IdaD wrote:
Lantley wrote:
The idea that you need to somehow balance the weight between the axles is a farce. You really want to maintain your original FA weight. You are not trying to equalize the weights between the axles.
A 5th wheel trailer is designed to place all the weight on the rear axle and little to no additional weight on the front axle.
A bumper pull wants to achieve a similar balance. The idea to to maintain the front axle weight.
A bumper pull trailer is attached to the truck behind the rear axle vs. above the rear axle on a 5'er.
The purpose of WDH is to keep the initial weight on the front axle. It is not to balance the weight between the axles.:h
Even a 1 ton SRW pick will benefit from a WDH. There is no way to attach 1500# 3' behind the rear axle and not remove weight from the front axle.:@ A trip to the CAT scales will easily prove this point.
With no weight distribution involved. The FA will weigh hundreds of lbs. less with the trailer attached vs. without the trailer.
Apply a WDH and you can restore the weight to the front axle.
The truck will always handle/steer better with the front axle at it original weight vs. being lighter than when it left the factory.
There is really no debate
His front axle with the trailer attached is still significantly heavier than a gas version of his truck with no trailer or with a trailer plus WDH. I could see wanting to add sway control but I just don't understand why a WDH would be necessary in OP's scenario.
A gas truck is designed to operate with steering and suspension parts based on the weight of the engine and the overall curb weight of the truck.
The idea that if its a good enough balance for a gasser it must be good enough for a diesel does not apply.
Each vehicle must be taken on it own merits. You don't get to ,mix and match parameters.
If a 9K curb unloaded truck has a 4K front axle weight. It does not make it OK to have a 3500# front axle weight with a bumper pull trailer
based on the fact that a gasser may also have a 3500# unloaded axle weight. The gasser is also lighter with a (different) 8k curb weight.
Again you must take each vehicle on its own merits
