Do I need a WD hitch

TomG2 wrote:
Doesn't your owner's manual address hitch requirements? Can't imagine "needing" a WD hitch with 2500 series pickup and less than 500 pounds tongue weight. A real advantage of HD pickups is often eliminating the requirement for WD hitches and their accompanying paraphernalia. I am lazy.

Tom,

Yes, my manual shows 500# TW and 5,000# Towed VW for the factory Class III hitch. I'd be replacing the factory hitch with an aftermarket Class IV hitch which has higher tongue and Towed VW ratings, since wet, my new TT will exceed the 500# TW limit of the Class III hitch. Like you, I think the WD hitches are a PITA.

-jj

john&bet wrote:
If you still have the wdh then I would try using towing without it then with it.

Yes. I plan on towing it home from the dealer, about 100 miles, without the WD hitch, since dry it is within spec for my factory hitch. It will give me a chance to see how it handles sway-wise too.

The WD hitch I have is rated for 12,000#, so it is overkill for the smaller TT.

-jj

Doesn't your owner's manual address hitch requirements? Can't imagine "needing" a WD hitch with 2500 series pickup and less than 500 pounds tongue weight. A real advantage of HD pickups is often eliminating the requirement for WD hitches and their accompanying paraphernalia. I am lazy.

If you still have the wdh then I would try using towing without it then with it.

Hello,

I've been towing a 7000# TT, 900# tongue weight, with my Ford factory class III hitch and Equalizer 12000# WD hitch.(trailer weights are Wet).

I'm getting rid of the trailer and picking up a lighter trailer with a dry weight of 3900# and a dry hitch weight of 500#. Based on my previous TT, I'll be carrying about 800 - 900# of gear/food/water, so Wet weights for the new trailer should be about 4800# GVW and around 600# or so tongue weight.

I'm thinking it might be nicer to upgrade to a Class IV hitch and skip the WD hitch. I used to pull the old trailer with a one ton diesel and it was drop the coupler on the ball and go and I would sure like to get back to that instead of messing with another WD hitch.

-jj

It has a Class IV hitch from the factory. I already have the WDH so might as well use it. It is a quality S brand no sway control.

br549redneck wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:
The specs for a new Tahoe lite 21SD
GVWR 5,600 pounds
Unloaded tongue weight 350 pounds

Based on 13% of the GVWR you will possibly have a loaded tongue weight of 728 pounds.

Your hitch is probably rated for 500 load bearing and 1,000 with WD.

So I would say yes, you need a WDH.

I just don't see the factory putting that light of a hitch on a 3/4 ton truck. It makes no sense to me but allot of things dont makes sense any more.

Yes, they do put that sized hitch on 3/4 ton trucks! I had a 1999 Dodge 2500 that had a stock hitch capacity of 500lbs weight carrying and 1000lbs using weight distribution.

My present 2002 Ford F250 PSD had a stock hitch with 500lb WC and 1250lb WD.


I upgraded the hitch to a more capable hitch several years ago.


To the OP: Look at your receiver for a sticker or plate that looks like the ones above. It will tell you what your receiver capabilities are. Then weigh the tongue of your trailer when you are ready to go camping. If it is below the Weight Carrying rating then you can forgo using the WD hitch if you wish. Personally, I would use it anyway to help keep the front axle planted properly and to improve the ride.
Barney

beemerphile1 wrote:
The specs for a new Tahoe lite 21SD
GVWR 5,600 pounds
Unloaded tongue weight 350 pounds

Based on 13% of the GVWR you will possibly have a loaded tongue weight of 728 pounds.

Your hitch is probably rated for 500 load bearing and 1,000 with WD.

So I would say yes, you need a WDH.

I just don't see the factory putting that light of a hitch on a 3/4 ton truck. It makes no sense to me but allot of things dont makes sense any more.

If there is no sticker on the receiver check your owners manuel for the hitch weight rating if it is factory. My 05 Dodge 3500 receiver rating is max 12K.

The may reason I would use a WD hitch for a 2500 is the sway control bar.

I can't imagine you would need or want a WDH for that little trailer behind a 2500 truck. If it does have more TW than your stock hitch is rated for I would simply upgrade the stock hitch.
That truck will ride much better with a load in the bed (or on the hitch). Only 300 or so pounds of hitch weight really isn't enough to even notice on that truck. I think you want as much of the hitch weight as you can resting on the back of that truck to help it ride well and have good traction on wet grass, gravels, etc.
I regularly tow a 5,000 pound cargo trailer, 4,500 pound boat, and a 14,000 pound equipment flatbed with no WDH behind my dualys. They ride good and track straight. Yes, my hitch is rated for the tongue capacity.