WD hitch on while backing up?

rwoods61 wrote:


Now that my camper is heavier and since the salesman reminded me again, I have to ask WHY? Are the physics different going backward then they are forward? I need help understanding. Do I need to remove my WD hitch bars prior to backing up?

If it is needed, I have a inexpensive Curtis WD hitch with Torsion bars and chains.

rwoods61

Is this the WD hitch you are referring to? http://www.curtmfg.com/Category/80/Weight%20Distribution

If so the salesmen mixed up his wording and odds are high he was "not" referring the physical WD hitch. The physical WD hitch with the WD bars does not need to come off when backing up or going forward. The truck and trailer does not distinguish between directions.

He may have been referring to the friction sway bar which is part of the anti sway system. http://www.curtmfg.com/Category/78/Sway%20Control%20Units

Again the truck and camper do not know the difference going forward or backing up. A slight back up with the friction bar on it not a concern. The recommendation often times stems from that you can by accident back into a tighter turns backing up then when going forward. And in those tighter turn situations in some case you can bend the friction sway bar on the ball coupler or in a fast backup, pinch the friction pad by quick retractions and bend the bar. So they throw out the one size attempts to fit all and have you only remember , "never back up" with no explanation behind it.

The dealer did this to us when we bought our pop up years ago. My wife was convinced the sway bar was going to explode the minute I put the truck in reverse... and as such she reminded me of it every time...

Good luck with your new rig.

John