Wow, you guys have really been busy. I almost feel guilty for enjoying a week on beautiful Lake of the Woods without having a single nit to pick.
The week's absence has given me the opportunity to view the second half of this thread almost as an "outsider" might. Given that the number of posts now exceeds 135, I fully agree that a summary is in order. As originator of the topic, I have the privilege of editing the initial post and would like to place a consensus summary at the opening of that post.
I think our most important audience are those New Members who are using the ORF Search feature to find information about using a WD hitch. I also think our objective should be to encourage them to use a WD hitch when appropriate. In trying to figure out how best to get our message across, I have envisioned the following dialog between New Member and Senior Member (note: I have chosen "Senior Member" not because they are wisest and most experienced, but rather because they seem to have the most to say).
NM: Why do I need a WD hitch?
SM: Because, when you hook your TT to your TV, the TT’s tongue weight on the hitch causes an increased load on the TV’s rear axle and a decreased load on the TV’s front axle.
NM: Why is that bad?
SM: The increased rear axle load might exceed that axle’s load rating. Perhaps more importantly, the decreased front axle load might cause diminished steering response and braking action.
NM: How does the WD hitch change that?
SM: The WD hitch changes the amount of load carried on each of the TV/TT axles. The TV’s rear axle load is decreased and the TV’s front axle load and the TT’s axle(s) load are increased.
NM: I’ve heard you need a certain amount of tongue weight for sway stability. Does the WD hitch change the tongue weight?
SM: No, the tongue weight remains the same. The WD hitch simply changes the way the total weight of TV and TT is carried by the TV and TT axles.
How would all of you respond to this New Member's questions? If we can agree on the best way to respond, then I think we have the summary we are looking for.
It's good to be back on the Forum.
Ron
On edit: Added phrase, "when appropriate", to third paragraph.
