Tongue weight limits and wdh
What happens with the tongue weight limit when you are using a weight distributing hitch? My Tacoma says the the tongue weight limit is 650 lbs. Does that mean that if my trailer has a tongue weigh...
Forum Discussion
ktmrfs wrote:
WDH does NOT repeat NOT change the tongue weight. All it does is move weight from the truck rear axle to the truck front axle and trailer axles. If you look at the weights before and after of the axles the total will be the same. Therefore tongue weight hasn't changed.
Function of a WDH is NOT to take weight off the tongue, it is to move weight from the TV rear axle to the TV front axle and trailer axle.
Think of this experiment. you have a wheelbarrow loaded with stuff and you and the wheelbarrow are on a scale. You lift up on the handle does the overall weight change?? NO. the weight on the wheelbarrow front tire goes up, the weight on your feet goes up, the weight on the rear of the wheelbarrow feet goes down. Your arms are acting like the WD hitch.
Actually, yes, it does reduce the tongue weight. It's not the purpose as you indicate but it is a side effect.
Your wheelbarrow analogy is incorrect. Since your wrists are points of rotation, they do not have a similar effect to a WDH.
Go down to a CAT scale and weigh with and without the hitch connected. I'll put down $100 with 10-1 odds in your favor that the trailer axle weights increase when the WDH is connected.
Think of it this way. The bars are locked into the truck hitch (and frame). The bars push down on the trailer A-frame. Since the ball is a pivot point it can only push up. It can't apply a moment arm. The bar connection is behind ball by a couple feet. Since the ball can't resist the moment created by that 2ft lever arm...Some of that downward force must be carried by the trailer axles of the trailer would begin rotating down.
