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

[Terryallan]

trailernovice wrote:
The question wasn't whether having w/d preferred.. the question is, under circumstances where the only option for my 325-mile return leg is a single w/d bar or none, which way should I go?

For those concerned.. with or without w/d, am WAY under capacity.. tt right at 5000 lbs, with hitch weight under 500

Let us know how it tows with out the WDH.

[GDS-3950BH]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
Good stuff^!!
OP confirmed his setup doesn't even "need" a wdh by the numbers.
So now the unpaid (or maybe y'all do get paid) spokesmen for wdhs can rest easy...

Grit, I have a sticker on my trailer that says: "Check your lug nuts every 50 miles."

Can you put my mind at ease too? Getting to be a drag stopping every 50 miles to check my nuts! 😉

You should stop every 12.5 miles and check the nuts on a different wheel each time, if you have tandem axles. What do you think the chances are that all your nuts come loose at the same time? :B

[BenK]

Wondering what the OP wanted to hear, as the advice is all over the place for him to pick and choose from

Could use two bars with a bungee cord holding the offending clip-less bar

Could go with only one

Could go without either

I’m okay being called the weight police, but am not policing, just providing advice to questions. Never say ‘sure you can’, just info for the OP’s too make up theirs own minds...

Oh well, another to put on the blocked list to not waste my time...or others time...

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Grit dog wrote:
Good stuff^!!
OP confirmed his setup doesn't even "need" a wdh by the numbers.
So now the unpaid (or maybe y'all do get paid) spokesmen for wdhs can rest easy...

Grit, I have a sticker on my trailer that says: "Check your lug nuts every 50 miles."

Can you put my mind at ease too? Getting to be a drag stopping every 50 miles to check my nuts! 😉

[Grit_dog]

Good stuff^!!
OP confirmed his setup doesn't even "need" a wdh by the numbers.
So now the unpaid (or maybe y'all do get paid) spokesmen for wdhs can rest easy...

[GDS-3950BH]

TurnThePage wrote:
If it was me and my Ram pulling your trailer, I would go without in a heartbeat. I have been unable to find this 500 lb limit on my hitch. The owners manual mentions something a little north of 1100 lbs for tongue weight with NO mention of wd hitch. I believe there is ZERO % chance of physical damage. The biggest concern might be towing characteristics and control.

If you can go by Rams specs for 2019 (OEM Standard) a Tradesman or Bighorn is a class 3 receiver and every trim level above is a class 4. Not too sure what any of that means as I've only been into this towing thing for a couple of weeks, never took physics, and am not a card carrying member of the weight police.

Happy New Year.

[TurnThePage]

If it was me and my Ram pulling your trailer, I would go without in a heartbeat. I have been unable to find this 500 lb limit on my hitch. The owners manual mentions something a little north of 1100 lbs for tongue weight with NO mention of wd hitch. I believe there is ZERO % chance of physical damage. The biggest concern might be towing characteristics and control.

[trailernovice]

As indicated in thread-starting post, two bars is not an option until home..Socket clip snapped.. its one bar only, or nothing.. trying to figure out which better

[BenK]

At Less than 10% tongue, I'd be sure to have both bars foe balanced sway control

You are the first <10% tongue I've heard of

Advise was out of context without more info, that you have now presented

[trailernovice]

The question wasn't whether having w/d preferred.. the question is, under circumstances where the only option for my 325-mile return leg is a single w/d bar or none, which way should I go?

For those concerned.. with or without w/d, am WAY under capacity.. tt right at 5000 lbs, with hitch weight under 500

[Terryallan]

GDS-3950BH wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

bid_time wrote:

GDS-3950BH wrote:
All this drama over towing a 6K trailer 325 miles without a WDH, with a 1500 truck? Amazing.

The weight carrying rating on my F150 with the HDPP and the Max tow package (2500 lbs payload rated) is 500 lbs. Sticker with Weight carrying (500 lbs tongue wt., 5,000 lbs trailer wt) and Weight distributing (1320 lbs tongue, 13,200 lbs trailer wt) load rating is clearly posted on the vehicle hitch. So from your post you think it's ok for me to exceed that rating by a good bit. AMAZING! (I wonder what his insurance company would think of your opinion.)
I think I'll pass on accepting your opinion and go with the manufacturer's opinion instead. As for the OP, he should check out the manufacturer's rating on the hitch on his truck.

