Weight Distribution hitch..

I'm happy with my Equalizer.

Tongue weight is 1320. That is a lot for 1200 lb bars to handle.

Ok guys, original poster here. I finally had a chance to hit the scales and get some numbers. We were discussing whether or not my 1200lb bars on my new Reese WD hitch with dual cam sway control was gonna be sufficient for our new TT ( 2014 Salem 29 UD3). It had a "declared" empty weight of 8000lbs, and a heavy of 11,000ish. Well on our way to Myrtle Beach today we hit the scales at the FlyingJ. Our numbers are as follows:

Truck and 5 people and stuff..( 1/2 tank of fuel)
Steer:4940 lbs
Drive:4000 lbs
Total:8940 lbs

Truck and TT "W/O" WD..
Steer:4400 lbs
Drive:5860 lbs
TT Axle: 7860
Total: 18120

Truck and TT "with" WD..(Set light I guess I would say, only on fourth link)
Steer: 4520 lbs
Drive: 5700 lbs
TT Axle: 7900 lbs
Total: 18120

Truck and TT "AFTER" cranking the bars one more link..(on fifth link)
Steer: 4600 lbs
Drive: 5580 lbs..
TT Axle: 7960 lbs..
Total: 18140 lbs..

So please feel free to discuss these numbers and give your opinions. It seems that I'm good with the 1200# bars.

Just for those other people out there searching old threads!!! Figured I would give my results .. I went with the Reese 1200 straight line from amazon for $425. Best money I ever spent. I was really unhappy making the big upgrade to the 36' trailer after I used it twice with the old system . I still haven't had time to dial in the cams yet but it is like night and day!!!!!

I am in the same situation with my new Jayco 314bhs. I got it with a set of 1200lbs round husky bars. My TV is a 99 f350 7.3PS, so I am not overly concerned. However I did read on this site that if you go to heavy with bars that damage can be incurred on the A-frame of the trailer.
My old trailer I ran the older style Reese Dual cam with the hanging saddles. It worked great. I have 2 ball mount heads for my two different trucks. the big question is.... Does anyone know if the the new style Trunnion Bar castings fit the older Reese Heads?

If so I am definitely sticking with Reese on my new trailer. I just wish they had something in between 1200 and 1700....

thanks

I have used the Reese Dual Cam Straightline hitch for several years and never had any issues with it. It is a bit more trouble to set it up and a lot of dealers do not like it for that reason. But it is a well proven design and works very well.

Ken

Ron Gratz wrote:

LarryJM wrote:

Can you please explain your logic by going with the 1200lb bars.

Larry, I'm not the OP, but I'll tell you why I would go with the 1200# bars.

For many years, WDH manufacturers recommended that their WDH be adjusted to cause the TV to "settle" equally at the front and rear axles.
This means that the amount of tongue weight carried on the front and rear axles would be approximately equal.
And, I assume, their WD bars were rated to produce that amount of load redistribution.

For a typical TV/TT combination, getting the front and rear to settle equally would require a load equal to about 130% of the tongue weight to be applied to each WD bar.

Since TV and WDH manufacturers now are specifying that it is not necessary to adjust for equal squat, it no longer is necessary for a WD bar to transfer as much load as previously.
If you are not trying to achieve equal squat, the WD bar does not need to have a rating equal to or greater than the tongue weight.

If the objective is to return the front axle to its unhitched load, each WD bar only needs to have an applied load equal to about 80% of the tongue weight.
IOW, the amount of bar loading required for zero net load change on the front axle is equal to about 80/130 = 62% of the load required for equal squat.

So, let's assume WD bars rated for 1200# could safely be used to achieve equal squat with a tongue weight of 1200#.
These same bars then should be safe to achieve zero net front axle load change with a tongue weight as high as 1200/0.62 = 1900#.

The stress imposed on a WD bar is not directly dependent on tongue weight.
The stress imposed on a WD bar is directly dependent on now much load is being transferred.
If you're not trying to achieve equal squat, the bars do not need to have a rating which is greater than or equal to the tongue weight.

That's my logic.

Ron

Well as I see it the dry TW is already close to 1K and the OP admits they pack heavy and expect the GW of the trailer ready to go to be close to 10K and with a 12 to 13% TW that puts it at the very limits of a 1.2K WDH bar size. Carringb even gave his example of a very similar trailer and he went with the 1500lb bars. Also the past recommendations from at least Equal-i-zer is that going to the next size bar up if one is close is prudent. Finally, it is my opinion that as long as the rig is towed by a decent TV with adequate suspension and wt. heavier WDH bars are not an issue. Even my experience is that for a TW of 900 to 975, I'm running a 1.2/12K Equal-i-zer system w/o any issues.

Larry

LarryJM wrote:

Can you please explain your logic by going with the 1200lb bars.

Larry, I'm not the OP, but I'll tell you why I would go with the 1200# bars.

For many years, WDH manufacturers recommended that their WDH be adjusted to cause the TV to "settle" equally at the front and rear axles.
This means that the amount of tongue weight carried on the front and rear axles would be approximately equal.
And, I assume, their WD bars were rated to produce that amount of load redistribution.

For a typical TV/TT combination, getting the front and rear to settle equally would require a load equal to about 130% of the tongue weight to be applied to each WD bar.

