Hi folks,We are new to camping. We have a 26' Jayco Eagle 5200#. My tow vehicle is a 2012 GMC 1500 pickup with tow package. My question is; do we really need wt distributing and/or anti-sway mechanisms? After studying these things, they don't look like they really do anything. I have towed this trailer several times already with no problems. I see dealers pulling rigs all the time with no wt dist bars.

1st advice would be to check the tow rating of your truck and hitch. There should be a regular rating and then one for weight distributing. My hitch requires a weight distributing hitch for anything over 5000lbs. Your trailer on my F350 Dually requires weight distributing.

I have anti sway on my F150 but I still use a WDH along with sway bars. I don't want to be the one responsible for someone else getting hurt or worse. As far as dealers towing TT all the time w/o WDH and anti sway, they are only towing for short distances and not 100s of miles. I would rather be cautious than to learn the hard way.

I don't know what you've "studied", but they do ALOT. I have a similar setup as yours. 2011 GMC 1500 with a TT that is 5450lbs dry (Im assuming your 5200lb is dry). Tow package with my truck too.Without the WD hitch the back end of truck sits a good ways down as does the tongue of the trailer. A "v" at the hitch. With WD it is perfectly level, and tows great. Anti Sway is a must too. First time you get passed by a semi on the freeway or a large gust of wind, you'll be wishing you had it for sure. Trust me, and probably everyone who posts in reply, it is a very necessary piece of equipment. Don't skimp.Mike

If 5200 lbs is your unloaded weight, you are probably pushing 6000 lbs loaded. Average tongue weight being about 12.5 percent of loaded trailer weight, would be about 750 lbs.When you hang that 700 plus pound on your rear axle, it takes a significant amount of weight off your front axle. That reduces your steering control. If you had to make an evasive movement, that loss of steering could be enough to cause an accident. The primary function of a weight distributing hitch, is to restore that lost weight to your front axle.

And the weight is not actually on your rear axle but about 4' behind your rear axle. That's a pretty long lever and multiplies the amount of load actually on the rear axle raising the front end even more than a 750LB load in the truck bed would.

Anti sway, wt distribution | Good Sam Community

39 Replies

LarryJM
Explorer II
Aug 09, 2015
TomG2 wrote:
LarryJM wrote:
I'm not sure any vehicle manufacturer specifies what weight can safely be removed from any particular vehicle and still maintain the same level of safety handling wise.

Larry
r

What else does it mean when GM says 0% replacement is required when towing a 6,000 pound trailer with a 1500? GM has a lot more to lose by misleading their customers than the "Internet Experts". I am not here to sell GM or defend their engineers. It is interesting that they changed their minds in the last few years, something that some of the "Internet Experts" don't seem able to do.

O.K. then supply an actual verifiable reference that states "0% is required when towing a 6,000 lb trailer".

Sorry I just don't beleive any manufacturer would say removing like 600lbs or more than 25% of the wt. from a front axle is O.K.

BTW HERE is an ACTUAL 2013 GM towing document and notice it says for a 3 to 5K trailer you are allowed 600lb max tongue wt. and can use either a WD or non WD hitch, however for trailers above 5K (next line in the above document) it requires a WDH and a max tongue of 1200lbs so right there your 6000 non WDH WILD *** GUESS clearly says you must use a WDH. Yep you have to be carefull of these INTERNET EXPERTS like yourself that spew anything w/o verifiable information.

Larry
TomG2
Explorer
Aug 09, 2015
LarryJM wrote:
I'm not sure any vehicle manufacturer specifies what weight can safely be removed from any particular vehicle and still maintain the same level of safety handling wise.

Larry
r

What else does it mean when GM says 0% replacement is required when towing a 6,000 pound trailer with a 1500? GM has a lot more to lose by misleading their customers than the "Internet Experts". I am not here to sell GM or defend their engineers. It is interesting that they changed their minds in the last few years, something that some of the "Internet Experts" don't seem able to do.
deltabravo
Nomad
Aug 09, 2015
Dan Vitale wrote:
My question is; do we really need wt distributing and/or anti-sway mechanisms?

They really DO "do something"
The weight distribution hitch system distributes the weight onto the tow vehicle, transferring some of the weight back to the front axle of the truck.

I always tow with w weight distribution system, even though I have a 2500 series truck and sometimes tow small trailers (16-20')
Tequila
Explorer
Aug 09, 2015
When i first hitched my 5500 lb dry trailer up to my chev dually with supersprings, I did not need weight distribution, the truck & trailer were perfectly level. Th picture in my sig was without them and you can see its level. I took that on my way towing it home, before i got bars. I put it on anyway. I bought a set with built in sway control and although I had to put little tension on them they did help with sway. I have now gone to 1 ton SRW and I need them more. This truck does not have supersprings, no point unless I want to put a heavy truck camper on it, but i did put Torklift stable loads on the back and they helped a lot.