Yep, Yep. amazing how many are clueless about safe towing. A 6000lb TT will have a 720lb tongue weight, and will not only overload the hitch, but unload the front axle and can cause loss of control.

Yep, Yep. amazing how you know what the receiver is rated for on the OP's Ram 1500. Do you have ESP? How do you know he does not have a class 5 Curt C15572 rated at 1500 lb weight carrying? If 720 lbs tongue weight overloads the front axles enough to make it so dangerous, what will you do if you need to haul 1200 lbs of topsoil or gravel?

I know because he has a 1500 truck. And it has a stock hitch on it. Prove me wrong.

Now lets talk about 720lb hanging off the BACK of the truck. NOT IN the truck, but hanging off the back. Yes it will unload the front axle. Ever hear of leverage. Should his truck be able to carry 1200lb of top soil. It will be IN the truck, with most of it either over the axle or in front of the axle. And because of the balance. will not unload the front axle like hanging 720lb off the rear of the truck.

[GDS-3950BH]

Terryallan wrote:

bid_time wrote:

GDS-3950BH wrote:
All this drama over towing a 6K trailer 325 miles without a WDH, with a 1500 truck? Amazing.

The weight carrying rating on my F150 with the HDPP and the Max tow package (2500 lbs payload rated) is 500 lbs. Sticker with Weight carrying (500 lbs tongue wt., 5,000 lbs trailer wt) and Weight distributing (1320 lbs tongue, 13,200 lbs trailer wt) load rating is clearly posted on the vehicle hitch. So from your post you think it's ok for me to exceed that rating by a good bit. AMAZING! (I wonder what his insurance company would think of your opinion.)
I think I'll pass on accepting your opinion and go with the manufacturer's opinion instead. As for the OP, he should check out the manufacturer's rating on the hitch on his truck.

Yep, Yep. amazing how many are clueless about safe towing. A 6000lb TT will have a 720lb tongue weight, and will not only overload the hitch, but unload the front axle and can cause loss of control.

Yep, Yep. amazing how you know what the receiver is rated for on the OP's Ram 1500. Do you have ESP? How do you know he does not have a class 5 Curt C15572 rated at 1500 lb weight carrying? If 720 lbs tongue weight overloads the front axles enough to make it so dangerous, what will you do if you need to haul 1200 lbs of topsoil or gravel?

[Terryallan]

bid_time wrote:

GDS-3950BH wrote:
All this drama over towing a 6K trailer 325 miles without a WDH, with a 1500 truck? Amazing.

The weight carrying rating on my F150 with the HDPP and the Max tow package (2500 lbs payload rated) is 500 lbs. Sticker with Weight carrying (500 lbs tongue wt., 5,000 lbs trailer wt) and Weight distributing (1320 lbs tongue, 13,200 lbs trailer wt) load rating is clearly posted on the vehicle hitch. So from your post you think it's ok for me to exceed that rating by a good bit. AMAZING! (I wonder what his insurance company would think of your opinion.)
I think I'll pass on accepting your opinion and go with the manufacturer's opinion instead. As for the OP, he should check out the manufacturer's rating on the hitch on his truck.

Yep, Yep. amazing how many are clueless about safe towing. A 6000lb TT will have a 720lb tongue weight, and will not only overload the hitch, but unload the front axle and can cause loss of control.

[bid_time]

GDS-3950BH wrote:
All this drama over towing a 6K trailer 325 miles without a WDH, with a 1500 truck? Amazing.

The weight carrying rating on my F150 with the HDPP and the Max tow package (2500 lbs payload rated) is 500 lbs. Sticker with Weight carrying (500 lbs tongue wt., 5,000 lbs trailer wt) and Weight distributing (1320 lbs tongue, 13,200 lbs trailer wt) load rating is clearly posted on the vehicle hitch. So from your post you think it's ok for me to exceed that rating by a good bit. AMAZING! (I wonder what his insurance company would think of your opinion.)
I think I'll pass on accepting your opinion and go with the manufacturer's opinion instead. As for the OP, he should check out the manufacturer's rating on the hitch on his truck.