Weight Distribution bar - using a pipe ... ?

jaycocreek wrote:
I think that everyone is "not" talking about the same hitch.I am talking about the hitch below with the little round fingers coming up to put your cheater pipe on.This particular hitch was designed for the use of a cheater pipe as shown on the top of the bracket.



This type of WD hitch is "made" for cheater pipe use,not for hand use.

yep, don't know what others are talking about if it isn't this type. if those little round fingers aren't for the pipe, just why are they there? :s
bumpy

Replacement Lift Brackets with Handle for Reese Weight Distribution Systems from E-trailer..Notice that the cheater pipe is included for use on the Reese WD hitch!

I think that everyone is "not" talking about the same hitch.I am talking about the hitch below with the little round fingers coming up to put your cheater pipe on.This particular hitch was designed for the use of a cheater pipe as shown on the top of the bracket.



This type of WD hitch is "made" for cheater pipe use,not for hand use.

dodge guy wrote:
For those that don`t use the tongue jack....I`de like to see you unload a heavily loaded snap up bracket with just the pipe.

Let me know when and where you find it!!!!

I think we're at the stage in this discussion that some folks that made early statements that have now been proven wrong/incorrect are now in the "Saving Face" mode and that's unfortunate since it could leave some that want good information confused:R

Larry

myredracer wrote:
An appropriate question would be - what do the various manufacturers say to do?

The following are manufacturers instructions for some of the WDHs out there, and in similar wording, they all say to use the lift bar/handle and to release (not remove) tension on the spring bars using the tongue jack.

WHAT:h the two direct quotes say to release which is defined as "REMOVING" :S so again you can read things however you want, but it's clear to me what it says. I view the lifting bars for hitches like the Reese only to help in placing the chain bracket in place since it doesn't have a handle built into the bracket. In some unusual cases it might be needed to actually provide some real lift or release, but that would or should IMO be the exception and not the rule. The Equal-i-zer because of it's design already doesn't need anything additional under normal use.

I think one needs to re read how this discussion started and that was the tongue jack was not to be used to engage the WDH bars which I have I think disproven and now those naysayers are just trying to come up with cases where these bars are actually needed to engage or disengage the system and somehow implying that is normal which I say is not.

Larry

Reminds me of the old chain binders. They took out some teeth and dented a few skulls :B

dodge guy wrote:
For those that don`t use the tongue jack....I`de like to see you unload a heavily loaded snap up bracket with just the pipe.

Let me know when and where you find it!!!!

those of us who drive a he-mans ford or chevy can easily do it. :)
bumpy

For those that don`t use the tongue jack....I`de like to see you unload a heavily loaded snap up bracket with just the pipe.

Let me know when and where you find it!!!!

An appropriate question would be - what do the various manufacturers say to do?

The following are manufacturers instructions for some of the WDHs out there, and in similar wording, they all say to use the lift bar/handle and to release (not remove) tension on the spring bars using the tongue jack. The only one that differs somewhat is Equal-izer who say that *IF* there is still tension on the bars you can use the handle to engage them. A couple of them say to release tension, the jack should be raised about 3".

Eaz-lift
Ultra-Fab
Reese
Curt
Torklift
Draw-Tite
Equal-i-zer

As someone above said, there are likely some people who do not have their spring bars tight enough and are incorrectly set up. Or some are just using the jack to excessively and unnecessarily raise the tongue. Somewhere I read that one manufacturer said the force required to lift the handle is typically in the 50-100 lb range. If 50 lbs is too much for someone, there's no reason why you can't just use a longer pipe to reduce the required force.

It would be interesting for someone to find a link to a manufacturer's instruction that you are supposed to raise the tongue enough so that you don't need to use a handle.

FYI For newbys, there are better hitches out there.