Initial Setup - E-350 and Wildwood 29BHBS
Hello- I'm looking for some advice before I purchase additional components to get set up to tow. We are departing North Carolina in one month for a year of full-time boondocking across America. ...
Forum Discussion
Grit dog wrote:
I'd see how it tows first before spending a bunch of money, imo.
Have gotten blasted for this on here before, but ever notice that 99percent of the wdhs are on travel trailers and 99percent of other similar size trailers don't have them?
Have yet to figure out why that is........
You said you have a lot of experience towing. See what you NEED before buying would be my advice.
Grit dog,
Not blasting you by any means but in my opinion, the reason for that is twofold.
1. Most of the other trailers (box, utility, landscape, etc.) have much more possibility for varied loading and can be loaded tongue heavy easier without modification.
A travel trailer is pretty will fixed in its configuration from the factory, usually with little room for different loading to affect the tongue weight. Most TT owners use their WD hitch as a sway control platform also which relates also to the tongue weight.
2. Most of the other types of trailers have their axles located more to the rear of the trailer which leads to better towing behavior.
On the contrary, most travel trailers have their axles just about centered on the frame to allow a reasonable tongue weight. It is not easy to change that by loading as it is with the other trailer.
A third distant possibility is that those who tow travel trailers are maybe traveling longer distances and are more aware of how the trailer is behaving or how it should behave while being towed. They have a great deal of money tied up in their rig and want to have the best chances of safety and success they can. That may not be true of many of the other trailers you see on the road that may be towed by the employee of the owner and have no personal stake in the outcome other than their personal safety (of which they may not be aware).
This is my opinion as to the answer to your question based on my observations over the years. Also, I'm not so sure about your 99 percent figure for the other trailers. I have seen many box utility/car trailers of similar size to a TT being towed while using a WD hitch. Have never thought to think about the percentage though.
Barney
