Difference of Air Bags over WD hitch?

As has already been mentioned, airbags will help combat the squat... But that's ALL they will do.

A WDH will redistribute some portion of the tongue weight from the rear axle to the front and trailer axles. As a result, it will affect the rear end squat of the TV, but that is NOT its primary purpose.

Some combinations of tow vehicle and trailer can benefit from both. Most do not need both IMHO. Don't worry about how much the rear end squats. Worry about the loads on the axles.

WDH Primer

The purpose of a WDH is to restore weight that is taken off the front axle when you apply downward force behind the truck's rear axle. Here is are some typical weights of full sized pickups and SUVs for a 1000 pound TW trailer.

Front axle loses 400 pounds, rear axle adds 1400 pounds.
Applying a WDH with 1000% front axle weight leads to rear axle only carrying about 800 additional pounds and the remaining 200 on the TT axles.

So a WDH restores 400 pounds lost on the steering axle and removes 600 pounds from rear axle.

Rear suspension aides do not change the weights. The steer axle is still 400 pounds light and the rear axle still 1400 pounds over unhitched weight. But it looks good!

My general opinion is that rear suspension aids are not required with a properly adjusted WDH. If the suspension seems weak where the rear of the truck is more than 1.5" lower than unhitched when using a WDH, the truck is probably overloaded.

Yep... apples and oranges. A truck with a soft rear end likely needs the airbags for leveling and any truck with a med/large trailer should use WDH to help stiffen the hinge at the ball. I have a capable 3/4 ton with 3000# payload and use WDH (most of the time) with a +/- 900# tongue weight TT. I don't "need" it but I do like it and feel better towing with it. The WDH stiffens the bounce over bumps and stops the rhythmic "porpising" that occurs in certain situations (the downward movement at the ball in the cycle is what makes the front end so light - the upward force during the cycle can make your rear tires slip when you have too much tension on the WDH). To be honest, I've run without it when on a route I know and/or for a short distance. I always run with the anti-sway no matter what.

lanerd wrote:

Dakota98 wrote:
Two different things & a WDH does not help with squat. Besides, you're pulling a PUP that weighs about 2400 Lbs. Also, if you have sag when loaded & want to gets things level, I think airbags are over-kill, expense wise, for your application.

Do you really mean this (red highlighted)????

Ron

X2

A WDH most certainly does help with squat.

Dakota98 wrote:
Two different things & a WDH does not help with squat. Besides, you're pulling a PUP that weighs about 2400 Lbs. Also, if you have sag when loaded & want to gets things level, I think airbags are over-kill, expense wise, for your application.

Do you really mean this (red highlighted)????

Ron

Two different things & a WDH does not help with squat, Besides, you're pulling a PUP that weighs about 2400 Lbs. Also, if you have sag when loaded & want to gets things level, I think airbags are over-kill, expense wise, for your application.

I agree they are not the same thing. I would get a good WDH and if it still sags then you can add the AB's.

You need to read the info on a WD hitch and air bags, no comparison on what each does.

Like K says. The air bags will level the TV. But the steering / front axle will still be light, and would in all likelihood cause sway. That is what a WDH actually does. It returns steering control to the driver by returning lost weight to the steering axle. That it levels the TV, and TT is a side benefit. Air bags don't do any thing to help return steering control.

Yes. Using both in tandem was nice. But be sure to set the wdh before you inflate the bags.