To use my weight distribution hitch or not?

[newbury]

Situation:
Brought trailer and "stuff" down to Mississippi from Virginia. 12K rated Hud-Son trailer (all new Greenballs), my F350 DRW, 14K rated Equal-i-zer hitch. Load on the trailer was about 6K, so I was towing about 8K, maybe 9K. Handled like a dream.

Going back I'll only have the tractor w/ FEL, less than 4K total. It just barely levels the truck with 15% (600 lbs) tongue weight.
/edit - 4K total means 4K w/ tractor (B7610, FEL, chains AND trailer)



I'm thinking the WD is overkill and I'll just use my regular 2" drop shank w/ my heavy duty ball. Hitch is rated at 5,000 w/o WD, 12,500 w/ WD.

I don't think I'll need the sway control.

Any comments?

 

[corl]

If you have it why not use it as it integrates the tow vehicle with the trailer. I have always used mine with a full or empty trailer. My tow vehicle wasn't as big as yours and it still controlled sway better.

 

[bcp]

I don't think I'll need the sway control.

But if you do need it, you won't have time to install it before the impact.

Bruce

 

[mbrule]

You didn't need it on the way there, much less on the way home.....

 

[Scott85]

My vote would be a no as well. But go with your gut. We are not behind the wheel you are.

 

[newbury]

You didn't need it on the way there, much less on the way home.....

In theory I needed the WD because my load was above 5,000 lbs (8,000 to 9,000lbs total)

 

[CurlyDave]

What is the downside of using the WD even if you don't need it?

What is the downside of not using the WD if you do need it?

The sway bar is a different issue. Not using it can produce a serious accident, using it while it is not necessary is no big issue. I always use sway bar.

I almost always use WD whether I think I need it or not.

Now think about that 5000 # rating. It is trailer weight plus load. If the load on the trailer is 4000, I bet the trailer itself is more than 1000 and you need the WD.

 

[schmism]

nice powermatic jointer

I use a WD hitch on my 20' 10K equipment trailer. its rather tongue heavy even when empty and just back off one link on the chains. I find it helps smooth things out (not as much porpoising type rear end movement when hitting bumps)

 

[crazyal]

I personally like WC but find they are a pain so I'm like you, I debate whether or not to use it. Mine is extremely heavy being solid steel and having a lots of height adjustment. Because of that it's always stored way out of the way. You may want to think about upgrading your receiver to a class V that will handle that weight without a WD hitch.

 

[newbury]

What is the downside of using the WD even if you don't need it?

It's heavy and the truck is still butt high w/ 15% tongue weight.

What is the downside of not using the WD if you do need it?

Other than sway nothing.

The sway bar is a different issue. Not using it can produce a serious accident, using it while it is not necessary is no big issue. I always use sway bar.

I almost always use WD whether I think I need it or not.

Now think about that 5000 # rating. It is trailer weight plus load. If the load on the trailer is 4000, I bet the trailer itself is more than 1000 and you need the WD.

Apologize for not making the original statement clear that the trailer is 2,000 and I'm pretty sure the B7610 tractor and FEL plus chains etc. is less than 2,000 for less than 4,000 total.