Forum Discussion
Desert_Captain
May 14, 2013Explorer III
Gdetrailer wrote:
Wow, boy did this thread go way off the trail chasing bunnies.
The OP Has a Ram truck (exact model unknown) and is asking about a 20ft (or a bit less) trailer which weighs in around 3K with tongue weight of 300 lbs.
Some how things have gotten twisted...
Putting WD for the sake of "having it" is just wasting money and time.
I would doubt that the OP will put more than 500 lbs on the tongue.
With that light of a tongue load WD CAN make the setup unstable by removing too much weight from the rear axle (think lost traction).
Even a half ton truck is capable of carrying 500 lbs on the hitch without any need for WD. It is a truck, it is designed to have 1K lbs or more in the bed alone, if it can't support that weight then you shouldn't put a feather into the back of a truck without WD...
Time out here.... First of all you need to read the entire thread. No one here has suggested that he get WDH "for the sake of having it". Second, the OP will likely roll down the road around 4,000# which = 500+# of TW. Lets not forget that the WDH weighs in around 100# which is also right on the ball. With the large CCC of that trailer he could be substantially heavier, up to an additional 2,000#.
Many Dodge half tons are notoriously light on payload , some as low as 1200#. As I recommended in the second sentence of my original post the OP would be wise to take the rig to the CAT Scale. Absent that info we are all just speculating. Yes you can put 1,000# in most half tons but normal loading will have the majority of that forward of the rear axle and certainly will not place 500# behind the bumper. As I also recommended a simple measurement of the movement/height of the front fender will be very revealing. Put 500# behind the bumper and we both know the front end is going to get light which is exactly what a WDH is designed to correct.
WDH's come in a wide range of sizes/weight ratings and the proper WDH WILL improve the overall towing and stability vs naked ball towing and will NOT, EVER damage the trailer. Having the right WDH setup has no downside and provides a nice cushion for those trips where a heavier load can be safely accommodated. :C
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