WDH question
I have read several post on WDH and how to set them up as well as youtube videos. The one thing they don't mention is if you are supposed to have your truck loaded with the extra stuff you are going ...
Forum Discussion
Thank you.
I don't think I said anything about getting my truck level. My truck doesn't sit level without anything in it so I wouldn't expect the WDH to make it level after setting it. I was assuming the front and back would be the same offset if I had it adjusted correctly, just both a little lower due to added weight. So if the front fender was 28" and he rear fender was 30" prior to loading I was assuming that I would want the front 2" lower than the back after loading.
Tacoma's are notorious about being soft in the rear to begin with so when I added my camper shell it really sagged the back end so I added some 1500 lb helper springs which helped a bunch.
I know I am over thinking this but there is so much conflicting information out there and I haven't seen one document that tells you if you should take your measurements prior or after the TV is loaded. They all mention making the travel trailer the weight you plan on it being when loaded.
To me if the end goal it to get your tow vehicle back to normal ride height ratio so it handles the same with or without the trailer then you would need to take the measurements prior. So if I throw 300 - 400 lbs in the bed of the truck and it sinks the rear end and raises the front end that would already cause it to handle worse before I attached the trailer to it. Which would make me think that the WDH would take the tongue weight and some of the bed load weight to help get it back to the pre loading ratio heights.
I don't think I said anything about getting my truck level. My truck doesn't sit level without anything in it so I wouldn't expect the WDH to make it level after setting it. I was assuming the front and back would be the same offset if I had it adjusted correctly, just both a little lower due to added weight. So if the front fender was 28" and he rear fender was 30" prior to loading I was assuming that I would want the front 2" lower than the back after loading.
Tacoma's are notorious about being soft in the rear to begin with so when I added my camper shell it really sagged the back end so I added some 1500 lb helper springs which helped a bunch.
I know I am over thinking this but there is so much conflicting information out there and I haven't seen one document that tells you if you should take your measurements prior or after the TV is loaded. They all mention making the travel trailer the weight you plan on it being when loaded.
To me if the end goal it to get your tow vehicle back to normal ride height ratio so it handles the same with or without the trailer then you would need to take the measurements prior. So if I throw 300 - 400 lbs in the bed of the truck and it sinks the rear end and raises the front end that would already cause it to handle worse before I attached the trailer to it. Which would make me think that the WDH would take the tongue weight and some of the bed load weight to help get it back to the pre loading ratio heights.
Ron Gratz wrote:Bowfreak wrote:The ball height should be set with the TV loaded as close to possible to how it would be loaded when ready for camping.
What I am worried about is if I set the ball height on the hitch with noting in the bed of the truck, then load the bed for travel and hook up the trailer I will actually be lifting the tongue weight and the bed weight on the WDH. That would seem like a lot of weight for the WDH to equalize out. Assuming 300 lbs or so of weight in the bed of the truck and around 400 lbs on the tongue.
I know I am probably over thinking this I just want to do what is correct and get it as close to perfect as possible.
The correct ball height will make the TT close to level when sitting on a level surface (or parallel to a non-level surface).
The purpose of a WDH is to remove some or all of the load which is removed from the TV's front axle by the weight of the tongue.
The current Tacoma Owner's Manual says:
"If using a weight distributing hitch when towing, return the front axle to the same weight as before the trailer connection.
"
If front axle weight cannot be measured directly, measure the front fender height above the front axle before connection. Adjust weight distributing hitch torque until front fender is returned to the same height as before connection.
Please note that Toyota does not say anything about making the TV "level" nor do they say anything else about rear-end height.
IMO, Equal-I-zer, of all the WDH manufacturers, gives the best specification for loading of the TV before the reference front height is measured:
"While installing or adjusting the hitch, the tow vehicle and trailer should be loaded just as they will be while traveling. This includes full propane and fresh water tanks, and any other cargo (passengers & gear) the tow vehicle or trailer will carry, including ATVs for toy haulers.
"
A WDH should NOT be used to compensate for weight of TV cargo.
If you feel that your TV must be "level" for appearance reasons, you can install air bags.
Then you can learn how to use the air bags in conjunction with the WDH so the front end is returned to the correct load/height and the TV is "level".
If "level" is important to you at other times, the air bags also can be used to compensate for TV bed load when not towing.
Ron
