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Member
Posts: 5
| Hi,
I'm new to the horse trailer world. My wife and I just bought a 2007 featherlite. It's similar to the 9652.
https://fthr.com/products/horse-trailers/bumper-pull/9652-horse-trai...
The front of the trailer has an aluminum plate covering frame.
I want to use a weight distribution hitch when I tow our horses. The plate is covering the frame. I checked the featherlite site and they seem to say it's ok to cut into that plate to attach the brackets for the weight distribution hitch.
Does any of you have experience with these trailers? Did you cut holes in the aluminum plate to fit your weight distribution hitch brackets?
Thanks,
Jerome |
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Member
Posts: 22
Location: Omaha nebraska | First question ? What are you pulling your trailer with ? We pull a similar trailer with a 3/4 ton pickup and have never used a weight distributing hitch. I would take your trailer and tow vehicle to reputable horse trailer dealer and they can help you with your towing needs good luck |
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Member
Posts: 5
| I'm towing with a 2018 F150 4x4 super crew short bed with Max tow package. 3.5l engine |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Before you jump to a WDH... Just how heavy are your horses that you will be hauling? And how much junk are you going to load in the tackroom area? And what kind of pin weight will you be looking at? |
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Member
Posts: 5
| I'm going to be hauling 2 horses @ 1200 lbs each
Tack trunks 2x 50 lbs
Saddles 2x 30 lbs
All sorts of other stuff 100lbs
So about 2700 lbs + trailer @ 3500lbs
Total 6200lbs
Ball is rated 11,000
Truck is rated for 11,000 as well. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
Location: Tenn/Ala. | Well, for what it is worth, according to page 37 of the 2018 Ford towing guide- any load over 5,000# requires a WDH on a F-150. Frankly, as I recall this is a pretty typical number with most Class 3/4 receivers actually having a label to that effect.
I have had several customers start to use a WDH on their 1/2 tons and remark about enhanced stability, even on non tongue-heavy trailers. Some of these are long time trailer pullers with many miles experience.
But- we see many that don't use one either.
Edited by RTSmith 2018-02-19 8:33 AM
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Member
Posts: 5
| Agreed.
To use a WD hitch on the featherlite, I have to cut the aluminum plate at the front of the trailer though. Is that something any of you have done before? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
Location: Tenn/Ala. | Many aluminum horse trailers have two main frame rails coming from under the trailer to a point that the hitch mounts on. On top of that, is a piece of aluminum treadplate that covers the "A" shaped hole in between the framing. If that is the aluminum you are talking about- yes it is common to notch it for the WDH saddles to mount on. |
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Member
Posts: 5
| RTSmith - 2018-02-19 10:08 AM
Many aluminum horse trailers have two main frame rails coming from under the trailer to a point that the hitch mounts on. On top of that, is a piece of aluminum treadplate that covers the "A" shaped hole in between the framing. If that is the aluminum you are talking about- yes it is common to notch it for the WDH saddles to mount on.
Ok. That's what I thought.
Thanks for the reply. |
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