Better/safer to have only one w/d bar? Or none?

[trailernovice]

One socket clip on my Reese round bar broke while on the road..it won't hold the bar now..

Getting a repair or replacement can't happen until after our return leg later this week

Our trip home about 325 miles

Left side bar and socket fine

Here's the question.. for our return trip, am I ok/better to run with a single w/d bar? In other words, is one better than none? Or does having a w/d bar on only one side create an unsafe imbalance situation or something, such that it's better/safer to run with no w/d at all?
Thx

[GDS-3950BH]

All this drama over towing a 6K trailer 325 miles without a WDH, with a 1500 truck? Amazing.

[Terryallan]

CarnationSailor wrote:

wing_zealot wrote:

trailernovice wrote:
Getting a repair or replacement can't happen until after our return leg later this week

Really??
What if your drawbar breaks because you've exceeded its rating? Just speculating on what the other side of the coin looks like.

Not sure, but I think the forces on a drawbar are about the same with or without a WDH. That is, I don't think the purpose of a WDH is to reduce the force on the drawbar.

It is not the same force. IF you were to look on your receiver. you should see 2 weights listed. One for WDH, and one for weight carrying (no WDH). the weight carrying will be about 500lbs. the WDH could be for 1,000 lb. depending on what your TV is rated to tow. In reality. You very well could break the receiver by towing with out a WDH.

OP. I would suggest you get a new WDh before towing home. With out the WDH, there is a good chance your TV won't like towing the trailer, and will be all over the road..

your choice. Pay about 450 dollars or take a chance on putting it in the ditch. there is a reason you need one.

[Bedlam]

If you know your actual trailer tongue weight and truck receiver ratings, it will give you the answer whether you can tow without weight distribution torsion bars.

[gandydancer]

Towing with one is better than none. It is possible to overload truck hitch.

[TurnThePage]

I towed my trailer without the Equal-I-zer bars a couple times. It towed fine but was more sensitive to passing semis and the like. Your trailer doesn't appear that it would be too much for a newer half ton. I have a similar truck and would go without. If you haven't already, consider airing truck tires to max, assuming they are the OEM P-metric.

[Grit_dog]

Or view the Towing Limits thread just under this one. After seeing that, you won’t be worried...

[Grit_dog]

I’ll just throw this out there.....there are about 100X more trailers the same size and weight as the OPs camper on the road every single day behind half ton trucks with NO WD bars.

You’ll be fine until you can repair the camper binky.

[carringb]

I'd leave one one.

The forces of a single bar are still mostly inline with the trailer, and your hitch system sees far more eccentric loading during normal turns with both bars hooked up. One bar gives you half WD so it still aids with traction on your steer tires.

I agree with Ben on the bunjee. Had to do that on my Hensley once. Worked fine.

[Ozlander]

I only use mine to keep the headlights down on the road.
Do a lot of towing without it.
Never any sway either way.

[BenK]

Bungee cord, used them when still had the boat


Worked so well, kept them in case another emergency crossed our path

[JRscooby]

wing_zealot wrote:

trailernovice wrote:
Getting a repair or replacement can't happen until after our return leg later this week

Really??
What if your drawbar breaks because you've exceeded its rating? Just speculating on what the other side of the coin looks like.

Don't know about breaking drawbar. But "repair can't happen" worries me. If the WDH is needed for safe towing, fix it. If not, why have it? If it can't be repaired because your vacation time is more important than safe towing

[blt2ski]

Been there done that. Took them off.
Make sure trailer is reasonably level to nose down. May have to raise ball up a knitch. Otherwise. Head home.

Marty

[CarnationSailor]

wing_zealot wrote:

trailernovice wrote:
Getting a repair or replacement can't happen until after our return leg later this week

Really??
What if your drawbar breaks because you've exceeded its rating? Just speculating on what the other side of the coin looks like.

Not sure, but I think the forces on a drawbar are about the same with or without a WDH. That is, I don't think the purpose of a WDH is to reduce the force on the drawbar.

[wing_zealot]

trailernovice wrote:
Getting a repair or replacement can't happen until after our return leg later this week

Really??
What if your drawbar breaks because you've exceeded its rating? Just speculating on what the other side of the coin looks like.

[Boomerweps]

Concur with pitch.
I have to get out of my drive and in the flat before installing the load bars. I failed to properly fasten one and lost it along the way from home to campsite, about 70 miles, over half interstate. Found it missing during set up. Didn't notice any difference while driving. Going home, I just used a basic ball mount vice hassling with the WDH heavy hitch head. There were noticeable winds on the interstate so I tried to limit my speeds 60-65MPH. On the way there, I was driving closer to 70 to stay with traffic, pushing 75 on the downhills.
I was concerned with a single bar putting a twisting force on the TT A-frame, WDH assembly, and htruck hitch/frame. My sway control is dependent on the load bars so I just drove a bit slower.