Newbie help: EZ loader trailer details

[DBBRanger]

Well it looks like we may be new owners of a 2008 R25, but we won't know for sure until its done. But in anticipation of that, I need help figuring out how to configure my truck to be able to haul it home.

Since the boat is a half country away, I wouldn't be able to see how it fits with my truck until we're there. So I need to figure out how much of an offset I need on a draw bar (stinger, if you like) in order to match up my receiver hitch to the trailer coupler. The boat is not on the trailer at the moment, so I can't get any measurements with the trailer fully loaded. What I need is to find someone that has a galvanized EZ Loader trailer with an R25 sitting on it on a level surface. If I could get a measurement of the distance from the ground to the BOTTOM of the trailer coupler (where the ball goes) when the trailer is perfectly level, I think I'd be close to what I need for knowing which stinger to get. Actually, if that same person has a Chevy 2500 diesel that they connect to it, I would be golden. Then I'd just need to know what stinger they use. I probably will get an adjustable stinger to take into account the variations in loading of the truck and trailer. The EZ Loader people have impressed on me how important it is to have the trailer level when connected to the truck so that the surge brakes work well. They said it should be within 1/2" to 1/4" from front to back! I may want electric over hydraulic control after this is all over but that's down the road (so to speak).

I've gotten a bit of help on this from Andrew and others but nothing exactly as I need. Is there anybody out there that can help??

Thanks,

Doug and Sandy

 

[Dwasson]

Over the last 30 years there has been ONE constant, irrefutable secret in hitches (stingers, if you will). The "equalizing" hitches made for pulling RVs (recreation vehicles) are adjustable, strong, and sometimes cheap. Look on Craig's List. Get you one and put a 2" ball on it and head out. Take a couple of wrenches to unscrew the two adjusting bolts.

I would almost bet 19" is going to be trailer coupler height. But this hitch has four (sometimes 6) adjustable heights

You can do it!! A good used hitch might let $50.

 

[Levitation]

Doug,
Level is good. Level is not the end all and be all.
If your trailer tongue is an inch or two above or below level, it means nothing.
The brakes will work. The truck will pull. You will get home. You will solve it later.
BTW, the tongue being low is vastly better than high.


You were not specific as to the year and model of truck - details, details...
My 2500HD Chevy's are high tails (an 08 and an 011).
The centerline of the receiver is 19" above the ground with no load. Insert the bar/ball and it is 2 inches taller.
Hook up the boat (940# on the tongue - 11,000# total) it drops the rear a bit more than an inch, and we are level.

My trailer is not an Ezloader. See my picture album for details (Levitation)
My experience is that a straight bar - with a chevy 2500HD - will work fine.
Now, if you are driving a ferd or a dudge, ymmv.

Yes, you want electric over hydraulic brakes. Make it so when you can.
You do not want equalizer bars. If you need equalizer bars, your tow vehicle is undersize.
Airbags can help if the sag is minor.
My trailer hitch (class V) takes a 2-5/16" ball. Verify the size of the ball for the Ezloader.

 

[Crewdog]

On our R-27 and Float-On trailer, I was told that level was best.

The professional trailer hitch company that upgraded Class IV hitch to Class V told me that they fit the ball height at 18 inches. That's without load.

After picking up the boat and trailer for the first time, the trailer was down 2 inches at the front, and so I had to go back and get a ball mount with an additional 2 inch rise to make the trailer tow level.

I think I could have saved the step had I put a 500 to 750 pound weight on the bed of the truck when they measured the first time, so as to simulate a tongue weight.

You might try and estimate an optimal tongue weight for your R-25 and trailer, and put that much on your truck before you measure ball height.

Just a thought.

Bill

 

[DBBRanger]

Thanks all for the responses.

Denny: What does 'hightail' mean specifically? My 2002 is a 4X4 and is 21" to the center of the receiver but I don't think my truck is lifted if that's what high tail means.

Doug

 

[Levitation]

Nope, your truck is not a "high tail"
GM, in it's infinite wisdom, made a change beginning in the 2007.5 model change and the trucks come from the factory "lifted". Stop by any dealer and kick the tires once around, and you will see what I mean.

Don't over think the situation. To get your new boat home all the trailer has to do is approximate something approaching level. Refinements like adjustable drawbars and air lift bags will come once you have it in hand.

Now, since you specify 21" I believe that a straight draw bar will be close to level once the tongue weight on on the hitch.
Enjoy your tug.