The manufacturers suggest by their wording that tongue weight is distributed to and borne mostly on the rear axle.
A common thread among this discussion is that it seems that we are getting hung up on the words "distribute" and "transferred". The first definition for distribute in our dated Websters is "to divide among several or many: apportion" while the third definition is "deliver". So when the tongue weight is distributed, it is being apportioned to the various axles, but not necessarily delivered, as in to hand over. The tongue weight is supported by the rear axle, and the ground beneath the rear axle. But the tongue weight is still there at the tongue/ball interface. If the tongue weight were not supported by the rear TV axle, the rear of the TV would not sink as the jack support is removed.
Unfortunately the manufacturers suggest that tongue weight is transferred to the rear axle of the TV upon ordinary hookup.
Perhaps a less confusing way of putting it is that tongue weight is transmitted through the rear axle of the TV to the ground upon ordinary hookup. Again, looking at it from the ground's point of view, the weight that was originally supported by the tongue jack or whatever now seems to be supported by the rear axle (plus some weight transferred from the front axle to the rear axle by the lever effect). The tongue weight itself is not transferred as in given to the TV. The TV hasn't gotten heavier, but pull it (not the trailer) onto a scale with the trailer hooked up and it would weigh more.
In very simple engineering terminology, there are a series of actions and reactions from the tongue to the ground. At the hitch/ball interface, the hitch is pushing down with a force of 650#, while the ball is pushing up with a force of 650#. Similar thinking goes all the way to the tire/ground interface.
So, have we distributed the 900# "tongue weight"?
Nope, it's still where it was to begin with. But we have re-distributed the 900# load which was transferred from the tongue jack to the TV's axles.
With all respect to Ron, when I took my engineering classes, the answer would have said "Yes" to the question. We didn't use the word distribute to mean as one distributes candy on Halloween (to give away), but rather as to apportion the load among the load bearing members. The load (tongue weight) is still where it was to begin with, but how and where it reaches the ground has changed with the WDH.
What happened to the "tongue weight"?
Nothing. The coupler still is pressing on the ball with a force of 900#.
Well, the loads on the TV's axles INCREASED by 1350-450 = 900#. Where did that come from? Some trailer weight must have been transferred from somewhere.
Nope, the 900# on the axles simply results from a relocation of the 900# reaction which previously was provided by the tongue jack. The loads on the TV's axles have changed, but the "tongue weight" has not changed.
Here, the word "transferred" trips us all up. I would leave out that entire sentence and say:
What happened to the "tongue weight"?
Nothing. The coupler still is pressing on the ball with a force of 900#.
The loads on the TV's axles INCREASED by 1350-450 = 900#. Where did that come from? The 900# on the axles simply results from a relocation of the 900# reaction which previously was provided by the tongue jack. The loads on the TV's axles have changed, but the "tongue weight" has not changed.
So let me modify the Draw-Tite definition to get rid of those pesky transferred's and distributed's:
"Weight distributing hitches apply leverage between the towing vehicle and trailer causing the tongue weight to be carried by all axles of the tow vehicle and trailer. This allows trailers with greater tongue weights to be towed and results in a more level ride which reduces stress on the rear of the tow vehicle and provides greater steering and brake control."
This definition steers us away from the techical explanation of removing loads from the rear axle and distributing it to the TV front axle and trailer axles. But for someone trying to simply understand what a WDH does, this definition won't cloud the issue by talking about distributing tongue weight and the confusion the word "distributing" could cause. If they want to get into the technicalities of this issue, they can wade through all of this thread themselves. :)
