way to remain safe
This article has outlined the optimal trailer hitches applicable for towing boats of various magnitudes or specifications.