My question is pretty easy. I bought my Sportsmen used and the former owner let me his Equal-i-zer weight distribution hitch for free with the trailer. It's not the new lightweight 400 tongue/4K trailer model, it's the the big one (the 6000K) when my trailer only weight 2270 pounds!This WD thing is INCREDIBLY heavy, like 90 pounds for the shank and the sway bars... the WD hitch itself is very heavy on the rear suspension of my van and you need to remove and store it when the trailer is parker on campground!!!The tongue weight of my trailer is only 300 pounds actually, do you think I really need to add a 90 pounds devices to "equalize" weight on my vehicle? That doesn't make sense to me... adding 90 pounds to save on tongue weight? The rating of my Curt hitch is 400 pounds tongue without WD and 500 pounds with WD.If it's just a of sway control matter, I can install a small 40$ friction sway bar (Curt or Reese) and that's it... Moreover this WD hitch cost over 700$, so I can get a great price by selling it into the classifieds.Keep in mind my trailer is a 16-feet Sportsmen (2270 pounds / 300 pounds tongue) and the towing vehicle is a brand new 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan.Thank you very much!

Does the vehicle and trailer sit level without the WD hitch? If so you're probably ok. Tow without it and see if the front end feels light.

If you're camping near your home and don't have to get on the highway you may be fine without one but I wouldn't want to pass too many trucks or deal with wind without mine on. It is a pain sometimes but worth the hassle for me. I have a 24' 3900 lb TT.

Probably won't need it but you'll know more after you tow it. Have fun.

I understand about lateral wind, but it's still unclear in my mind how adding a 90 pounds device on the vehicle can keep the vehicle suspension levelled? The Equal-i-zer hitch alone put some major weight (and drop) on my rear suspension and the trailer isn't hooked yet! Thx.

The spring bars will lift that weight off the rear of your TV and transfer it to the front axle. That is the purpose of the WD hitch. What tongue weight is your hitch rated for? If close to 300 lbs, you need the WD hitch to decrease the tongue weight of the trailer on the rear of the TV.

Use a weight distribution hitch or not? | Good Sam Community

mikeh449
Explorer
May 30, 2014
if wdh causes you van to sag you should not pull anything looking at towing guide you are limited to 3600 # with towing package you will be over weight with any thing in the van but you
vlopddap
Explorer
May 30, 2014
One more question. If the rear of my vehicle is still lower than the front with the WD hitch in place, it's probably due to a bad WD adjustment from the former owner? If I want to increase weight transfert (make rear of the vehicle higher), what do I need to do on the WD hitch? Put some more flat washer on the adjustment pin I read somewhere??
vlopddap
Explorer
May 30, 2014
robsouth wrote:
The spring bars will lift that weight off the rear of your TV and transfer it to the front axle. That is the purpose of the WD hitch. What tongue weight is your hitch rated for? If close to 300 lbs, you need the WD hitch to decrease the tongue weight of the trailer on the rear of the TV.

As I told in my initial post, rating of the hitch is 400 pounds TW... that's the point! ;)

Rating is 400 pounds without WD hitch and 500 pounds with a WD hitch, it's in the hitch manual.
the_bear_II
Explorer
May 30, 2014
vlopddap wrote:
I understand about lateral wind, but it's still unclear in my mind how adding a 90 pounds device on the vehicle can keep the vehicle suspension levelled? The Equal-i-zer hitch alone put some major weight (and drop) on my rear suspension and the trailer isn't hooked yet! Thx.

The bars act as levers to transfer the weight towards the front of your van...hence the name weight distribution.

You can actually set it up so tight it will take a majority of the weight off of the rear wheels of the van to the point where they will lose traction. So the 90lbs is a moot point with this type of hitch.
robsouth
Explorer II
May 30, 2014
The spring bars will lift that weight off the rear of your TV and transfer it to the front axle. That is the purpose of the WD hitch. What tongue weight is your hitch rated for? If close to 300 lbs, you need the WD hitch to decrease the tongue weight of the trailer on the rear of the TV.
vlopddap
Explorer
May 30, 2014
I understand about lateral wind, but it's still unclear in my mind how adding a 90 pounds device on the vehicle can keep the vehicle suspension levelled? The Equal-i-zer hitch alone put some major weight (and drop) on my rear suspension and the trailer isn't hooked yet! Thx.
coolbreeze01
Explorer
May 30, 2014
Probably won't need it but you'll know more after you tow it. Have fun.
Rosscoe40
Explorer
May 30, 2014
If you're camping near your home and don't have to get on the highway you may be fine without one but I wouldn't want to pass too many trucks or deal with wind without mine on. It is a pain sometimes but worth the hassle for me. I have a 24' 3900 lb TT.
Kafn8td
Explorer
May 30, 2014
Does the vehicle and trailer sit level without the WD hitch? If so you're probably ok. Tow without it and see if the front end feels light.

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