Airbags or WD hitch? opinions advice...

handye9 wrote:

Just to add to this.

When you hang all that tongue weight on the back of the tow vehicle, besides adding a bunch of weight to the tow vehicle's rear axle, it also takes a bunch of weight off the front axle. Air bags will help level the vehicle's body, but, they won't restore any of the front axle's lost weight. Restoring that lost weight is a primary function of the WD hitch. Towing with bags only could increase the possibility of swaying.

If you're towing with insufficient weight on the front axle of the tow vehicle, it is less stable and more susceptible to bouncing and swaying. Even the slightest movement (could be simple as subconscious hand movement caused by breathing, could be bad roads, could be wind) can cause the steering wheel and axle to move back and forth, causing the trailer to sway.

The truck's owners manual should show the manufacturers recommended "front axle weight restoration percentage", or, it may say something to the effect of restoring fender height measurements.

Thank you for highlighting this point. In nearly every thread on this subject the importance of getting the weight back on the front end is often overlooked.

Think of it this way, it's about steering control. If the front end feels "light" or "squirrelly" when the trailer is hooked up and the WD hitch adjusted, you have some more adjusting to do.

GM says to bring the front end back down to factory height.