Since TV and WDH manufacturers now are specifying that it is not necessary to adjust for equal squat, it no longer is necessary for a WD bar to transfer as much load as previously.
If you are not trying to achieve equal squat, the WD bar does not need to have a rating equal to or greater than the tongue weight.

If the objective is to return the front axle to its unhitched load, each WD bar only needs to have an applied load equal to about 80% of the tongue weight.
IOW, the amount of bar loading required for zero net load change on the front axle is equal to about 80/130 = 62% of the load required for equal squat.

So, let's assume WD bars rated for 1200# could safely be used to achieve equal squat with a tongue weight of 1200#.
These same bars then should be safe to achieve zero net front axle load change with a tongue weight as high as 1200/0.62 = 1900#.

The stress imposed on a WD bar is not directly dependent on tongue weight.
The stress imposed on a WD bar is directly dependent on now much load is being transferred.
If you're not trying to achieve equal squat, the bars do not need to have a rating which is greater than or equal to the tongue weight.

That's my logic.

Ron

Mr_MrsSchlepprock250 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

Mr_MrsSchlepprock250 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
The trailer is 8k lbs dry probably around 9500 lbs loaded for a trip. So 12% of 9500 would be approx. 1160lbs. The 12,000/1200 would be what you want.

Also, you want to be around 12%. 15% is a lot, more for 5`ers. and some receivers aren`t rated for more than 1200lbs!

Thanks, we have three kids (our kids are older)and say we load for a full week and say we were up to 10,000 lbs loaded( we usually load heavy..food drinks towels and so on for five to six people)would the 1200 lb bars be over loaded? 12% of 10,000 is 1200, should we run at max? Will there be any ill effects of running a heavier bar, say the 1500 lb trunnion if were only say 1200 lbs of TW? I need to order the new hitch tonight as we are picking up our new TT this afternoon ( YAY)which is why I'm trying to get this figured out.

EDIT: The specs of the 1200lb hitch is 600 to 1200 lbs of weight
while the 1500 lb hitch says 800 to 1500 lbs of weight.

It sounds like you load like me. we are 2k lbs above the dry weight! we also take everything with us because we can, we have a 4100lb Cargo Carrying Capacity, which is good and bad! LOL

I originally had 1500lbs of Tongue Weight, and the X didn`t like it, it handled terrible. I moved some stuff around and got it down to 1200 lbs. it felt much more stable without the extra weight on the tongue.

Are you talking about the hitch receiver on the truck or the hitch that slides into the truck? as far as the ratings go.

I was talking about the weight ratings of the WD hitch. I went with a 1200 lb Reese straight line with sway control. I ordered it from Etrailer.com for $540.45 with no tax and free shipping. We picked up the camper yesterday evening, we used just the hitch head that we had been using for our old TT. I was worried because the new TT is so much bigger and heavier,but when we hooked to it my truck ('99 F250 in sig) it barely squatted. So I'm pretty sure we can get it loaded to our liking. Phil

Can you please explain your logic by going with the 1200lb bars. You came on here asking for advice and only one out of like 5 people who gave you a recommendation recommended the 1200lb bars ... all the others recommended a heavier set of bars. I'm trying to understand the thought process when folks ask for advice, we spend valuable time and effort to help and then they OP doesn't heed this advice and gives no explanation on why they went "against the grain" so to speak.

Larry

dodge guy wrote:

Mr_MrsSchlepprock250 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
The trailer is 8k lbs dry probably around 9500 lbs loaded for a trip. So 12% of 9500 would be approx. 1160lbs. The 12,000/1200 would be what you want.

Also, you want to be around 12%. 15% is a lot, more for 5`ers. and some receivers aren`t rated for more than 1200lbs!

Thanks, we have three kids (our kids are older)and say we load for a full week and say we were up to 10,000 lbs loaded( we usually load heavy..food drinks towels and so on for five to six people)would the 1200 lb bars be over loaded? 12% of 10,000 is 1200, should we run at max? Will there be any ill effects of running a heavier bar, say the 1500 lb trunnion if were only say 1200 lbs of TW? I need to order the new hitch tonight as we are picking up our new TT this afternoon ( YAY)which is why I'm trying to get this figured out.

EDIT: The specs of the 1200lb hitch is 600 to 1200 lbs of weight
while the 1500 lb hitch says 800 to 1500 lbs of weight.

It sounds like you load like me. we are 2k lbs above the dry weight! we also take everything with us because we can, we have a 4100lb Cargo Carrying Capacity, which is good and bad! LOL

I originally had 1500lbs of Tongue Weight, and the X didn`t like it, it handled terrible. I moved some stuff around and got it down to 1200 lbs. it felt much more stable without the extra weight on the tongue.

Are you talking about the hitch receiver on the truck or the hitch that slides into the truck? as far as the ratings go.

I was talking about the weight ratings of the WD hitch. I went with a 1200 lb Reese straight line with sway control. I ordered it from Etrailer.com for $540.45 with no tax and free shipping. We picked up the camper yesterday evening, we used just the hitch head that we had been using for our old TT. I was worried because the new TT is so much bigger and heavier,but when we hooked to it my truck ('99 F250 in sig) it barely squatted. So I'm pretty sure we can get it loaded to our liking. Phil