Weight Distribution Hitches

[firefighter jim]

How many of you tractor guys or gals use them?

 

[Egon]

Got some for my trailer.:thumbsup:

 

[escavader]

Yes absolutely ,wouldnt be without it hauling my tractor or 5 atvs.Weights on the whole truck not just the rear.Ihave a reese sway controler now too
ALAN

 

[FlaDon]

12000lb Reese unit reporting.:thumbsup:

 

[JB4310]

Would one offer any advantage to me with my current towing package?
Ram 3500, DRW, 6.7L Diesel, auto, 12,500 gvw, towing just 5 ton dump or 5 ton equipment trailer.

The truck is a utility body so weighs about 12,000, but I hardly feel these trailers now, off the line, stopping or handling. Just wonder if there would be any noticeable benefit with WD hitch?

JB.

 

[escavader]

If you find it squats your truck some than yes..A full load of gravel would even push your truck around some wouldnt it?I bought the hitch when i was towing my tandem with a jeep cherokee,and absolute neccesity.Now i have a full size TUNDRA ,i still like it because it distributes the weight over the whole truck,and also keeps the trailer level so its not bearing down on just the front trailer axle.4 trailer tires with equal weight on them not only wear better ,but track better.
With a weight dis.hitch you can have more hitch weight Ithink i read somewhere.With the adjustment arms you can adjust the tounge height,by shortening the chain or vice versa.
ALAN

 

[mrennie]

I bought one to properly tow my Kubota B26 with a 16' car hauler trailer and a 1/2 ton truck.

When I set up the tractor on the trailer to get 10-12% tongue weight, if I did not install the WDH I was putting too much weight on just the rear axle and was actually 300 lbs over the axle rating, with the headlights pointing to the stars!

With the WDH installed the truck and trailer sits level and I am about 150 ls under the axle rating.

Now that I have one and see how well it works, I look at other people's setups as they pass on the highway and it is obvious that many people tow without them when they probably should....the improved steering, handling, and safety are well worth it.

 

[Diamondpilot]

How many of you tractor guys or gals use them?

Never have but would not hesitate if I had a truck or trailer that required it. I have sold quite a few to help out a limited tow vehicle.

Chris

 

[gumshu]

How many of you tractor guys or gals use them?

I use mine all the time. In fact, I have two.

 

[buck12]

Ok I'm going to ask a dumb question. I have an 09 F150 with a tow rating of about 10,000 lbs and brake controller. I tow about 6000 lbs. If I am not mistaken the manual says to use a WD hitch with loads of more than 5000 lbs. My truck tows the load fine with no WD hitch and does not make the truck squat excessively. Why would I need a WD hitch? I have never used a WD hitch.

 

[firefighter jim]

Ok I'm going to ask a dumb question. I have an 09 F150 with a tow rating of about 10,000 lbs and brake controller. I tow about 6000 lbs. If I am not mistaken the manual says to use a WD hitch with loads of more than 5000 lbs. My truck tows the load fine with no WD hitch and does not make the truck squat excessively. Why would I need a WD hitch? I have never used a WD hitch.

Buck, Probably for the same reason that I recently purchased one. Your "load carrying" hitch is rated at 5k gross trailer weight max. A weight distribution hitch allows you to "legally and safely" tow a trailer exceeding that limit. In your case (and mine also) 6k gross trailer weight. I am in the same boat as you. I have a 2k lb. trailer with a 4k lb. load for a total of 6k lbs. which is 1k lbs. over the hitch rating without weight distribution. With weight distribution I can legally and safely pull that load. Can you get away without it? Probably but personally, I'm going to go by the book and as others have stated, you will obtain a nice level ride and better performance from your vehicle and trailer. Jim

 

[deputy11]

A WD hitch transfers much of the trailer weight onto the front axle which improves steering and braking. Much like if you have ever had something very heavy on your 3PH without a loader or ballast on the front of your tractor you have noticed the steering unresponsive. It is also true with loaded trailers and truck steering.

 

[Egon]

The WD hitch may make life much easier and will distribute the weight as required. Probably helps in braking too.

 

[devildog1]

buck12,
Some of the weight control hitches have what Reese calls friction control, this works like a sway damping device. If you ever had the experience of towing on super highways and had am 18 wheeler pass you, did you feel the suction as he's going by?Weight Distribution Hitches almost eliminate this and allows for an even plane from trailer and truck. Hope this helps.
DevilDog

 

[Redbug]

I certainly use one also with heavy loads.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...7-about-weight-distribution-hitches-pics.html

 

[Highbeam]

I have two of these hitches, one to go with each trailer. Your truck's tow rating has nothing to do with it. You will find that your OEM hitch prohibits you from towing very much weight at all without using a W/D hitch setup. I do NOT use a friction sway control since if you properly set up your trailers you won't need one.

All the W/D hitches do is distribute the TONGUE weight between your two truck axles. They are quite a clever device.

Properly distributing the tongue weight will keep your truck level, keep your front wheels safely planted on the ground where steering is better, and will also reduce tortoising while going down the highway.

I use these hitches on my F350 which is more than capable of carrying the weight on the ball without the W/D system. By the book means you must use the W/D system on all but the lightest trailers unless you replace your hitch with a monster.

You won't see W/D on a dumptruck.

 

[buck12]

I guess its like a brake controller. I didn't know how much I needed until I had it. How much extra trouble (time) is the WD hitch each time you hook up to a trailer.

 

[Bird]

I learned, with my first travel trailer, that even if your truck can handle the tongue weight with the weight distributing hitch, rough roads, dips, and humps in the road will be considerably smoothed out wit the WD lift bars. Personally, I've only used a WD hitch with a couple of travel trailers, so I've had one on a 1971 3/4 ton Chevy pickup, a 1970 Olds 88 sedan, and a 1972 Chrysler station wagon. But I sure wouldn't hesitate to use one for a trailer hauling a tractor or other heavy load.

 

[Dutch445]

How much extra trouble (time) is the WD hitch each time you hook up to a trailer.

You have to hook up on to the ball, connect your wiring harness,
and safety chains just like any hitch. The extra step is the torsion
bars (in my case) and they only take a minute or 2 extra. I also have
a sway control, but again, only an extra minute or 2. It's really
not much of a problem. Initial setup is different, as it can take some
time to get everything set for that particular truck and trailer.

 

[jwstewar]

I have to use a WD setup with our camper. It is too much weight behind my half ton not to. It is a '36 Jayco 32BHDS. It is almost 10k loaded. The other day using my trailer mover on my little NH and tried to pick the tongue up. It wouldn't do it. Well it raised it about 1/2" just enough to take the weight off the blocks under the tongue, but the relieve valve was immediately tripped.

I also have a lighter set of bars that I use with my 16+2 utility trailer. Haven't hauled the tractor yet with it. But I've had some decent loads on it with them and they work fine. I've even started using them on it when running empty/light. Just keeps it settled down a little bit better and stops the porpousing - especially when I pull it behind our Suburban with the lighter coil springs.