Question about WD Hitch adjustment???

rbpru wrote:
Here is one for you, when I picked up my trailer, during the walk through, the dealer showed me how to work the Blue OX WD hitch. He counted 7 links and said I might have to adjust a link when loaded so that the TT and TV sat level. Simple enough, drove it home and parked it in the snow.

A couple of months later I hitched up and counted the 7 links but something was wrong. :E I needed 9 or 10 links for a level trailer!!:h

Well eventually it dawned on me, the dealer counted links from the bar to the frame mount. I was counting links from the end of the chain to the mount. :o :S

Life has a way of reminding you that you are a mere mortal. :W

Easy to do! Many people will mark the link they usually use for their loaded trailer. Many ways to mark a link.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Here is one for you, when I picked up my trailer, during the walk through, the dealer showed me how to work the Blue OX WD hitch. He counted 7 links and said I might have to adjust a link when loaded so that the TT and TV sat level. Simple enough, drove it home and parked it in the snow.

A couple of months later I hitched up and counted the 7 links but something was wrong. :E I needed 9 or 10 links for a level trailer!!:h

Well eventually it dawned on me, the dealer counted links from the bar to the frame mount. I was counting links from the end of the chain to the mount. :o :S

Life has a way of reminding you that you are a mere mortal. :W

Take a long look at this thread if you have not already done so. :)
Barney

I measure at the front and rear bumpers MT. Hook up and measure again. Now set the chains on different links, remeasuring.

Doesn't give weight in pounds, but indicates weight transfer.

APT wrote:
The ones that count are the ones under tension. Every WDH manufacturer that uses chains lists requirements for links under tension.

And if you put your rig into a tight turn, stop, get out and look at the position of the bars, you'll understand why.
I, too, vote for putting a washer in the hitch head and keeping the bars parallel to the trailer frame.

Teach

Would add another washer to the hitch head and hang with the same link

camp-n-family wrote:
I count the links from the other end, the ones hanging. The more that are hanging loose (or used up), leaving fewer between the bar and frame, creates more tension. For example, if I have 8 links to use and start on the first (farthest from the bar) I have very little tension. For more tension I "use" up more links and go to the 4th....

Don't do that. The hanging links are not used up. They have no value. The ones that count are the ones under tension. Every WDH manufacturer that uses chains lists requirements for links under tension. Like Reese I believe says 5 links under tension minimum, no fewer. Fewer links under tension = more weight distribution to front axle and trailer axles.

OP, the weights you provided are helpful but you need to weight at least 3 times to understand how well your WDH is adjusted. Depending on your truck, your goal is to adjust the WDH such that the trucks front axle weight about the same as when the truck has no trailer attached. So if the truck's front axle weight was 3400 pounds empty, then you probably need more WD. If it was 2800, then you applied too much.

camp-n-family wrote:

Generally the more links under tension, the more weight transferred.


Are you sure about that???
For the Reese system that I have, it is the exact opposite. The fewer links that I have under tension, the shorter the distance between the trailer frame and spring bars. Therefore, more tension would be applied to the spring bars and ultimately, more weight distributed to the front axles.

Maybe I'm talking about a different type of system geometry than the OP. If so, my info doesn't apply.

I should maybe re-word it to "the more links used up, the more weight transferred". The way you explain it is also correct. I count the links from the other end, the ones hanging. The more that are hanging loose (or used up), leaving fewer between the bar and frame, creates more tension. For example, if I have 8 links to use and start on the first (farthest from the bar) I have very little tension. For more tension I "use" up more links and go to the 4th....

Ivylog wrote:
What, someone actually weighed their rig. In a previous post your trailer loaded weight was 7200 so yes I'd go one more link.

Yep...some people on here actually ask for advice and follow it...the wonders never cease!!! I will be going one link "tighter" for lack of a better term and see what the results are. The trailer still is oh so slightly nose down at the moment.

Thanks again all...

This ought to be an interesting post. My thoughts, the more links used, the more weight transferred to the front axle. My set-up as weighed has 2600 lbs on the front axle not hooked up & 2540 lbs front when connected to the TT.

ON EDIT: I stated this backwards. I have 4-links under tension, & the bars are parallel to the frame.