when is weight distribution hitch required

Lwiddis wrote:
When you decide to be more safe...for yourself, your family and me....steering, braking...control.

My 2016 Ford Edge came with a Class II (3,500 lbs) 2" receiver. I am happy about this (bike rack plugs in), but if I was hauling over 3,000 lbs I would like get a weight distribution hitch and maybe electric brakes on the trailer for the above reasons.


The real answer is what the owner's manual says and how far does the hitch ball drop from fully unloaded to fully loaded, vehicle and trailer. Anything >3"-4", get the weight distribution hitch.

rmgozia wrote:
How do I decide when I need a weight distribution hitch?

Asking a bunch of RVnet members is your best bet. Don't rely on the engineers that designed and built your tow vehicle. GM engineers in particular have blown the Front Axle Restoration fears clear out of the water with their Silverado series of pickups.

That stuff dates back to the days when we used big old softly sprung sedans and station wagons to tow our campers. Today's modern well engineered pickups are totally different animals. That is not to say that the rear suspension cannot be overloaded, because it can be. Better to purchase an adequate tow vehicle rather than hope some magic hitch is going to compensate for being over payload.

When you hang the tongue weight on your rear end, it adds that amount of weight to your rear axle, and takes a large percentage of that amount from your front axle. Like a see-saw.

If you have too much lost weight on your front axle, the slightest motions (could be subconscious hand movement from breathing) on the steering wheel, bow waves from big rigs, side winds, etc, can cause steering control issues. Steering control issues will cause trailer sway, which intensifies steering control issues. The primary purpose of a weight distribution hitch is to restore some, or all, of that lost front axle weight.

In addition to WDH requirements, the vehicles owners manual will also tell you a percentage of recommended weight restoration on the front axle.

When we bought our first travel trailer in '94, a 21' Aljo with advertised 450 lb tongue weight, towed with our '94 F150, the dealer set us up with WD hitch with a long draw bar. The ride was stiff and steering was squirly. I tried different links on the chains, a shorter draw bar, and finally a standard ball mount with no WD. It towed like a champ and I sold the WD hitch.
Four 5th wheels later we're back to a TT. The reciever on our F250 is rated for 650 lb non WD. Tongue weight on our new TT is advertised at 700 lbs. Probably 850~lbs loaded to go. I bought a Reese HP trunion style hitch to satisfy the rating of the receiver more than anything. If I had an F350 with it's 850 lb rated for non WD tongue weight. I would have tried the standard ball mount first like the truck used that delivered it to the dealership.
So receiver ratings first, then if you feel it needs a little lift.

Rbertalotto wrote:
I might be able to add something to this conversation. I recently bought a 19' toy hauler. Using my "heavy duty" Dodge 2500 Diesel with air bags and Big Whig rear sway bar, I r
Towed the trailer without a WDH for a year. No issues, no headlights in the trees. But on a whim, and wanting another gadget I bought a Load Equalizer hitch with built in sway control. Huge difference. Much smoother ride. Less bouncing. More control changing lanes. Huge improvement.
The trailer, loaded is only 7000 pounds and tongue weight is only 1000 pounds. Easily handled by the truck. But the WDH makes the trailer and the TV one homogeneous unit.

This is true...whether you need it or not, it changes your ride from an old pickup to a Cadillac.

Brian

I might be able to add something to this conversation. I recently bought a 19' toy hauler. Using my "heavy duty" Dodge 2500 Diesel with air bags and Big Whig rear sway bar, I r
Towed the trailer without a WDH for a year. No issues, no headlights in the trees. But on a whim, and wanting another gadget I bought a Load Equalizer hitch with built in sway control. Huge difference. Much smoother ride. Less bouncing. More control changing lanes. Huge improvement.
The trailer, loaded is only 7000 pounds and tongue weight is only 1000 pounds. Easily handled by the truck. But the WDH makes the trailer and the TV one homogeneous unit.

Your hitch should list how much weight it can handle both with and without a WDH. You'll need to weight the trailer and see where it falls with the hitch's numbers.
It's that easy!

"How do I decide when I need a weight distribution hitch?"

When you decide to be more safe...for yourself, your family and me....steering, braking...control.

Boon Docker wrote:
I wonder what vehicle that owner manual belongs to, those recommendations seem a little unrealistic. A 150 lb tongue weight would mean a small pop up or a tear drop trailer would need a weight distribution hitch.

That is why the recommendation to look in "your" owner's manual was given. My Silverado 2500HD says none is "required" for more than double the weight of that for my F-150.

I wonder what vehicle that owner manual belongs to, those recommendations seem a little unrealistic. A 150 lb tongue weight would mean a small pop up or a tear drop trailer would need a weight distribution hitch.