WDH Really Needed?
Does a 19' Travel Trailer weighing less than 5000lbs and 450lbs TW being towed by a 3/4 truck need a WDH? Or Antisway?
Forum Discussion
No, most trucks are around 60/40 weight bias. The best handling vehicle is a 50/50 weight bias.
The closer you get to that number the better. When you achieve a 50/50 weight bias all 4 tires will brake the same and all will do equal work in the handling department.
This is why race car designers build 50/50 cars and people in the know put sand bags or a big plate in the bed of their trucks. They are trying to achieve a 50/50 weight bias.
This a also why trucks want to come around in the snow or rainy or slick weather. Not enough weight bias in the rear.
If you own a diesel it is much worse. If you own a Cummins it is even more worse. Those engines are REALLY heavy!
All that being said, it's always best to scale your truck to find out the weight bias of your truck and get as close to a 50/50 deal as you can.
As far as sway goes. I have towed 10's of thousands of miles with many different trailers and never, and I do mean never has a well handling trailer just "decided to sway." I've towed a few that wanted to kill me, but they did it from day one and they were ALL a poorly designed trailer with less than 10% TW.
Bottom line is this. A 3/4 ton truck can handle 4 or 500 lbs TW no problem.
The closer you get to that number the better. When you achieve a 50/50 weight bias all 4 tires will brake the same and all will do equal work in the handling department.
This is why race car designers build 50/50 cars and people in the know put sand bags or a big plate in the bed of their trucks. They are trying to achieve a 50/50 weight bias.
This a also why trucks want to come around in the snow or rainy or slick weather. Not enough weight bias in the rear.
If you own a diesel it is much worse. If you own a Cummins it is even more worse. Those engines are REALLY heavy!
All that being said, it's always best to scale your truck to find out the weight bias of your truck and get as close to a 50/50 deal as you can.
As far as sway goes. I have towed 10's of thousands of miles with many different trailers and never, and I do mean never has a well handling trailer just "decided to sway." I've towed a few that wanted to kill me, but they did it from day one and they were ALL a poorly designed trailer with less than 10% TW.
Bottom line is this. A 3/4 ton truck can handle 4 or 500 lbs TW no problem.
