Difference of Air Bags over WD hitch?

[retiredtravele1]

Other than price, is it better to use air bags or a WD hitch if you need to handle squat in a TV? I've been eyeing some adjustable air spring kits. Seems like a much nicer idea to have an adjustable suspension rather than have to hook up a WD, but don't know if performance is different or changes any other handling characteristics while towing.

[marquette]

Agreeing to the WDH and air bags having separate purposes would the proper loading sequence be to load the 4- wheeler in the bed, adjust air bags to level truck, then attach trailer and adjust WDH?

[Winnebago_Bob]

wandering1 wrote:
You need to read the info on a WD hitch and air bags, no comparison on what each does.

^This. One has nothing to do with the other.

Google is your friend.

[BenK]

Air bags/bladders/etc are "helper" springs...no different than "add-a-leaf', coil, etc...suppliment to the OEM rear suspension spring system. They increase the rear axle spring rate and rate/travel curve

WD Hitch (WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION Hitch) system does NOT increase the rear spring rate....but moves the trailer TONGUE weight (distribute) from the TV rear suspension over to the TV front suspension. A percentage is distributed back onto the trailer tongue

Air bags DO NOT distribute weight...just holds up more weight. They can re-orient the attitude of the TV if the weight on the rear axle compresses the rear suspension (squat)

Think of these two as INDEPENDENT ADJUSTMENTS that interact with the TV suspension

[Dave_Mck]

I disagree with almost everyone on this subject. I am no expert, I have been towing for four years and have logged about 8,000 miles. I am only speaking from my personal experience. I have a WD hitch and airbags. The first year I only ran with the WD hitch and added the airbags the second year. When I added the airbags my steering was better, air bags did help my steering. When I added the airbags my rear end was stiffer, it helped eliminate proposing and improved handling. Airbags aren't there just to make your truck look right, they do serve a purpose. Airbags should not be used instead of a WD hitch, only as an aid to them. This is my experience, I'm not trying to prove anything, start a debate, or change anyone's mind.

[APT]

Marquette, yes it does. Any weight added behind the rear axle (such as trailer tongue weight) acts as a lever. Most weight in the truck bed is centered more directly on the rear axle, so a WDH will not help that.

[marquette]

Does it make a difference if the squat is caused by hitch weight or weight in the bed? For example, with the trailer hitched the truck and trailer are level but then adding a 4-wheeler in the bed. If the weight is in the bed will the WDH help or would air bags be a better choice?

[gijoecam]

chevor wrote:
I have pulled enough miles to know how they behave.

But clearly the OP does not, hence the reason for the question. Airbags are nothing more than fancy springs. Will they combat squat? Yes. But that's ALL they will do. The point we have been trying to communicate is that the goal isn't to eliminate squat, it's to restore weight to the steer axle and provide sway control; two things air bags are completely incapable of accomplishing.

[chevor]

I have pulled enough miles to know how they behave.

[gijoecam]

chevor wrote:
Air bags dampen the shock of weight fluctuation where they are placed. If pressure in bags are too high it can cause sway issue. I still prefer air bags over WDH.

They perform two entirely different functions. Air bags are nothing but fancy springs and have no inherent anti-sway or sway-producing characteristics.

[chevor]

Air bags dampen the shock of weight fluctuation where they are placed. If pressure in bags are too high it can cause sway issue. I still prefer air bags over WDH.

[gijoecam]

As has already been mentioned, airbags will help combat the squat... But that's ALL they will do.

A WDH will redistribute some portion of the tongue weight from the rear axle to the front and trailer axles. As a result, it will affect the rear end squat of the TV, but that is NOT its primary purpose.

Some combinations of tow vehicle and trailer can benefit from both. Most do not need both IMHO. Don't worry about how much the rear end squats. Worry about the loads on the axles.

[APT]

WDH Primer

The purpose of a WDH is to restore weight that is taken off the front axle when you apply downward force behind the truck's rear axle. Here is are some typical weights of full sized pickups and SUVs for a 1000 pound TW trailer.

Front axle loses 400 pounds, rear axle adds 1400 pounds.
Applying a WDH with 1000% front axle weight leads to rear axle only carrying about 800 additional pounds and the remaining 200 on the TT axles.

So a WDH restores 400 pounds lost on the steering axle and removes 600 pounds from rear axle.

Rear suspension aides do not change the weights. The steer axle is still 400 pounds light and the rear axle still 1400 pounds over unhitched weight. But it looks good!

My general opinion is that rear suspension aids are not required with a properly adjusted WDH. If the suspension seems weak where the rear of the truck is more than 1.5" lower than unhitched when using a WDH, the truck is probably overloaded.

[mtofell1]

Yep... apples and oranges. A truck with a soft rear end likely needs the airbags for leveling and any truck with a med/large trailer should use WDH to help stiffen the hinge at the ball. I have a capable 3/4 ton with 3000# payload and use WDH (most of the time) with a +/- 900# tongue weight TT. I don't "need" it but I do like it and feel better towing with it. The WDH stiffens the bounce over bumps and stops the rhythmic "porpising" that occurs in certain situations (the downward movement at the ball in the cycle is what makes the front end so light - the upward force during the cycle can make your rear tires slip when you have too much tension on the WDH). To be honest, I've run without it when on a route I know and/or for a short distance. I always run with the anti-sway no matter what.

[CarnationSailor]

lanerd wrote:

Dakota98 wrote:
Two different things & a WDH does not help with squat. Besides, you're pulling a PUP that weighs about 2400 Lbs. Also, if you have sag when loaded & want to gets things level, I think airbags are over-kill, expense wise, for your application.

Do you really mean this (red highlighted)????

Ron

X2

A WDH most certainly does help with squat.