I have a '13 Ford F150 "heavy half"I am having some issues when i tow and someone told me I should get a WD hitch.My question is, at what weight with a stock half ton do you need to think about using a WD hitch?

When it squats a lot.What issues are you having - is the trailer swaying?Bill

Trackrig wrote:When it squats a lot.What issues are you having - is the trailer swaying?BillTruck doesn't squat at all. Even with new shocks, the truck bounces a lot when the rig goes over bumps.

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.

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.

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.

At what point do I need a WD hitch? | Good Sam Community

BarneyS
Explorer III
May 14, 2019
Campfire Time wrote:
Bobbo wrote:
Measure the distance from the ground to the top point of the front wheel well, both before and after hooking up the trailer. If there is more than 1/2 inch difference, you need WD.

X2! Rear squat is not an indicator that a WDH is needed.

Even a fairly light trailer with a 150/1500 series truck can take enough weigh off the front to require a WDH.

He did not mention nor was he talking about rear squat. He was talking about the RISE of the front fender which would indicate weight being removed from the front axle.
Barney
Boomerweps
Explorer
May 14, 2019
You don't even need trailer brakes in my state, PA, at under 3K#!
Need a WDH? Depends on the truck. My SIL's Ram 2500 diesel rips his 5-6K toy hauler around no prob with no WDH.
With my former TV, a Ford Explorer, a fully loaded cargo trailer at 3-3.5K# porpoised like crazy. With my near 4K# TT and a WDH, no porpoising and towed in straightaways like the TV & TT were one unit. Made me wish I tried a WDH with my cargo trailer.
I may not NEED a WDH with the new F150 but I plan on using it for the solid feel I had with it before.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 14, 2019
Campfire Time wrote:
Bobbo wrote:
Measure the distance from the ground to the top point of the front wheel well, both before and after hooking up the trailer. If there is more than 1/2 inch difference, you need WD.

X2! Rear squat is not an indicator that a WDH is needed.

Even a fairly light trailer with a 150/1500 series truck can take enough weigh off the front to require a WDH.

Negative ghost rider. Unless said 150/1500 truck has the super trailer 3000lb springs or some aftermarket help in back.
If you do the math 500lbs giver take on the hitch doesn’t take much st all off the front axle.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 14, 2019
IdaD wrote:
I don't think you'd need a WDH for a 2600 lb trailer.

Agree, you don’t even have enough tongue weight to crank down at all on a wdh.
The issue is likely more akin to your expectations than a problem.
Trailer on....
Campfire_Time
Explorer
May 14, 2019
Bobbo wrote:
Measure the distance from the ground to the top point of the front wheel well, both before and after hooking up the trailer. If there is more than 1/2 inch difference, you need WD.

X2! Rear squat is not an indicator that a WDH is needed.

Even a fairly light trailer with a 150/1500 series truck can take enough weigh off the front to require a WDH.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 14, 2019
If the trailer weighs 50% or more of the tow vehicle IMO.
ppine
Explorer II
May 14, 2019
I agree that you should start with the label on your trailer hitch. If you are within specs, then hook up your rig on a level surface and measure how far out of level you are. Measure from the top of the fender well front and rear, unloaded vs loaded.

IN practical terms, I had a hybrid trailer that only weighed around 3500 pounds. No WD hitch needed. My new trailer is around 5,500 pounds and I use a WD hitch. The older Class III hitch is only rated for 5,000 pounds without.
IdaD
Explorer
May 14, 2019
I don't think you'd need a WDH for a 2600 lb trailer.
Bobbo
Explorer II
May 14, 2019
Measure the distance from the ground to the top point of the front wheel well, both before and after hooking up the trailer. If there is more than 1/2 inch difference, you need WD.
bikendan
Explorer
May 14, 2019
Read the Towing section of your truck's owners manual.
As was said above, 500lbs+ of tongue weight requires a WDH.

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At what point do I need a WD hitch?

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