Forum Discussion

Vanished's avatar
Vanished
Explorer
Dec 02, 2020

When is weight distribution needed?

I'm not trying to stir the pot (well, ok - maybe a little) but my question is serious... In the old days the hitches/trucks required WD and Sway control for over 5k lbs... then we went to 2.5" hitches... Now my current truck has a 3" hitch...

Here is my setup:
2019 F350 Dually Crew Cab Diesel 4x4
2021 Grand Design Momentum 28G travel trailer toy hauler

Specs show my truck can HAUL (w/o weight distribution) 2100lbs on the hitch, trailer shows about 1400 lb tongue weight - maybe less when it's loaded (Toy Hauler)... 12k GVWR and 32' long...
Truck has built in sway control...

So my thoughts are to drop it on the ball and try it... Am I nuts?

I have no issue getting a WD/SC hitch setup but it seems like an overkill in my situation... And they don't even make a 3" setup that I've found - only 2" or 2.5" and both would need sleeves/adapters to fit my hitch - which I was always told to not use an adapter with a WD hitch...

Thoughts?
  • I'm certainly an advocate for WD/SC hitches in general and on my older 2500 and 3500 SRW trucks... But I'm well within the limits on this monster (new Dually) which doesn't even recommend WD in the manual... Taking 1400 lbs or so tongue weight hardly even squatted my truck (has a 5700lb payload) (yes I know payload and tongue weight are distributed differently) I was surprised they don't even make a 3" Weight Distribution setup... I'm just thinking it's an overkill for my situation this time around..
  • When you add too much tongue weight to the rear axle, or remove too much weight from the front wheels, then you should have weight distribution. How much is too much is a subject for debate, but distributing weight is a good thing regardless.

    Your receiver dimensions and factory sway control are not part of the equation.
  • The guy at the Camping World who sold me the trailer said I don't need it.

    The people and the manual of my trailer puller did not mention I need one.

    I drove with one and drove without -- the driving stability is like day and night.

    And yes, the trailer nearly flipped on me on the high winds along I-80 and I would not even consider not having one.
  • Not nuts. Give it a try. You’ve got plenty of front axle weight with a diesel IMO.
  • JIMNLIN wrote:
    So my thoughts are to drop it on the ball and try it... Am I nuts?

    Every bumper pull...pintle hitch....GN or a 5th wheel rv or non rv trailers I've owned gets put on the road first to find out if the combo needs anything done.
    The newer F350 DRW should be ready to go as is.


    ^^^^ what he said F350 SRW would handle it. Mines 36ft 14K 5W on an F350 SRW with no issues.
  • After pulling trailers for many years, I would think that you would want to have a form of sway control....

    I know that 1 year on my way back from SC, I broke my sway control friction bar... I was towing a 29' TT with my 1 ton SRW and boy could I feel the sway when I passed trucks, or they passed me....
  • So my thoughts are to drop it on the ball and try it... Am I nuts?

    Every bumper pull...pintle hitch....GN or a 5th wheel rv or non rv trailers I've owned gets put on the road first to find out if the combo needs anything done.
    The newer F350 DRW should be ready to go as is.
  • Vanished wrote:
    I'm not trying to stir the pot (well, ok - maybe a little) but my question is serious... In the old days the hitches/trucks required WD and Sway control for over 5k lbs... then we went to 2.5" hitches... Now my current truck has a 3" hitch...

    Here is my setup:
    2019 F350 Dually Crew Cab Diesel 4x4
    2021 Grand Design Momentum 28G travel trailer toy hauler

    Specs show my truck can HAUL (w/o weight distribution) 2100lbs on the hitch, trailer shows about 1400 lb tongue weight - maybe less when it's loaded (Toy Hauler)... 12k GVWR and 32' long...
    Truck has built in sway control...

    So my thoughts are to drop it on the ball and try it... Am I nuts?

    I have no issue getting a WD/SC hitch setup but it seems like an overkill in my situation... And they don't even make a 3" setup that I've found - only 2" or 2.5" and both would need sleeves/adapters to fit my hitch - which I was always told to not use an adapter with a WD hitch...

    Thoughts?


    Have you read the Towing section of your truck's owners manual? My F150's states a certain weight to use one.