Weight Distribution Hitch Set Up
I just purchased a used travel trailer that came with a weight distributing hitch and sway bar. When attaching the chains for the wd bars to get similar tension on each bar, the number of links is di...
Forum Discussion
If you are using the cheater bar to lift the weight distribution bars themselves where the chains attach to the trailer frame, then you are not raising the truck-trailer high enough.
When hitched, you need to crank up the trailer hitch, lifting both truck and trailer. The higher it goes, the easier it is to get the bars and chain on.
What's happening, you are not cranking up high enough, so the first bar goes on pretty easy. The hitch head will actually tip a little. There is some slack in the hitch itself, there is some slack in the receiver itself in the truck where the hitch shaft inserts.
Now, you are forcing with the cheater bar the first chain on. Pretty easy. But now, you've applied the tension to the one side. The other side will APPEAR to require more effort to attach, but it really is not. The weight is distributed to both bars equally once they are in place.
If you are using different lengths of chains on both sides, then only one bar is truly carrying the weight. The other is not. It's not good to do this.
Jack the truck-trailer up high (hitched and together.) There again, the higher the tongue is raised, the easier it is to get the bars on. You should be able to simply use your finger to lift the catch where the chains hook on the A-Frame of the trailer. If it takes more effort than that, you are not raising it high enough.
When you get both bars on and then lower the tongue jack, there will be equal tension, provided you've used the same number of links on both sides.
Always use the same number of links on both sides. There again, raise the tongue attached to the trailer. The higher you raise it, the easier it is to snap the chains in place.
When hitched, you need to crank up the trailer hitch, lifting both truck and trailer. The higher it goes, the easier it is to get the bars and chain on.
What's happening, you are not cranking up high enough, so the first bar goes on pretty easy. The hitch head will actually tip a little. There is some slack in the hitch itself, there is some slack in the receiver itself in the truck where the hitch shaft inserts.
Now, you are forcing with the cheater bar the first chain on. Pretty easy. But now, you've applied the tension to the one side. The other side will APPEAR to require more effort to attach, but it really is not. The weight is distributed to both bars equally once they are in place.
If you are using different lengths of chains on both sides, then only one bar is truly carrying the weight. The other is not. It's not good to do this.
Jack the truck-trailer up high (hitched and together.) There again, the higher the tongue is raised, the easier it is to get the bars on. You should be able to simply use your finger to lift the catch where the chains hook on the A-Frame of the trailer. If it takes more effort than that, you are not raising it high enough.
When you get both bars on and then lower the tongue jack, there will be equal tension, provided you've used the same number of links on both sides.
Always use the same number of links on both sides. There again, raise the tongue attached to the trailer. The higher you raise it, the easier it is to snap the chains in place.
