Recommended Weight Distribution System on 9,150 Boat Trailer with Aluminum Frame

Question:

I use a 2008 Sequoia to pull an 8000 lb boat and 1500 lb Boatmaster tandem trailer. The trailer frame is aluminum I-Beam. Is there a weight distribution/anti sway hitch that can be used with an aluminum I-Beam trailer? Thanks for any advice.

asked by: Thomas C

Helpful Expert Reply:

You can indeed use a weight distribution system on boat trailers like yours that feature a straight pole tongue. The only potential issue may be with its aluminum construction. I just recommend contacting the trailer manufacturer to ensure a weight distribution system can be used, as not all aluminum frame trailers can handle the stress of a weight distribution system.

Then, when selecting a weight distribution system, the most important factor is the total tongue weight of your setup. This number includes both the loaded tongue weight of the trailer (with the boat loaded), along with any added cargo weight coming from behind the rear axle of your Toyota Sequoia. Ideally, this number will fall somewhere near the middle of the operating range for the system you choose.

To verify the loaded tongue weight of your boat trailer, I recommend using a scale like the etrailer # e99044. Looking at the 9,150 combined weight of your trailer and boat, we can estimate a tongue weight of around 900 to 1,370 pounds. This is because a trailer's tongue weight will typically be around 10 to 15 percent of its total weight, although it will likely be on the lower end of that scale for a boat trailer.

If this ends up being an accurate estimate, I recommend looking at the Reese Steadi-Flex Weight Distribution System # RP66561. This particular system features a tongue weight capacity of 700 to 1,400 pounds and will do a great job of distributing weight over the axles of your trailer and Sequoia. You will just need to add a compatible hitch ball like the 2 inch # A-90 or the 2-5/16 inch # 19286.

Then, when installing the system with the pole tongue on your boat trailer, you can use the Reese Pole-Tongue Adapter # RP58393. This will essentially create an artificial A-Frame to provide mounting space for the lift brackets on the weight distribution system.

I have attached a short video demonstration on the Reese Steadi-Flex System that you can check out, along with an FAQ on weight distribution systems that you might find helpful.