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Great American Anti-Towing Conspiracy
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Boon Docker wrote:
I wonder what vehicle that owner manual belongs to, those recommendations seem a little unrealistic. A 150 lb tongue weight would mean a small pop up or a tear drop trailer would need a weight distribution hitch.
I wonder what vehicle that owner manual belongs to, those recommendations seem a little unrealistic. A 150 lb tongue weight would mean a small pop up or a tear drop trailer would need a weight distribution hitch.
That is why the recommendation to look in "your" owner's manual was given. My Silverado 2500HD says none is "required" for more than double the weight of that for my F-150.
When you decide to be more safe...for yourself, your family and me....steering, braking...control.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad
It's that easy!
Towed the trailer without a WDH for a year. No issues, no headlights in the trees. But on a whim, and wanting another gadget I bought a Load Equalizer hitch with built in sway control. Huge difference. Much smoother ride. Less bouncing. More control changing lanes. Huge improvement.
The trailer, loaded is only 7000 pounds and tongue weight is only 1000 pounds. Easily handled by the truck. But the WDH makes the trailer and the TV one homogeneous unit.
RoyB
Dartmouth, MA
2021 RAM 2500 4X4 6.4L
2011 Forest River Grey Wolf Cherokee 19RR
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Rbertalotto wrote:
I might be able to add something to this conversation. I recently bought a 19' toy hauler. Using my "heavy duty" Dodge 2500 Diesel with air bags and Big Whig rear sway bar, I r
Towed the trailer without a WDH for a year. No issues, no headlights in the trees. But on a whim, and wanting another gadget I bought a Load Equalizer hitch with built in sway control. Huge difference. Much smoother ride. Less bouncing. More control changing lanes. Huge improvement.
The trailer, loaded is only 7000 pounds and tongue weight is only 1000 pounds. Easily handled by the truck. But the WDH makes the trailer and the TV one homogeneous unit.
I might be able to add something to this conversation. I recently bought a 19' toy hauler. Using my "heavy duty" Dodge 2500 Diesel with air bags and Big Whig rear sway bar, I r
Towed the trailer without a WDH for a year. No issues, no headlights in the trees. But on a whim, and wanting another gadget I bought a Load Equalizer hitch with built in sway control. Huge difference. Much smoother ride. Less bouncing. More control changing lanes. Huge improvement.
The trailer, loaded is only 7000 pounds and tongue weight is only 1000 pounds. Easily handled by the truck. But the WDH makes the trailer and the TV one homogeneous unit.
This is true...whether you need it or not, it changes your ride from an old pickup to a Cadillac.
Brian
Four 5th wheels later we're back to a TT. The reciever on our F250 is rated for 650 lb non WD. Tongue weight on our new TT is advertised at 700 lbs. Probably 850~lbs loaded to go. I bought a Reese HP trunion style hitch to satisfy the rating of the receiver more than anything. If I had an F350 with it's 850 lb rated for non WD tongue weight. I would have tried the standard ball mount first like the truck used that delivered it to the dealership.
So receiver ratings first, then if you feel it needs a little lift.
2020 F250 STX CC SB 7.3L 10spd 3.55 4x4
2010 F250 XLT CC SB 5.4L 5spdTS 3.73
ex '95 Cummins,'98 12v Cummins,'01.5 Cummins,'03 Cummins; '05 Hemi
2017 Jayco 28RLS TT 32.5'
If you have too much lost weight on your front axle, the slightest motions (could be subconscious hand movement from breathing) on the steering wheel, bow waves from big rigs, side winds, etc, can cause steering control issues. Steering control issues will cause trailer sway, which intensifies steering control issues. The primary purpose of a weight distribution hitch is to restore some, or all, of that lost front axle weight.
In addition to WDH requirements, the vehicles owners manual will also tell you a percentage of recommended weight restoration on the front axle.
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rmgozia wrote:
How do I decide when I need a weight distribution hitch?
How do I decide when I need a weight distribution hitch?
Asking a bunch of RVnet members is your best bet. Don't rely on the engineers that designed and built your tow vehicle. GM engineers in particular have blown the Front Axle Restoration fears clear out of the water with their Silverado series of pickups.
That stuff dates back to the days when we used big old softly sprung sedans and station wagons to tow our campers. Today's modern well engineered pickups are totally different animals. That is not to say that the rear suspension cannot be overloaded, because it can be. Better to purchase an adequate tow vehicle rather than hope some magic hitch is going to compensate for being over payload.
Lwiddis wrote:
When you decide to be more safe...for yourself, your family and me....steering, braking...control.
When you decide to be more safe...for yourself, your family and me....steering, braking...control.
My 2016 Ford Edge came with a Class II (3,500 lbs) 2" receiver. I am happy about this (bike rack plugs in), but if I was hauling over 3,000 lbs I would like get a weight distribution hitch and maybe electric brakes on the trailer for the above reasons.
