anybody towing without a WDH?

[Txsurfer]

We recently purchased a new TH - 24' Box 28" LOA. Weight approx 5500-6000# loaded. Note that my cargo is light weight ( kayaks , paddle boards, etc ) I am towing it with a 2500 3/4 Diesel. I have towed it once 4 hrs each way and didn't use a WDH and had zero issues. Anyone else wit ha similar size rig towing without a WDH? I am use to towing a 10K boat 2000 miles to FL and back so I consider myself an experienced tow guy.

[nayther]

Txsurfer wrote:
Here's the deal I have an equalizer WDH that I have set up for my Tundra which def needs it. With my 3/4 Diesel it just doesn't seem to need it - that being said I will set it up for my 3/4 since I already have it so why not use it.. thanks for the replies.

I agree, why not use it, they DO redistribute the weight some, no matter if it's loose or not, getting some of that weight on the front end has to make it handle/ride better.

[Txsurfer]

Here's the deal I have an equalizer WDH that I have set up for my Tundra which def needs it. With my 3/4 Diesel it just doesn't seem to need it - that being said I will set it up for my 3/4 since I already have it so why not use it.. thanks for the replies.

[Bedlam]

Make sure you are within weight carrying capacity of your receiver. If the front end has not lightened too much to affect steering, you are fine without a WDH.

[Y-Guy]

Muddydogs wrote:
Yes but if you can't tow your trailer without a WD hitch should you be towing it?

Yes. If you're within manufacturers recommendations why not? For example the Ford F150 limits towing a trailer without a WDH to 5,000# and 500# of tongue weight. However with a WDH that jumps up to #12,200 and #1,220.

"(1) Hitch receivers do not include a hitch ball or ball mounting. The vehicle owner is responsible for obtaining the proper hitch
ball, ball mounting, weight-distributing equipment (i.e., equalizing arms and snap-up brackets, sway control system) and other
appropriate equipment to tow both the trailer and its cargo load."

[Muddydogs]

Lantley wrote:
What! WD is not designed to make the ride comfortable, nor is it a Band Aid. It is designed to restore, maintain weight on the front axle/wheels. If you hang 1000+lbs. off the rear of the truck it will reduce the weight at the front of the truck simple physics.
Have you ever measured the front axle weight with and without a WD hitch?

Yes but if you can't tow your trailer without a WD hitch should you be towing it?

[DutchmenSport]

Muddydogs wrote:
... In my opinion WD is a band aid used to correct the problem of too much trailer for the tow rig and if you can't tow your trailer without WD then you shouldn't be towing it. ...

I very seldom emphatically say "I disagree" with another forum member, but in this case, I do.

[Lantley]

Muddydogs wrote:
I have towed 34 camp trailer and 20 foot flat beds hauling 3/4 ton diesel pickups without WD but I was doing it with a tow rig that could handle the tongue weight. In my opinion WD is a band aid used to correct the problem of too much trailer for the tow rig and if you can't tow your trailer without WD then you shouldn't be towing it. Sure WD can make the ride nicer but should not be needed to tow a trailer safely.

What! WD is not designed to make the ride comfortable, nor is it a Band Aid. It is designed to restore, maintain weight on the front axle/wheels. If you hang 1000+lbs. off the rear of the truck it will reduce the weight at the front of the truck simple physics.
Have you ever measured the front axle weight with and without a WD hitch?

[Muddydogs]

I have towed 34 camp trailer and 20 foot flat beds hauling 3/4 ton diesel pickups without WD but I was doing it with a tow rig that could handle the tongue weight. In my opinion WD is a band aid used to correct the problem of too much trailer for the tow rig and if you can't tow your trailer without WD then you shouldn't be towing it. Sure WD can make the ride nicer but should not be needed to tow a trailer safely.

[colliehauler]

N-Trouble wrote:
For short distances or in a pinch not a problem. BUT if you asking about always running without a WD hitch my question would be why? The trailer will tow MUCH better with a WD in place. The difference in towing far outweigh the hassle of hooking them up IMO.

I have found the same thing.

[boogie_4wheel]

My rig is very similar to yours (see sig). Before bikes I'm right at the 6k weight (around 750 on the tongue when all empty, but I'm sure it is a little more since when I bought the trailer and we've loaded more stuff in it and in the storage area), and have gone over 7k total trailer weight before. My fresh is right at the axles, then black, then gray as we move toward the tongue so my tongue gets heavier as the trip goes on.

I've been running nearly 5yrs without WD on my current setup. Prior to this truck, I used a '97 GM half-ton with a 4-Way Equilizer. Back to back, I think the half-ton was ever so slightly more stable. I gave the WD hitch to my father in law, but recently got it back out of curiosity of what difference it would make on my combination.

We made a quick run last weekend about an hour from the house and I just slapped the hardware on the trailer the night before. I know I'm not getting enough transfer onto the steer axle. With that said, I didn't notice any benefit to the steering-stability of the rig. If anything it seemed like my truck did not want to return to center as well and would want to continue to turn while driving sweeping curves, but I recall my old truck doing that as well with the WD installed. It did however reduce the bounce that I had on the rear axle during overpass transfers or other large bumps in the road.

I'm going to get it setup correctly for the next trip and see how it does. I doubt I will go out and buy another one unless there is a mindblowing difference, which I don't expect there to be.

[DutchmenSport]

I have a 10 foot bed utility trailer I tow without WD. Never saw the need to with it. Not my TT, well ... that's a different matter.

[Ctimrun]

What make and model is your trailer? Do you know all of your weights? Tongue weight, axle weights etc?

Have you also towed with a WDH? Even though you didn't have any issues without it you may find it does better with one.

Years ago I had a 2500 and a tag TH. When picking it up from storage (about 15 mile drive) I didn't use the WDH and it did well but did a lot better with the WD equipment.

[Calicajun]

For a number of safety reasons I would never tow with using a WDH.

[N-Trouble]

For short distances or in a pinch not a problem. BUT if you asking about always running without a WD hitch my question would be why? The trailer will tow MUCH better with a WD in place. The difference in towing far outweigh the hassle of hooking them up IMO.