Everyone he asks and everything he reads, tells him to use a weight distribution hitch. 31 foot fiberglass travel trailer, 6300 Dry, 8000 pounds gross. Pulling with a beast for sure, 2015 Chevy 3500 with the diesel single wheel, not dully. Problem??? He was sold and was on his way to get one, when he came across the Chevy towing website that said for that truck, and heavy duty trucks, standard weight distribution hitches are not needed. Now he is really confused. I couldn't find it, but I did find it under the Ford site, which said the same thing as Chevy. I enclose it's reading.Ford Towing GuideClass III – Heavy-Duty 3,501-5,000 lb. Gross Trailer Weight 500 lb. Gross Tongue Weight Used for dual-axle or large single-axle travel trailers Used on properly equipped trucks and SUVs Conventional weight-distributing hitch not required unless specified for a particular vehicle - See more at: http://support.ford.com/vehicle-features/guide-to-towing#sthash.M1SbQ1wU.dpufFunny thing is that it says it does for the next category, really confuses me:Class IV – Extra-Heavy-Duty 5,001-12,000 lb. Gross Trailer Weight 1,200 lb. Gross Tongue Weight Used for the largest travel and fifth-wheel trailers made for recreation Used on trucks and SUVs; most can be equipped to handle trailers in this class Most applications require a conventional weight-distributing or fifth-wheel hitch - See more at: http://support.ford.com/vehicle-features/guide-to-towing#sthash.QHqC6KYE.dpufI don't understand it myself, because I use a Chevy 2500 pull trailers with backhoes on them that way more than a travel trailer, and never have I seen a weight distribution hitch on any of this heavy equipment that we tote. Yet it's need it for a lighter RV?

Your friend doesn't NEED a weight distribution hitch with a 3500 truck and a TT. But he probably needs it for his receiver. Receivers have two ratings typically.... One for weight carrying and one for weight distribution. The weight distribution rating is typically much higher. If he is going to go without weight distribution he needs to make sure that the receiver is rated for the tongue weight. If the receiver can't handle the tongue weight without weight distribution than he can purchase a higher rated receiver. He will also need a draw bar rated to handle the weight of the tongue... Typically the $19.00 draw bars are too weak for a big travel trailer. regardless, a WD hitch will make his rig ride much better. My last truck was a F350 Dually and I had a 7700 lb travel trailer. Without the WD the truck handled the trailer fine. But the ride was much smoother with the WD hitch.Regardless of if your friend goes for WD or not, I would suggest running sway control. The sway control is in place for those times when you really need it... If you don't have sway control of some sort and something goes bad...it's too late to do anything about it but hold on and pray you get stopped. Most WD hitch heads have provisions for two sway bars, if the TT is over 24 ish ft then it is recommended to run two sway bars. If he decides to not run WD then he can have two sway bar mounts welded to his draw bar and still have sway control. Weight distribution is my recommendation. Thanks!Jeremiah

I agree with the above post. The weight rating is much higher with the WD bar set up.What type is he looking at?Have them read this too! ProPride HitchGood luck!Fred.

For a trailer that light have him check out Andersen WDH. I use one with my 2500HD and it makes towing nicer with less sway and chuck.

Truck has stabil trac with trailer sway control that supposedly senses when sway happens and auto adjusts the brakes to correct it.Now, that's what's ADVERTISED :) but, does it really work?

Didn't see where your Buddy has a Class III or Class IV hitch. that makes a difference. Your friend doesn't NEED a weight distribution hitch with a 3500 truck and a TT. But he probably needs it for his receiver. Receivers have two ratings typically.... One for weight carrying and one for weight distribution. The weight distribution rating is typically much higher. If he is going to go without weight distribution he needs to make sure that the receiver is rated for the tongue weight. I too am new to the idea of a WDH and have been doing some research. The statement above is why I am picking one up for my TT. My NTU TT specs sheet says is just over the rated 500lbs tongue weight for my Trucks class III receiver, I drove it home from the Dealer without a WDH and it handled fine so thought I was safe BUT.... Figure in the weight of batteries and full propane tanks added to the tongue that were probably not included in the factory specs... your friend will also need to consider the weight of any cargo in the bed that is BEHIND the rear axles. Add to that any cargo in the camper AHEAD of it's axles and maybe even a bike rack or Gen set... it all adds up. Like I said, I am all new to this and may be out in left field for your friends application. But I am picking up a WDH rated at 750 / 1000 lbs.

Posting for friend who has question about weight dist hitch

24 Replies

Plumber101010
Explorer
Dec 26, 2014
Truck has stabil trac with trailer sway control that supposedly senses when sway happens and auto adjusts the brakes to correct it.

Now, that's what's ADVERTISED :) but, does it really work?
hbillsmith
Explorer
Dec 26, 2014
For a trailer that light have him check out Andersen WDH. I use one with my 2500HD and it makes towing nicer with less sway and chuck.
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Dec 26, 2014
I agree with the above post. The weight rating is much higher with the WD bar set up.

What type is he looking at?

Have them read this too! ProPride Hitch

Good luck!

Fred.
jerem0621
Explorer II
Dec 26, 2014
Your friend doesn't NEED a weight distribution hitch with a 3500 truck and a TT. But he probably needs it for his receiver. Receivers have two ratings typically.... One for weight carrying and one for weight distribution. The weight distribution rating is typically much higher.

If he is going to go without weight distribution he needs to make sure that the receiver is rated for the tongue weight. If the receiver can't handle the tongue weight without weight distribution than he can purchase a higher rated receiver. He will also need a draw bar rated to handle the weight of the tongue... Typically the $19.00 draw bars are too weak for a big travel trailer.

regardless, a WD hitch will make his rig ride much better.

My last truck was a F350 Dually and I had a 7700 lb travel trailer. Without the WD the truck handled the trailer fine. But the ride was much smoother with the WD hitch.

Regardless of if your friend goes for WD or not, I would suggest running sway control. The sway control is in place for those times when you really need it... If you don't have sway control of some sort and something goes bad...it's too late to do anything about it but hold on and pray you get stopped.

Most WD hitch heads have provisions for two sway bars, if the TT is over 24 ish ft then it is recommended to run two sway bars.

If he decides to not run WD then he can have two sway bar mounts welded to his draw bar and still have sway control.

Weight distribution is my recommendation.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

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Posting for friend who has question about weight dist hitch

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