Ride quality with W/D Hitch

Wdh and sway control are two different things unless you get a wdh with integrated sway control (Reese dual cam, equal-i-zer etc). Wdh is used to redistribute the weight back to the front axle when the weight on the hitch has caused the front of the truck to rise creating you to be too light in the front and lose steering capabilities. Most vehicles tell you in the manual at what weight they require a wdh. I would not be surprised if yours is somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 lbs. With a tt gvwr of 3500 lbs you could potentially be at that Mark (ideal tongue weight is 13-15% of loaded weight). 13-15% of 3500 lbs is 455- 525 lbs. You could get o be for piece of mind or go get a sherline tongue scale and measure your tongue weight for a definitive answer. If it were me and I was close go that line I would get one.

Sway control is used to help maintain control and eliminate a sway condition (you still need to properly load etc) think of sway control as a back up safety device as you shouldn't have sway to begin with but it will help prevent it. A wdh with integrated sway control does both jobs. This is probably overkill for your trailer. You should be fine with a wdh and a simple sway bar.

Here is a real world experience. I was towing a heavy utility trailer with a couple pallets of cement. About the limit of my towing capacity without a WDH.

It wasn't bad weather, but a bit of rain. I was coming down a hill and got some bounce while in the midst of a good turn. The front end lost the slightest bit of grab and the ANTI-LOCK/ANTI-SKID system kicked in.

Even though I was applying the brakes, the anti-lock system allowed it to move anyways. I had to straighten my turn to keep proper control (like steering into a skid) and ended up across the double yellow line.

Fortunately, nothing was coming and no problems. But those 1.5-3.0 seconds (seemed like minutes!) convinced me to move right away to WDH and properly distributed the load across both tow vehicle axles.

It's your life and that of your family. Stack the deck in your favor. Buy the WDH.

Granted, you got it home, and I may have done the same thing on a very limited and temporary basis, but set it up right and set it up once.

The piddly $$ spent on proper WDH, sway control, and brake controller will make your ride safer and may even make a huge difference some day that you may never even know about!

BTW, I am not one to waste $$ on 'feel good' equipment.

colliehauler wrote:

BarneyS wrote:
Generally, using a WD hitch will improve the ride, steering, braking, and safety of towing just about any TT that has a tongue weight at or near the receiver limits for weight carrying ability.

It is illegal to tow without trailer brakes for a trailer that size/weight in all states as far as I know. Regardless of law though, it is certainly NOT recommended!
Barney

X 2

X3

I had a Dodge 1/2 ton with a trailer same size as you are talking about. The second year we had it we used a WD hitch. Night and day difference. Make sure you set it up properly.

JJ Spectre wrote:
You'll want sway control, and you'll need a brake controller, but you could probably get away with out WD.

OP - Agreed. You need brakes though.

BarneyS wrote:
Generally, using a WD hitch will improve the ride, steering, braking, and safety of towing just about any TT that has a tongue weight at or near the receiver limits for weight carrying ability.

It is illegal to tow without trailer brakes for a trailer that size/weight in all states as far as I know. Regardless of law though, it is certainly NOT recommended!
Barney

X 2

Thanks everyone.
Barney: I do now have brakes,had to repair wiring after getting it home.Went through brakes, bearings, tires etc.
JJ Spectre: I do know that the previous owner, pulled it with a Bravo without W/D or sway.
TNRIVERSIDE: Thanks for your thoughts.

I have never had a TT. We sold our 30'Fiver last spring, and just could not stand not having something.

We had a F 150 an pulled an 18' TT, our first season without a WD, then the next with a WD. It was like day an night the DD was able to relax, the camper pulled like it was part of the truck. Trucks, buses an any large vehicle that we met did not phase us.

You'll want sway control, and you'll need a brake controller, but you could probably get away with out WD.

Generally, using a WD hitch will improve the ride, steering, braking, and safety of towing just about any TT that has a tongue weight at or near the receiver limits for weight carrying ability.

It is illegal to tow without trailer brakes for a trailer that size/weight in all states as far as I know. Regardless of law though, it is certainly NOT recommended!
Barney