Weight Distribution hitch..

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