I brought my camper home from the dealer toady, after a repair was performed. When I hooked up my weight distribution bars, I had three chain loops free on one side, and four loops free on the other side. Since I was only going a couple of miles, I didn't take the time to adjust the bars so I had the same amount of free chain loops on each bar. Could this have caused damage to my weight distribution system? Should I have taken the time to adjust the bars to have the same amount of free chain loops on each bar?

What are weight distribution bars?

I'm assuming you are talking travel trailer and not truck camper. Running uneven bar tension will not damage the equalizer hitch however is not a good practice as it will put more wear on the bar.

I agree it shouldn't hurt anything especially over a short distance. It would torque the hitch slightly.

Over a short distance you didn't hurt anything . What it did was unbalance the weight distribution left to right which would alter the handling characteristics in a negative way .Don't do it again ! :B

Weight Distribution Bars | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

Ruthless
Explorer
Dec 08, 2014
APT wrote:
Ruthless, a couple miles is probably fine. I would focus on counting the number of links under tension vs. free, though. The number under tension should general be the same for both sides. The amount hanging free is arbitrary and irrelevant.

The chains have the same number of links, so I just have to focus on the number of free links on each side.
APT
Explorer
Dec 08, 2014
Ruthless, a couple miles is probably fine. I would focus on counting the number of links under tension vs. free, though. The number under tension should general be the same for both sides. The amount hanging free is arbitrary and irrelevant.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Dec 07, 2014
NanciL wrote:
hedgehopper wrote:
What are weight distribution bars?

I hope you are not pulling a trailer !

Jack L

The thread was moved to this forum from the Truck Camper forum after hedgehopper posted the comment. It is not too surprising that he didn't know what weight distribution bars are.
Barney
Terryallan
Explorer II
Dec 07, 2014
goducks10 wrote:
NanciL wrote:
hedgehopper wrote:
What are weight distribution bars?

I hope you are not pulling a trailer !

Jack L

Probably owns a dually.

On his profile he has a Truck camper. So, no. He is not pulling a TT
goducks10
Explorer
Dec 07, 2014
NanciL wrote:
hedgehopper wrote:
What are weight distribution bars?

I hope you are not pulling a trailer !

Jack L

Probably owns a dually.
NanciL
Explorer II
Dec 07, 2014
hedgehopper wrote:
What are weight distribution bars?

I hope you are not pulling a trailer !

Jack L
NanciL
Explorer II
Dec 07, 2014
There would be a little more stress on one side, but it would only affect the handling

jack L
Reddog1
Explorer II
Dec 07, 2014
Moved to TT.

Wayne
Moderator
ticki2
Explorer
Dec 06, 2014
Over a short distance you didn't hurt anything . What it did was unbalance the weight distribution left to right which would alter the handling characteristics in a negative way .

Don't do it again ! :B
jimh406
Explorer III
Dec 06, 2014
I agree it shouldn't hurt anything especially over a short distance. It would torque the hitch slightly.