As others have mentioned, insurance. I will likely look at a Pro Pride hitch down the road which is based on the Hensley. Big investment. I make 2 return trips a year well into Mexico and this fall will be the first one with this newer truck. I will see how it handles first.
LarryJM
Explorer II
Aug 09, 2015
TomG2 wrote:
The Ford owners may know about Fords, but you might want to check what GM says in your Owner's manual about towing. For one thing, I believe your receiver is rated for 800 pounds without WD and 1100 with. Another is that it looks like GM requires 50% replacement of front axle weight loss, not the 100% often mentioned by those not familiar with your tow vehicle.

I would suggest following the above advice in reverse order. Get real weights before you start throwing money and guesses at your situation.

I'm not sure what you are trying to say or even hinting at. IMO whatever a receiver might be rated at is one one small part of the overall towing stability equation. Anytime you hang something like tongue wt. aft of the rear axle you will remove wt. from the all important steer axle. Thus the real question is what does GM say specifiy as the max that can be removed from the front axle before you need WDH? That's the real question from a safety standpoint. I'm not sure any vehicle manufacturer specifies what weight can safely be removed from any particular vehicle and still maintain the same level of safety handling wise.

Larry
LarryJM
Explorer II
Aug 09, 2015
jake2250 wrote:
Hook it up and tow it home, That will tell you if you need WD, Can't see it from my front porch so I am not about to sell you on it! If you feel you got the truck for it than by all means its a waste of money to you!

IMO this is some of the WORST and bordering on potentially fatal information I have seen in a long time. Going by this "seat of the pants" especially for someone new is the last thing that any sane person would recommend.

In this particular case my first guess would be at these potential weights and with a lower end TV capability wise using a WDH with integral sway or a WDH system with the separate sway bar would be prudent and sure can't hurt. A WDH some sort of sway control system if IMO important when towing any full profile trailer since that is potentially a lot of "sail area" back there and there are a lot more considerations besides just weights to ensure a properly matched and stable towing combination.

Larry
Huntindog
Explorer
Aug 09, 2015
TomG2 wrote:
What contest? GM specifies what equipment is required and they have a lot more to lose than any of us. I go with their requirements. If they say my engine "Requires" peanut oil, then Mr. Carter better start planting peanuts. WD hitches are often "Optional" and if you feel you need one, get one. No problem. Just don't tell me that I "have" to install something that GM and I agree is not necessary and my experience confirms.
Why are you pissing at me? I did not state any thoughts on what is the correct method. For all you know, I may see it your way... I simply am not going to get into it with anyone. It won't change anyones minds.

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig.
texasAUtiger
Explorer
Aug 09, 2015
Dan Vitale wrote:
Hi folks,
We are new to camping. We have a 26' Jayco Eagle 5200#. My tow vehicle is a 2012 GMC 1500 pickup with tow package. My question is; do we really need wt distributing and/or anti-sway mechanisms? After studying these things, they don't look like they really do anything. I have towed this trailer several times already with no problems. I see dealers pulling rigs all the time with no wt dist bars.

I don't know where you live or camp, but come on out to Texas much less Wyoming or Montana with the wind catching that 26' sail that already weighs as much as your half ton truck and see what happens.
aftermath
Explorer III
Aug 09, 2015
This debate has been around for a long, long time. It is a hard one when you consider the vast variety of combinations out there. There are the macho types that tow with a one ton diesel and probably don't need a WD hitch. You, and I for that matter are towing with a half ton. Adding springs and shocks might be a way to level out your rig but I am not sure if they actually add weight back to your steer axle.

When I started towing I was pulling a 21 ft hybrid with a 4Runner and I really wanted something to prevent sway issues. I went with an Equalizer brand hitch because it had WD and built in sway control. I have never been a fan of the add on sway bars as I feel that they are just another piece that you have to deal with. My brother has them and will often leave them off. He says he hooks them up when he will "need" it. I asked him how he could tell when that might be and of course he really didn't know.

My hitch is easy to hook up, I have restored almost all of the weight back to the front axle and the trailer is riding nice and level. I have one less thing to worry about as I go down the road.

Some say a properly set up trailer will not sway. Well, how about the handling during a blow out, a passing semi during high wind conditions and the panic evasive move? Hard to predict things like this.
Mark_and_Linda
Explorer
Aug 08, 2015
I have a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado with a 5.3L and the tow package. I added Timbren Load Enhancement to the rear...use with my Pro Series WDH with SC. It is rated at 14k with the bars at 1,100. I pull a 2007 Puma 25RS with no problem. I added a Friction Sway bar also for interstates. Helps tremendously when around trucks. I have worked with my WDH and finally got it adjusted where I am comfortable with the steering of my truck. Would not leave home without my set up...

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Anti sway, wt distribution

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