At what point do I need a WD hitch?

:) Hi, look at the label on your receiver; Most of them will state your weight limit without a WD hitch is 500 lbs. So if your tongue weight is over 500 lbs. you need a WD hitch.

carringb wrote:

swimmer_spe wrote:


Truck doesn't squat at all.
Even with new shocks, the truck bounces a lot when the rig goes over bumps.

If on the back is bouncing, you just need new shocks. Monotubes ride the best with trailers without making the ride harsh empty.

If the bounce also involves the front end lifting, or "porpoising", then a WD will help immensely.

Your hitch receiver will have a "Weight carrying" rating. If you exceed this (total or tongue weight), then you need WD.

Factory installed receiver, 2 inch square for the hitch.

twodownzero wrote:
I use one every time I tow more than 5k pounds. My truck has ~2700 pounds of payload so no amount of tongue weight really weighs it down, but it takes a lot of stress out to have more hitch than you need. I don't use sway control.

If I was towing any travel trailer at all with a half ton, I would have at bare minimum, a properly sized WD hitch and likely sway control as well.

If you trailer is swaying, it doesn't have enough tongue weight. Correct that and the sway will probably go away. A WD hitch is primarily to level truck and trailer, but it also raises the capacity of your hitch receiver (many have different WD and WC ratings) and helps keep everything level dynamically when you're going down the road. It may help you level it after you load the tongue more to reduce sway and improve control. If you have a heavy enough truck/enough payload, more tongue weight is generally better.

No swaying, thankfully, just bouncing.

Trailer weighs 1200kgs, truck is rated for +4500kgs. Even when I put new shocks all the way around, the bouncing was still there.

swimmer_spe wrote:


Truck doesn't squat at all.
Even with new shocks, the truck bounces a lot when the rig goes over bumps.

If on the back is bouncing, you just need new shocks. Monotubes ride the best with trailers without making the ride harsh empty.

If the bounce also involves the front end lifting, or "porpoising", then a WD will help immensely.

Your hitch receiver will have a "Weight carrying" rating. If you exceed this (total or tongue weight), then you need WD.

I use one every time I tow more than 5k pounds. My truck has ~2700 pounds of payload so no amount of tongue weight really weighs it down, but it takes a lot of stress out to have more hitch than you need. I don't use sway control.

If I was towing any travel trailer at all with a half ton, I would have at bare minimum, a properly sized WD hitch and likely sway control as well.

If you trailer is swaying, it doesn't have enough tongue weight. Correct that and the sway will probably go away. A WD hitch is primarily to level truck and trailer, but it also raises the capacity of your hitch receiver (many have different WD and WC ratings) and helps keep everything level dynamically when you're going down the road. It may help you level it after you load the tongue more to reduce sway and improve control. If you have a heavy enough truck/enough payload, more tongue weight is generally better.

Trackrig wrote:
When it squats a lot.

What issues are you having - is the trailer swaying?

Bill

Truck doesn't squat at all.
Even with new shocks, the truck bounces a lot when the rig goes over bumps.

When it squats a lot.

What issues are you having - is the trailer swaying?

Bill