Ball weight?

[Compatico]

Hello, new member here after reading pages of posts and I can't find an answer. We're looking at buying a new Scarab 215 twin jet but can't find a ball or tongue weight specification in the literature or online anywhere. Does someone with a 215 know what the ball weight rating is - have you weighed it? My hitch has a max of 350 lbs from the tongue and I'm concerned the 4300 lbs of boat and trailer at 10% will be over my hitch rating.

Thanks!

 

[swatski]

Tow hitch is usually not the weak link in towing equation. Depending on what is it attached to. Is excessive squatting a concern?


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[Compatico]

The hitch receiver and bar are rated 6,000 lbs, my Sorento is rated 5,000 lbs so you're right that's not an issue. But tongue weight is rated at 350 lbs of down-force which would cause more sagging of the suspension and stress on the hitch mount. The hitch is under the SUV with the bar reaching out and up about a foot which adds leveraged weight upon the mount point - I think that's why it's only rated 350 lbs.

 

[swatski]

I think that's why it's only rated 350 lbs.

I'm not an expert, but if this is a class 2 hitch with 350lbs tongue weight rating you would not want to haul a 20ft+ boat with it, god forbid you hit a bump. Maybe locally, yard or a parking lot etc. You kind of want to take a good look at the gross weight/combo rating beyond the hitch. There are many rental option for short term, i have used U-haul trucks for bigger boats in the past.

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[Compatico]

It's a class III 6,000 lbs but tongue weight was listed at 350 lbs from the dealer - likely due to the long receiver and tow bar causing more torsional stress on the mount (manufacturer of the Curtis hitch lists it at 600 lbs) . I've hauled trailers and campers up to 4500 without issue, but the tongue weight was always below 350 lbs. I know they build in a percentage of reserve so 400 lbs might be ok, but my concern is suspension sag and stress at the mount point, not weight of the trailered item.

 

[2kwik4u]

In your situation it sounds like the hitch has the tongue weight rating, but the installer (vehicle manufacturer) has de-rated it due to mounting considerations. I personally wouldn't push that particular limit, as there is little fail safe if you pull the hitch out from under the SUV.

I also wouldn't lighten the tongue weight below ~10%. Anything under that is asking for problems in my opinion. Especially if you are near the limit on combined weight rating. Below is an extreme case, but is the best demonstration I've seen that illustrates the dangers of not enough tongue weight.

 

[Neutron]

I also wouldn't lighten the tongue weight below ~10%. Anything under that is asking for problems in my opinion. Especially if you are near the limit on combined weight rating. Below is an extreme case, but is the best demonstration I've seen that illustrates the dangers of not enough tongue weight.

Not true on less than 10%.
Shorelandr has a 5 to 7% tongue weight rating on there trailers.
I would get the info from the trailer manufacturer to verify what they recommend

 

[2kwik4u]

Fair enough, the trailer manufacturer specs definitely override my "rule of thumb".

I will comment that 5-7% doesn't leave much room for variations in loading. This is akin to running at over 90-95%% of rated capacities elsewhere in the setup. Sure it's possible, but there isn't much room for error. 5-7% is sneaking up on putting a couple heavy coolers in the back of the boat away from a bad day. At 3,400lbs (2) 75lb (4.4% of total weight) coolers, or similar weight additions are worth considering.

I know on my 190, two 200+lb guys sitting on the swim platform will pick the tongue up off the ground. If one is diligent about proper loading, and figures the tongue weight as a "worst case" then running closer to the limit becomes less of a risk.

 

[Neutron]

I agree and would always shoot for 7% minimum but not over 10