traildog66 wrote:
Rexlion I always thought the hitch weight would come off of your payload not the TW. I've never read or heard anyone reference adding the weight of the hitch to the tongue weight, but have always heard to subtract it from the payload.
Most WD hitches are easily 100lbs which would drastically impact the tongue load ratings for most TV's. I see how it could add to the tongue weight but isn't the WD hitch system designed to transfer part of that tongue load to the rear and front axles and negate that weight?
I just bought a Sherline TW scale and I didn't see anywhere in the instructions where you add the hitch weight to that scale reading. I really hope I'm correct in this otherwise I would assume most of us 1/2 ton guys could be pushing the limits.
What may be confusing you is, weight of the WD hitch does subtract from your payload, as does the tongue weight from the trailer. Adding WD hitch weight to tongue weight, only gives you one number to subtract from payload.
Weight of the WD hitch will remain constant. Subtracting it from payload first, gives you a range of tongue weight and trailer weights that will keep you under payload and GVWR on the tow vehicle.
WD hitch does transfer some weight back to trailer axles, however, it is a relatively small percentage.
Weight ratings are based on powertrain, frame, axles, brakes, suspension, and tires. Manufactures tend to brag about how much weight their vehicles can "pull". In the small print is where they post the GVWR and payloads (what it can carry). The problem is, the vehicle may be able to "pull" XXX number of pounds, if it is on a sled, or wagon, that does not add weight to what the vehicle can "carry". With a travel trailer, the tow vehicle has to do both, pull the trailer weight, and carry the tongue weight. Not only 1/2 tons, run into pushing their limits on what they can carry, and your assumptions are correct.
Kind of like this analogy:
You've got a wagon load of bricks that weighs 2000 lbs. You can pull it by yourself. Now, take 400 lbs of bricks off the wagon and put them on your back. You still have 2000 lbs of bricks, but, the pull is completely different, because, your legs can't support that extra 400 lbs.
