Travel Trailer Newb question RE: WDH

Get an Andersen hitch. Easy hitching, smoothest riding and quietest hitch I have ever had. A quick search on any forum will result in lots of hits.
Good luck

^You can’t just “turn off” the auto function.

I love this forum! I appreciate everyone's input. If the TT is the way we go I will definitely get the WDH and negotiate hard to get it thrown in.

I have been told that you can also use the rule of 3rds, of course with ALL the variables with tow vehicles and TT’s it is approximate. With a tongue weight of 600# when your WDH is properly set up it will transfer APPROXIMATELY 200# to the TV rear axle, 200# to the front axle and 200# back to the TT axles.

Go to a House Furniture mover, Van And Storage, CAT scales, feedlot or grain elevator will all have scales. Weight the front axle and the rear axle of the tow vehicle w/o the TT connected. Hook up the TT w/o the WDH engaged. Weight the front and rear axles and the TT axles all separately. Drive the rig around a little to see how it handles. Go back to your scales, engage the WDH spring bars, hang the recommended # of links, reweigh everything, go for another drive, change lanes turn corners etc. maybe you will have to tighten up the chains or possibly loosen them. I prefer to have the front of the TT slightly low.

Obviously the TV and TT have to be loaded like they will be when going on a trip, and record ALL the numbers so you can look at the different weights with or with out the WDH. You also measure and record the wheel well of the TT to the ground to adjust the WDH chain links.

Now how the TV auto leveling enters in to the operation I really don’t know, maybe talking to the TV dealer and/or the TT dealer can answer if you should have the the auto function turned on or off.

I'm experimenting not using my WDH...Silverado 1500 with 5200 pounds wet and loaded/22 foot box TT. For instance there is less 18 wheeler sway passing me with the 1500 w/o WDH than there was with the 2015 Tahoe with WDH. Longer wheel base probably.

Had a long winded reply typed up and the site crashed.
Short answer, your rig won’t struggle with a trailer that size at all.
You may want a wdh and antisway based on your preference, or if the trailer has inherently bad weight distribution or axle placement, but you may not need one at all.

I like the “I got it free with my trailer” comments. No, you didn’t. You got it included in the overall price. 2 different things, but a nice way to justify it.

I would suggest taking a drive with the trailer without and determine your need personally before spending the money. Unless of course you get one for “free.”

kellem wrote:
Dealer will likely throw one in during negotiation.

That was the case for me too.

5k lbs dry weight will end up around 6k lbs ready to travel. proper tongue weight should be around 12%. that would put you at 750lbs give or take a few. you will need a WD hitch for 800/8000lbs.

I towed a 19 foot trailer for six year with one and then I towed a 25 footer for six more years with one, and I would never tow without one unless it was a small pop up.
With out one, every time a 18 wheeler comes flying by you, you'll wish you had one.

Guy

HawkTX wrote:
My wife and I are not new to the RV world, but new to travel trailers and considering one. Our towing vehicle is a 2016 GMC Yukon Denali with the 6.2L which has the integrated braking controller, rear air leveler, and can tow up to 8500lbs. We are looking at the 2020 FOREST RIVER RV FLAGSTAFF MICRO LITE 22FBS. Which is 23ft 10 inches long and weighs 5004lbs, which I have been told should work nicely. My question is...Do I need a WDH (weight distribution hitch) for this length travel trailer or will I be fine just towing tongue to hitch. I've owned motorhomes and 5th wheels, but this is my first travel trailer.

Looking at a 20ft as well so same question on that one.

Any thoughts and recommendations would be appreciated.

Truth is. With that TT, and that TV with out a WDH. You will hard pressed to keep it on the road. The front end of the TV will be so light as to almost be off the road.

A WDH does way more than "level" the rig. Leveling the rig is just a side benefit of the WDH. Air bags can level it. But will NOT return lost weight to the front axle, and so return steering control. You cannot control the vehicle with a super light front steering axle. A WDh returns lost weight, and steering control to the steering axle.

And as you do have air leveling. Setting up the WDH will be different. Refer to your owner's manual for instructions.

Most will tell you to go to a level parking lot. Unhook the TT. Let the TV level itself, and before it can lower, disable the air ride. Then drop the trailer back down on the ball and adjust the hitch. After you have it correctly adjusted. You them turn the air ride back on. You don't have to turn it off any more.

If you let the TV lower after turning it off, and adjust the hitch. When you start it, and it raises. It will change the setting of the hitch, and will no longer do it's job as well.

Do NOT try to tow that trailer with that TV with out a properly adjusted WDH.