WD hitch help with TC load?

KimandChris wrote:
Many of these responses are still referring to redistributing just the tongue weight.............

My question is what happens when you distribute MORE than the tongue weight without going over the limit of any of your components?...........................

5500# cargo capacity for the truck.............

5000# of cargo(including myself/wife/dogs)
200# 48" TL truss and wd hitch, 1200# limit on supertruss.

2000# cargo in dual axle cargo trailer, capacity of 4000#
250# tongue weight

If I use the above #s and transfer 500# from the rear axle (300 to front axle and 200 to trailer???)with the wd hitch, rather than 'just' the 250# tongue weight, it should be an overall improvement....agreed?

I think your answer is in the previous posts, but maybe I can help explain it another way.

There is only one real adjustment on a W/D hitch system to transfer weight. That is the connection between the hitch torque bars and the trailer frame/tongue. You are limited by how tight/short that connection can be by the design of the hitch. For example, mine uses chains so I can connect to almost every link and move more or less weight from the rear axle to the front axle and trailer axles. (Note: tightening the torque bars past a certain limit may affect your ability to turn tightly without binding)

How much weight you actually transfer to each axle, depends on the dimensions of your truck & trailer. Each of the following will affect the transfer:

1. Truck Wheelbase
2. Distance from rear axle to receiver
3. Hitch extension length
4. Distance from trailer coupling to trailer axle(s)

So you are correct in your concept to move more than the nominal tongue weight to the front & trailer axles. However, how successful you will be depends on the factors above.

The way to proceed in my opinion, is to hook up your rig with the W/D torque bars pulled up as tight as possible without affecting your ability to turn a tight corner and then road test it to find if that is enough to improve the ride the way you are looking for.

And one poster was correct in that as you tighten up the W/D hitch, you change how the load is applied to the receiver, potentially changing the front mounts from compression to stress/strain. However, in my opinion, I would suggest that your will run into the limit of pull-up on your W/D torque bars before you exceed the design limits of the receiver.

Please let us know what you find when you do this as it will be interesting to get some more data for future reference.