what if tongue weight is the only "problem"?
I just set up my Airstream 28' with a 2016 F250 diesel equipped with Ride Rite airbags and an adjustable height hitch. As set up, my setup at about 20 lbs in the airbags gives me a level truck and le...
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Turtle n Peeps wrote:Lantley wrote:
Ideally the WDH will keep front axle weight the same as unhitched.
Exactly, and that's what you don't want. I know it's been parroted over and over on here but it's just not a good thing to do and even the manufacture have finally realized it.
As I have already stated, a 50/50 weight on both the front and rear axel is the best for handling and braking on any vehicle. Ever notice how the new trucks have their engine tucked up under the dash? There is a reason for that. They are trying to build a 50/50 front to rear weight bias. In the racing game we take it to the extreme by taking tire temperatures on all 4 tires and 3 different areas. We want all of the tires to do the same amount of work. And before anybody starts; it doesn't matter if this vehicle is an Indy car and a F350.
Pickups are inherently front end heavy because of how they are made. Diesel trucks are more so because of the big ol block of iron and aluminum sitting right on the front axel.
And while I'm on the subject. Ever notice that WD hitch manufactures and pickup truck manufactures don't recommend to bring the height of the front tire and the wheel well opening back to unhitched height anymore. Have any idea why they are doing that; because I do. They are trying to get more towards that 50/50 weight bias that I have talked about for years.
With my truck and travel trailer, setting the WD hitch to 100% FALR has resulted in nearly a 50/50 balance on the truck axles. Anything less that 100% would have resulted in the drive axle being substantially more than 50%.
At this setting, the truck and trailer drive very well indeed.
This discussion of using 50% FALR, vs 100%, vs "more than 100%" ( equal squat ) is still a hotly contested debate among many "experts".
EDIT: the Nissan owner manual states that when using WD hitch, the front ride height should be returned to between 0" and 1/2" higher than unloaded height. In other words, they suggest that 100% FALR is an appropriate setting.
