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 16, 2019
swimmer_spe wrote:
myredracer wrote:
A photo of truck & trailer hooked up might help.

How do I post a picture?

How to post a picture on RV.net.

It is as simple as upload picture, copy URl, and paste that URL into your post without making ANY changes - no additions and no deletions. :)
swimmer_spe
Explorer
May 16, 2019
myredracer wrote:
A photo of truck & trailer hooked up might help.

How do I post a picture?
myredracer
Explorer II
May 16, 2019
A photo of truck & trailer hooked up might help.
mkirsch
Nomad II
May 16, 2019
Grit dog wrote:
Whatever the issue is, a wdh on a sub 3000lb trailer behind a truck like that is not needed, nor will it do anything. Not enough tongue weight to make a difference.

Unless it's some stupid load like a 2000lb concrete block loaded right at the front of the trailer...

It could be simply driving too fast for the terrain.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 16, 2019
Whatever the issue is, a wdh on a sub 3000lb trailer behind a truck like that is not needed, nor will it do anything. Not enough tongue weight to make a difference.
mkirsch
Nomad II
May 15, 2019
swimmer_spe wrote:
time2roll wrote:
afaik 500+ tongue or 5,000+ trailer weight should have WDH.

Trailer is half that weight.

Then you don't need a WDH unless you have a very strange setup where the trailer has something like a 50% tongue weight.
swimmer_spe
Explorer
May 15, 2019
time2roll wrote:
afaik 500+ tongue or 5,000+ trailer weight should have WDH.

Trailer is half that weight.
time2roll
Nomad
May 15, 2019
afaik 500+ tongue or 5,000+ trailer weight should have WDH.
blt2ski
Moderator
May 15, 2019
Bounce could STILL be shocks, depending upon the brand and type you had installed. Another bounce, could be sidewall flex. Springs on 15 series rigs are softer than a 25 or 35 series too! SHorter Wheel base rigs will bounce more than those with longer wheel bases too! You may have some or all of these issues!

Another as I am typing. If the trailer is loaded a bit lite on the hitch, it could aggravate the bounce by trying to lift the hitch as it bounces, especially Single axel trailer vs dual axels.

I've found with my SW 35 series rigs, if I have more than 400 lbs removed from the FA, using a WD is very much needed etc. But a 6000 lb trailer with around 700 lbs of HW< usually only removes 60-100 lbs off the front. My 1500 lb HW equipment trailer does put an 8500 GRAWR rig at 300 off the front, and a typical 6400 lbs RA at or about 400 lbs. A WD was really nice on this rig.

My TT was not needed with said 60-100 lbs off the front. BUT< with that said.....a basic WD will help reduce the side wind, side to side rocking of the trailer. A dual cam helped even more! I would swag a hensley or equal even more so.
swimmer_spe
Explorer
May 14, 2019
BarneyS wrote:
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

Actually, I am not paying attention to what the front is doing. The back of the truck and the front of the trailer are bouncing madly. Thought it was shocks, changed them, and it still does it.

Sounds more and more like I may not *need* WD, but it would resolve the problem.

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At what point do I need a WD hitch?

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