Do I even need a WD setup?

[shaner82]

So I bought a fairly expensive WD hitch, but the place where I bought my trailer from (private sale) was literally around the corner from my house. So when taking it home, I didn't bother with the WD hitch. When I lowered the trailer onto my truck, it barely squatted. At worst, the truck was level, and the rear end was possibly a hair higher still even with the tongue weight.

The trailer has a dry tongue weight of 400 lbs (as per manual) and a total dry weight of 4500 lbs (as per manual). My truck is a 2015 F150 XLT. It drove great and I could barely tell it was back there.

Is a WD really necessary in this case? I'm thinking of returning it. Any side to this I'm not seeing? This is my first trailer.

[IAMICHABOD]

You can always take it for a test run as my friend did..............he made it 40 miles

[spoon059]

The easiest way to find out if you NEED it is to not have one and see what happens. I'm sure the cost of your WDH is significantly less than the cost of your truck or trailer, or the value of you and your loved ones.

For a minimal cost you have WDH and hopefully sway control that you will never need.

[Trackrig]

Here's a long post from 2004 on how a WD hitch works.

Bill

[BenK]

Nope, most times folks do not need a WD Hitch system...it is that chance encounter
with Mr Murphy. Same as the seat belt...most times it is NOT needed

Either you have the correct stuff or not spot on. No time to go back to the store.

Ditto the setup. Either it is there spot on or not

Decide if you believe in the OEM ratings or not. If not, then do whatever. If so,
then read up and learn how it works and the ratings numbers vs your actual

Check your TV Receiver rating label. There will be two numbers. One with a WD Hitch
and other without (weight carry) vs your actual tongue weight

That video highlights bow wake effect. The trailer was not swaying until it
got out of the bow wake, or when that person met Mr Murphy...

Too late to slow down and the only hope for that driver was as mentioned...touch
the trailer brake controller to turn on the trailer brakes and *NOT* braking
the TV

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

There is a lot of misconception about what a WD hitch will do for you on this forum.

The best set-up for braking and handling for a car or truck, whether it be a race car or a truck towing a trailer is a 50/50 front to rear weight bias.

The reason people put sand bags or big medal plates in the back of their pickup in cold weather is to get the weight bias corrected in a light in the rear truck. Trucks are light in the rear because there is nothing back there except a big empty box.

When you put a light trailer with a light tongue weight on the back of your truck you are correcting the poor weight bias of your truck. If you put a WD on a setup like this you are jacking weight off of an already light in the rear end truck and putting it on the heavy front end. This is not what you need to do.

I have a real heavy diesel truck and a pretty light trailer. Here is what I do. I have a WD hitch on my trailer and I use it. I do not transfer any weight to the front of my truck because that would be silly. I hand tighten the chains only. The chains are just snug and that's all. With this setup, I will not transfer any weight (remember I don't want to) but it will take most of the porpoising out of the setup.

This is the best setup for getting the weight bias and porpoising correct.

[Alabama_Jim]

When traveling down the Interstate at 65 for 100 miles you will probably see the need for WD hitch. I really believe in them for safety purpose.

[RoyB]

I elected to not get the WD on my OFF-ROAD POPUP trailer. It weighs in at 4200LBS loaded...

I guess the fact I have no wind resistance with everything tucked away behind my F150 truck helps matters big time. I have been all over the southern states and as far West as Texas - Okla pulling my POPUP trailer with no issues what so ever.

I have even been hit with the wake of a hugh log truck speeding on a two lane roadway in Arkansas near the Georgia Pacific Wood Plant... One time the wake was so bad it blew off one of my Ham radio antennas mounted on my truck...

My POPUP trailer tracked just fine... My F150 has some kind of electronic sway control that probably helps as well.

If I had the taller TT type trailer I think I would want to use WD like others has said on here. I suspect My F150 truck probably would not be enough truck to pull those larger trailers.

Roy Ken

[Ozlander]

I only use a WD hitch to keep a headlights on the highway.

I have five trailers, only one uses a WD hitch and sway bar.

YMMV

[shaner82]

To be clear, the trailer was loaded when I pulled it. It was a private sale and they left everything in it. The rear end barely squatted. I literally went 1/2 mile, which is why I didn't bother with the WD hitch

I thought sway control and WD were two different things and a WD hitch wouldn't necessarily help with sway. If it will, I'll definitely keep it.

[KD4UPL]

That's quite a video. Apparently the guy didn't know to apply the trailer brakes to stop the sway. Apparently didn't know to tie down things on the rear either. Hard to say but was also likely towing too fast. I don't think it's an issue of a WDH or not.
Does the OP need WDH? No. He's under the the ratings of his hitch and truck without it. With the trailer loaded the tongue weight may be over 500 pounds. The truck's hitch may require a WDH above 500 pounds of tongue weight. If it were mine I'd just upgrade to a hitch that can handle the tongue weight and forget about the heavy shin knocker of a WDH.
If sway is an issue then you need to increase tongue weight or possibly use sway control. In the last 14 years of towing flatbed, boat, cargo, and Rv trailers I've used WDH exactly once. That was when I borrowed a guys camper and he already had the set up laying there.

[gafidler]

If you ever have to make a panic stop you better have WD hitch or your trailer might end up beside you. T will also be nice when you are driving 60 miles per hour down the road and get passes by a tractor trailer..

[Bears_Den]

Think of it as insurance that your family can't live without or others on the road. You may have paid a hefty price for your WD set up but think of the price if someone gets hurt or worse.

[Golden_HVAC]

Trackrig wrote:
This guy didn't need at WD for the weight, but he could have used something to help with the sway.

Clicky

Bill

Wow, that is quite a video! One reply says they saw the aftermath of this, and everyone looked OK.

I noticed that the propane tanks on the rear rack where sliding around a bit, and appear to have left the trailer, and where on the side of the highway - bouncing around! They need to be tied down!

It also looks like the safety chains where not connected, or broke? Probably what stopped the truck from rolling over - so a good thing in this case.

Quick thinking of the pickup truck driver - to back up, and get off the highway with that 40 ton truck coming up to the accident quickly!

Stay safe out there!

Fred.

[Trackrig]

This guy didn't need at WD for the weight, but he could have used something to help with the sway.

Clicky

Bill

[Buzam]

once loaded the trailer will be much heavier, especially the tounge. I'd use the WDH.