Weight distribution hitch

SoundGuy wrote:
......owner's manual that weight distribution IS required beyond 600 lbs gross tongue weight.

TomG2 wrote:
What is your point?

My point is obvious - making a generalized statement as you did that "We still have lots of WD hitch fans and of course the RV dealers like to pick up an easy couple hundred dollars on the deal", as if the sole purpose of WD is to further the profit of RV dealers who sell them, is absolute rubbish. Weight distribution can work well in just about any application when properly sized & adjusted and are certainly worth the investment.

Secondly, as I already said, my own 2012 Silverado CC sags FAR more "than an inch or so" without the benefit of weight distribution. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand leverage - put 600 lbs as far aft of a tow vehicle's axle as you can and it WILL unload the vehicle's front steer axle. Those towing with 3/4 or 1 ton trucks obviously have much more latitude but those of us towing with a 1/2 ton (or less) will always benefit from using weight distribution regardless of whether we're at or over the vehicle's weight carrying rating, which is commonly 600 lbs for most 1/2 tons. Sure, if I were still towing a 2500 lb popup with an average gross tongue weight of 300 lbs I wouldn't bother, for anything else I wouldn't even consider towing without weight distribution.

The fact is that people who tow fifth wheel trailers usually select an adequate tow vehicle while many with bumper pull trailers try to get by with the minimum and need fancy hitches and suspension upgrades to get by. That is why so many prefer towing their fifth wheel trailers. Payload, hitch ratings, etc. apply no matter the kind of trailer. Look it up.

DanNJanice wrote:

....... My trailer has a tongue weight of 1200lbs, AFAIK no factory hitch is rated to carry that without a WDH.
WDH hitches also tend to stabilize the handling and ride of trailer/truck combo.

AFAIK, there are thousands of GM HD models out there.

From the GM owner's manual:

2500/3500 Standard Box Weight-Carrying or Weight-Distributing 680 kg (1,500 lb)

2500/3500 Long Box Weight-Carrying or Weight-Distributing 907 kg (2,000 lb)

SoundGuy wrote:
......owner's manual that weight distribution IS required beyond 600 lbs gross tongue weight.

What is your point? It also says that NONE is required for less than that. The OP asked if WD hitches were required for lightweight trailers. Many lightweight trailers have tongue weights under 500 pounds. Look in the manual for 2500HD and you will discover that GM does NOT require weight distributing hitches for any lightweight trailer, including yours. Like I said, I purchase tow vehicles that do not REQUIRE weight distributing hitches. Obviously you took another route.

From this year's GM manual:
"1500 Weight-Carrying 318 kg (700 lb)
1500 Weight-Distributing 567 kg (1,250 lb)
2500/3500
Standard Box
Weight-Carrying or
Weight-Distributing
680 kg (1,500 lb)
2500/
3500 Long Box
Weight-Carrying or
Weight-Distributing
907 kg (2,000 lb)

SoundGuy wrote:

TomG2 wrote:
Now, everyone thinks they need one if the rear suspension on their pickup drops an inch or so when towing a lightweight trailer. GM disagrees and you can verify this in any late model GM pickup owner's manual.

I just did - Page 9-101 of my 2012 Silverado's owner's manual lists a weight carrying maximum of 600 lbs of gross tongue weight. My short 19' couple's model typically averages ~ 625 lbs of gross tongue weight or ~ 13.2% of it's average gross weight, loaded & ready to camp - verified with my Sherline tongue weight scale. Not only does the rear of the truck drop FAR more than just "an inch or so" without the benefit of weight distribution but GM clearly does NOT disagree and in fact verifies in my owner's manual that weight distribution IS required beyond 600 lbs gross tongue weight.

Exactly!
For the newbies, "don't believe everything you read on internet forums"
A WDH is needed if your tongue weight exceeds the carrying capacity of your hitch. My trailer has a tongue weight of 1200lbs, AFAIK no factory hitch is rated to carry that without a WDH.
WDH hitches also tend to stabilize the handling and ride of trailer/truck combo.

Yup if I did not have a WD hitch, the tongue weight of my 25 ft TT would exceed the hitch rating of my F-150.

I also helps dampen the bounce.

The nice thing about RVing is you are free try any setup you prefer. I prefer to go with the CAT scales and the TV'S spec sheet.

Unless you are having problems with your current rig set-up, why change anything.

However, if you are experiencing uncomfortable towing, the feeling that the steering wheel is floating and you feel you don't have good control of the vehicle and trailer 100%, then you should consider weight distribution.

If you decide to get a heavier camper with the same tow vehicle, yes, you will need WD then for sure.

Weight Distribution does 2 things: 1) it keeps the tow vehicle and trailer level to the ground, front and rear should be the same height. 2) it distributes the weight on the hitch to all points equal touching the ground. This keeps steering control, even wear on all your tires, and headlights from beaming at the moon.

TomG2 wrote:
Now, everyone thinks they need one if the rear suspension on their pickup drops an inch or so when towing a lightweight trailer. GM disagrees and you can verify this in any late model GM pickup owner's manual.

I just did - Page 9-101 of my 2012 Silverado's owner's manual lists a weight carrying maximum of 600 lbs of gross tongue weight. My short 19' couple's model typically averages ~ 625 lbs of gross tongue weight or ~ 13.2% of it's average gross weight, loaded & ready to camp - verified with my Sherline tongue weight scale. Not only does the rear of the truck drop FAR more than just "an inch or so" without the benefit of weight distribution but GM clearly does NOT disagree and in fact verifies in my owner's manual that weight distribution IS required beyond 600 lbs gross tongue weight.

Weight distributing hitches became popular back in the day when we towed with softly sprung sedans and station wagons. Now, everyone thinks they need one if the rear suspension on their pickup drops an inch or so when towing a lightweight trailer. GM disagrees and you can verify this in any late model GM pickup owner's manual. Comparing what is "required" for towing with Grandpa's '58 Buick to what a modern pickup needs is the ultimate apples and oranges. We still have lots of WD hitch fans and of course the RV dealers like to pick up an easy couple hundred dollars on the deal. I buy an adequate tow vehicle and leave the fancy hitches on the dealer's shelves.

The function of a WD Hitch is to "distribute weight". You drop your TT on the hitch and the weight on the back axle increases. The back of the TV goes down, the front of the TV goes up.

When this happens, rear axle weight increases and front axle weight decreases, this is no big deal until you add enough weight to effect steering and braking on the front end.

The WD Hitch torsion bars push up against the tongue weight and redistribute the weight to the front axle and the TT axle to restore some of the steering and breaking control.

My F-150 barely notices my pop up but sags when the TT is added.

It is your choice but you will notice when you need one.

Good luck