I am new to the ol camping and travel trailer thing, as my in-laws got me into it about a year and half ago, but I love every minute of it. Just tough figuring everything out about towing our travel trailer, as my father in law has a class A so he doesn't know much about TTs. My question is about weight distribution bars. My set-up is 2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD, 2wd, 4 door, 8 ft. bed. 6.0 motor w. 4.10s. I tow a 26TBSS (about 27' long) travel trailer weighing in at 6,700#s loaded. When I left campground today I didn't have much but some leftover firewood in the bed of my truck, and I looked at my weight dis. bars and they didn't look like the had much pressure hanging on them. I had them at the 4th link down as usual, so I figured I would just move them up to the next link, where the chains would be nice and tight on them. I will mention whenever I hook my tt up to my truck it doesn't look like it even squats the truck at all. So when towing home on the highway today, it wasn't the most pleasant experience. The ride pretty much gave me a stomach ache and made me feel queezy. We felt every bump and I guessed it tossed our cookies a little bit. Also noticed the front end of the truck move around a little bit to. It wasn't sway because I am not getting that at all. Just felt the front end just moved around along with the bumps and sickness and all that.So, do I have these weight distribution bars on correct? Do I even need them?, and what do they even do when your truck isn't squatting?The bars came with the TT when I bought it, and I assumed I needed to put them on. Any advice? Thanks a lot!

Was it working better before you moved it up a link? The WDH is to move weight from the hitch to the camper (evenly distribute the weight). You have an 2500HD but you still should use a WDH set up. If it did not work before you moved it up then maybe you can stop by a local dealership and have them reivew the set up and make changes if necessary.Your WDH should not make you lose your cookies as it is designed so that you keep your cookies.

Jbres,Probably the best thing you can do is to weigh your rig ready to camp. There will be a slight difference when returning, but from what I understand, unless your bed is loaded with 3 weeks of firewood, there usually isn't much of a difference weight wise to make the w.d. bar adjustment off.Weigh 3 times:Truck only- loaded with all family members and normal cargoTruck & trailer- w.d. bars "unhooked"Truck & trailer- w.d. bars under tension ("hooked up")This will tell you how much weight you are transferring back to the front axle (fa) with the w.d. bars under tension. Not sure if you have the '07 "classic" or if it's the '07-'14 body. In your owners manual it should state how much weight should be returned to the fa when the w.d. bars are hooked up compared to truck only fa weight. Generally it is anywhere from restoring 50% of the weight lost up to 100% of the weight. I think our '13 manual stated to return 50% of the weight back to the fa if I remember correctly. I didn't have time to get to the scales yet, probably will wait now until next season since we are done for the year! Example: Truck only fa weight 3500lbs. Trailer hooked up no w.d. bars- fa weighs 3200lbs. You will want to adjust the w.d. bar tension to return between 150-300lbs back to the fa depending on what the manual states.Do a search for cat scales and looks for one near you. Take a broom handle or use your bar for your snap up brackets to reach the call button!Hope this helps! Chris

Love2rv camp-I just got this newer truck to tow with and haven't had it out to many times yet to tinker with the wd and get it right. Thanks for your reply.Ok I will try and get my set up weighed in next few weeks so I can get an exact weight of my axles. So they will be able to get me a different "hitch weight" while the wd bars are hooked up and when there not?Does it seem like what I am describing I am not pushing enough weight back up to the front axles of truck or not enough?Maybe a dumb question but why do I need to evenly distribute the weight off the "hitch" if I am not even squatting or overloaded back there?Thanks again. Also its the "classic 07' style truck.

Moving to towing per request of OP.Marty

jbres wrote:Love2rv camp-I just got this newer truck to tow with and haven't had it out to many times yet to tinker with the wd and get it right. Thanks for your reply.Ok I will try and get my set up weighed in next few weeks so I can get an exact weight of my axles. So they will be able to get me a different "hitch weight" while the wd bars are hooked up and when there not?Does it seem like what I am describing I am not pushing enough weight back up to the front axles of truck or not enough?Maybe a dumb question but why do I need to evenly distribute the weight off the "hitch" if I am not even squatting or overloaded back there?Thanks again. Also its the "classic 07' style truck.When you weigh the rig with the wd bars hooked up & unhooked, you will have different weights on the fa, ra, and ta's. With bars unhooked, there will be some of the fa weight on the rear axle, and that is the weight you want to restore to the fa with the wd bars. You really aren't "evenly distributing" the weight off the hitch, just distributing it as needed. Though it may end up being even, just unlikely (from what I know).Even though the truck isn't really squatting, there is still some weight transfer. Our new '13 doesn't squat much with 900lbs tw, think it was about 1.5" or so without the wd bars hooked up, and the front only raised up maybe 1/2" (if I remember right- figures are out in the truck). How much does your truck squat without the wd bars hooked up? This can help adjust the hitch to get you close, while cat scale weights will dial you in the rest of the way. Measure the wheel wells at all 4 corners of the truck, then hook truck up without w bars hooked up. See how much the front raised up, then adjust hitch to get the front close to the original (trailer not hooked up) height. But make sure the rear never is higher with the wd bars hooked up than it is without a trailer hooked up!!!Also, make sure you have at least 5 chain links between the bars & snap up brackets, more if you can. Just adjust the hitch head angle to adjust the wd bar pressure as needed for at least 5 links/ As for the ride quality, hard to say as I am not sure. Was tire pressure correct, crapppy road, etc? Shocks ok? Just throwing some ideas out!!!Good luck & YW!!!Chris

