WDH Understanding

My owners manual doesn't even mention weight distribution hitches, nor does the towing supplement. The only reference would be the hitch manual. The hitch manual wants the front height at least half way back to the unhitched height.

On my truck there is zero difference in steering with or without the WDH, and it's the same towing or not. The biggest difference the WDH makes is porpoising.

With 1250lbs of TW, an 18" shank, and a 160" wheelbase I don't want to see the kind of strain needed to put the front axle back at the unladen weight. The bars already are doing a LOT of work to get me to 50-60%.

Before I changed a few things around I was only restoring 200lbs with WDH hooked up and I lost around 900lbs from empty. I am now restoring more with zero change in handling.

The amount of weight that needs to be restored is going to be compleatly dependent on the TV. I wouldn't want my front 700lbs lighter on a LD 1500, but it makes no difference on my 3500. Even restoring only 200lbs I was approx half way on height adjustment, the extra weight now didn't move the front that much lower.

YMMV

AH64ID wrote:
Some references call for all the weight to be restored to the front axle and some call for 50%.

I am about 50-60% on my setup and it tows great.

What references? The only one that's accurate is your tow vehicle's owners manual.

Your owners manual should have a spec for this. With GM, you are supposed to measure the front fender before adding the trailer. Then adjust the hitch to bring the front fenders back to stock height.

Other manufacturers specs vary on this. I know Ford's is different for example.

Personally I've driven them when they were 50% and the lack of steering control was just plain scary.

Some references call for all the weight to be restored to the front axle and some call for 50%.

I am about 50-60% on my setup and it tows great.

A WDH hitch does not reduce the tongue weight. A 650# tongue with a WD hitch is still a 650# tongue.

When you put a trailer on a hitch it takes weight off of the front wheels, thereby reducing steering control and creating a safety issue. A WD hitch redistributes the weight that was removed and puts it back on the front wheels.

Tongue weight should be between 10%-15%. Dry weight is meaningless. It's the weight of the trailer loaded and ready to tow that you need to be concerned about.