proper way to hook up weight distribution hitch

While I have an Equalizer hitch, the setup concept should be the same for all of them.

"Ideally", the tow vehicle should compress equally on all four corners. The instructions for mine say to measure the gap between the fender, and the top of each tire on the tow vehicle. Hitch up to the trailer, measure again. If the gap hasn't decreased equally, the hitch will have to be dialed in.

As a visual example of what a proper setup looks like:



Our current TT hitched to my previous tow vehicle. This setup worked very well. Traded the vehicle in after 90K miles for a bigger truck... wanted to haul more "stuff".

This is my BIL's truck when he met us at a campground. The dealer setup his hitch. Same brand as mine, but look how it loaded up the back of his truck:



The dealer apparently never read the instructions. No weight was put on the spring bars. It took me about 10 minutes, at the campground, to adjust his hitch properly. I basically added washers to tip the hitch head, which transfers the weight to the spring bars. Your hitch might use chains to transfer the weight to the bars.

My BIL couldn't believe the difference in the drive home. The swaying and bouncing went away.

Take your time, and you will be very happy with the results!

BarneyS wrote:
See here. :)
Barney

and also read this;
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/14265335.cfm

If it looks like a pro series , set it up as a pro series , and fine tune from there

YouTube Video:

Click here.

Id love to identify it... but no markings on it at all... but looks just like a reese pro series....

That forum discussion linked to by Barney should if nothing else illustrate that while the basic principles of weight distribution are haven't changed over the years each type of weight distribution system does have it's own requirements for proper setup and operation. Having set up many different types of WD systems myself I'd suggest the OP's first step would be to identify just what type of WD system he has, then refer to the correct installation & set up instructions for that particular type of system, otherwise he'll just be guessing.

Please see Barney's link on how to adjust it. Once adjusted, this is how I hook up:

Lower tongue on ball
latch ball
Raise tongue
Attach WD bars
Lower tongue

That procedure is greatly improved when using an electric tongue jack.

One trick I learned years ago and will continue to use involves using the tongue jack. After your initial set up between vehicle and trailer you will always use the same link in the chain. Mark that link with a little paint, elevate the tongue/car with the tongue jack, install your chains and raise your tongue jack. Creating that V between the car and tongue takes the load off the chains where you attach them to the tongue brackets and makes flipping the rockers to the lock position much easier.
Randy

See here. :)
Barney

As I stated I do not know the brand of WDH it is...