The real answer is what the owner's manual says and how far does the hitch ball drop from fully unloaded to fully loaded, vehicle and trailer. Anything >3"-4", get the weight distribution hitch.
Cobra21 wrote:
This is true...whether you need it or not, it changes your ride from an old pickup to a Cadillac.
Brian
I will agree with both of you. Towing it just rides and drives better and I use a 1 ton.
Rbertalotto wrote:
I might be able to add something to this conversation. I recently bought a 19' toy hauler. Using my "heavy duty" Dodge 2500 Diesel with air bags and Big Whig rear sway bar, I r
Towed the trailer without a WDH for a year. No issues, no headlights in the trees. But on a whim, and wanting another gadget I bought a Load Equalizer hitch with built in sway control. Huge difference. Much smoother ride. Less bouncing. More control changing lanes. Huge improvement.
The trailer, loaded is only 7000 pounds and tongue weight is only 1000 pounds. Easily handled by the truck. But the WDH makes the trailer and the TV one homogeneous unit.
I might be able to add something to this conversation. I recently bought a 19' toy hauler. Using my "heavy duty" Dodge 2500 Diesel with air bags and Big Whig rear sway bar, I r
Towed the trailer without a WDH for a year. No issues, no headlights in the trees. But on a whim, and wanting another gadget I bought a Load Equalizer hitch with built in sway control. Huge difference. Much smoother ride. Less bouncing. More control changing lanes. Huge improvement.
The trailer, loaded is only 7000 pounds and tongue weight is only 1000 pounds. Easily handled by the truck. But the WDH makes the trailer and the TV one homogeneous unit.
This is true...whether you need it or not, it changes your ride from an old pickup to a Cadillac.
Brian
TomG2 wrote:
Asking a bunch of RVnet members is your best bet. Don't rely on the engineers that designed and built your tow vehicle. GM engineers in particular have blown the Front Axle Restoration fears clear out of the water with their Silverado series of pickups.
That stuff dates back to the days when we used big old softly sprung sedans and station wagons to tow our campers. Today's modern well engineered pickups are totally different animals. That is not to say that the rear suspension cannot be overloaded, because it can be. Better to purchase an adequate tow vehicle rather than hope some magic hitch is going to compensate for being over payload.
Asking a bunch of RVnet members is your best bet. Don't rely on the engineers that designed and built your tow vehicle. GM engineers in particular have blown the Front Axle Restoration fears clear out of the water with their Silverado series of pickups.
That stuff dates back to the days when we used big old softly sprung sedans and station wagons to tow our campers. Today's modern well engineered pickups are totally different animals. That is not to say that the rear suspension cannot be overloaded, because it can be. Better to purchase an adequate tow vehicle rather than hope some magic hitch is going to compensate for being over payload.
A vehicle can be engineered to not require a WDH, however, this isn't guarantee of the best user experience. Moving up a few pickup classes does not magically cancel out the forces involved with towing. All of those dynamic forces and Newton Laws aren't going anywhere. This is why people, some even in this thread, report a more pleasurable experience while using a WHD with a very capable vehicle. So while an engineer has designed a truck to not fall apart when loaded, that doesn't change the fact that you'll get the best experience when weights are balanced across all axles and dynamic forces are restrained. We get it, you're anti-WDH and don't see any benefits. You don't have to post one of these rants in every WDH thread.
If you happen to be at an RV dealership when a new TT arrives, you'll notice no WD or sway control. At least that's been my experience.
With Intrepid Boats built just a few blocks away, I get to see a lot of brand new boats up to 47.5' trailered to the Park Blvd boat ramps in Seminole Fl for sea trials. It's a beautiful sight to see. And no WD or sway control.
Same with towed construction equipment. Only in the RV world is WD and sway control part of the uniform. Although my Reese HP trunion IS a manly looking work of art.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INyiMA3hfto
proxim2020 wrote:
This Super Duty looks pretty capable.-250
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INyiMA3hfto
This Super Duty looks pretty capable.-250
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INyiMA3hfto
From that, you determined that F-250's make lousy tow vehicles? You are sure that the driver did not reach down for his cell phone or some mechanical failure did not occur? Amazing.
TomG2 wrote:
From that, you determined that F-250's make lousy tow vehicles? You are sure that the driver did not reach down for his cell phone or some mechanical failure did not occur? Amazing.
proxim2020 wrote:
This Super Duty looks pretty capable.-250
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INyiMA3hfto
This Super Duty looks pretty capable.-250
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INyiMA3hfto
From that, you determined that F-250's make lousy tow vehicles? You are sure that the driver did not reach down for his cell phone or some mechanical failure did not occur? Amazing.
Who said F-250's make lousy tow vehicles? Maybe I missed that post. You seem to take everything so personal Tom.
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2019 Newmar Canyon Star 3627
2017 Jeep Wrangler JKU
Well said!
And very informative for new RVer's.
Thread closed