Need Advice on my towing set-up w/ weight dis bars

15 Replies

nevadanick
Explorer
Oct 13, 2013
To me its rather simple, go back to what works.
jbres
Explorer
Oct 13, 2013
measurements are from wheel wells to ground
jbres
Explorer
Oct 13, 2013
Update. I went to local campground less than 3 miles from my house this weekend. Today on my way back home I stopped in a flat parking lot and hooked up my weight dis bars and got some measurements to help determine what is causing the "minor front end swaying/walking at highway speeds" is that I am feeling. Numbers are posted below and if anyone sees any numbers out of place or any advice please let me know. Measurements are from wheel wheels to ground

Truck solo with no tt hooked to it.
Front end-Drivers side 37" passenger side 37 3/4" Rear both sides 39 1/2"

truck with tt hooked up and no distribution bars hooked up
Front end-drivers side 38" passenger side 38 3/8" rear drivers side 37 1/2" rear passenger side 37 5/8"

truck with tt hooked up and distribution bars hooked up with 7 links hanging down
front end drivers side 37 7/8" passenger side 38 1/4" rear drivers side 37 5/8" rear passengers side 37 7/8"

truck with tt hooked up and distribution bars hooked up with 6 links hanging down
front end drivers side 37 3/4" passenger side 38 1/4" rear end drivers side 37 3/4" passenger side 38"

Make any sense?
Blazing_Zippers
Explorer II
Oct 08, 2013
Check the brand of WD hitch, then google it. Our hitch had a video on YouTube, plus we downloaded the manual.
I hooked up, pulled to a level spot and followed the directions. Its worked pretty good for over 12,000 miles.
Your setup shouldn't make you queasy at all. Maybe a few sections of freeway will be bumpy, but that's all.
See ya out there
Need-A-Vacation
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
Even though the hitch looks great, if possible, have help hooking up when latching the bars to see if the hitch is twisting from the wd hitch.

Good luck!
jbres
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
The factory round hitch is in great looking shape still. I am going to hook up this weekend and get some measurements from wheel well to ground w/ and without. I will report the measurements and hopefully can get started there.
Thanks!
Need-A-Vacation
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
I didn't even think about the cheap, factory round tube hitch- good catch Tom!!!

The factory gm hitches of that era can twist when used with a wd hitch, causing some issues in trying to transfer the weight back to the fa. I actually replaced my factory '10 1500 hitch with a Curt class v monster. Night & day difference between the two hitches!!!!

As Tom mentioned look for any cracks/ rips, etc... On the factory hitch!
TomG2
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
I towed a lot of happy miles with a 2007 2500HD Classic pulling a 6,000 pound trailer with no WD hitch. I have a 2013 now and use an Andersen no sway hitch to eliminate the little bit of bouncing/"porpoising" that I have without one. The newer hitches are rated much higher for use with or without a WD hitch. In addition to other comments, you should examine your receiver for possible failure. If it is beginning to come apart, you might feel what you are feeling.
BarneyS
Nomad
Oct 07, 2013
First, yes, you should use the WD bars even if the truck does not squat when hooked up. Your receiver has a weight carrying limit without them and I am pretty sure your tongue weight would exceed that limit without using them.
Also, using the WD bars will normally give you a better ride and better steering because they restore the weight taken off the trucks front axle when you hook up the trailer.

Take a look at this thread, which is stuck at the top of this forum, for help in setting up your hitch correctly.

There is also another thread up there that explains how a WD hitch works. You might want to read at least the first post in that thread.
Barney
jbres
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
need-a-vacation- thanks for all the helpful info..
No truck does not seem to squat at all when TT is hooked up. But I am going to measure this upcoming weekend when I take it out. I will do the whole 4 corner wheel well measuring's and see where I stand there to start.
I have 6 chain links which I good. Also, I will mention my tow rig sits level from looking at it front of truck to rear of TT.
Yes tire pressure was correct, road wasn't bad, and I have newer shocks on. I think I just don't have this WD set-up hooked up correctly yet!
I will get it though. Thanks!

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Need Advice on my towing set-up w/ weight dis bars

15 Replies

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