Hi Dr Blake,
Does your manual have this chart above those words of when to use 50% and when to use 100% front axle weight restoration?
I'm not trying to talk you out of using a WD hitch. I believe it is a good thing to do in your case. I myself would use one and I do even on my own truck when I use to tow my smaller camper that only had a 900# tongue weight. See here.
My receiver, truck and hitch equipment did not need a WD hitch , however I chose to use it. The ride in the truck is so much better and I do get the benefit of the anti sway control if I ever need it.
I was more questioning that you stated GM told you on your truck that when using WD you need to have 50% front end load restoration. GM does not say that, they let you sort it out.
If your truck weights are close, hitched with WD engaged and the truck only, then
Truck only weights
Front axle: 4,620
Rear axle: 3,300
Total truck: 7,920
Truck and trailer with WD engaged
Front axle: 4,450
Rear axle: 4,070
Total truck: 8,470
4,620 - 4,450 = 170# light on the front end.
Truck rear 4,070 -3,330 = 770# gained on the rear axle.
And with these
Truck and trailer no WD
Front axle: 4,356
Rear axle: 4,180
Total truck: 8,580
Trailer weights
Tongue: 820
Axle: 5,100
820/5100 = 0.16 * 100 = 16% loaded TW.
4,180 - 4,070 = 110# was only removed from the rear axle with WD.
4,620 - 4,356 = 264# removed from TV front axle with raw dead load on tow ball and no WD.
WD restored (264 - 170#) = 94# to the front axle.
Your truck unhitched has a GVW of 7,920#
Your TT GVW is 5,100 + 820 = 5,920#
The truck weighs (7,920 - 5,920#) 2000# more than the TT.
Where I am going with this is:
You have an excellent truck! It is hands down a very positive tow vehicle for your TT. The truck weighs 1 ton more mass than the TT. Your TT has 16% tongue weight. This is a very good towing combination.
If I myself was using your TT and TV I would not try adjust the WD to be at 50% front end load restoration. The WD hitch is only removing 110# of weight off the rear axle of the truck and only shifting 94 # to the front axle. (using your numbers) The WD hitch is barley working. The anti sway control will barely work with such a small load on the WD bars if that is your goal to be using it to do some good.
I'm looking at the actual weights, not the percentages. Your truck is so much more TV compared to the TT that this 50% guideline on your TV does not fit well with your present TT.
I myself would adjust the WD hitch to get close to unhitched weight on the front axle. Say 30 to 50# light. This is about as good as your going to get with anti sway control. The WD is doing about all it can do. Your camper is very well balanced and the trucking being 2000# heavier will have less tendency to be pushed around. You are within the GM guidelines. I would "not" over drive the front to be heavier than unhitched.
After looking at it this way, again this is for your truck and your TT, what reason will making 50% front end load restoration be better than close to 100%?
I understand the oversteer concerns of the current SAE recommendations, however we need to keep the entire picture in check. If other members see major oversteer concerns with this TV and TT combo at 100% FLR, please help explain it to us.
Hope this helps
John
Does your manual have this chart above those words of when to use 50% and when to use 100% front axle weight restoration?
GM wrote:
I'm not trying to talk you out of using a WD hitch. I believe it is a good thing to do in your case. I myself would use one and I do even on my own truck when I use to tow my smaller camper that only had a 900# tongue weight. See here.
My receiver, truck and hitch equipment did not need a WD hitch , however I chose to use it. The ride in the truck is so much better and I do get the benefit of the anti sway control if I ever need it.
I was more questioning that you stated GM told you on your truck that when using WD you need to have 50% front end load restoration. GM does not say that, they let you sort it out.
If your truck weights are close, hitched with WD engaged and the truck only, then
Truck only weights
Front axle: 4,620
Rear axle: 3,300
Total truck: 7,920
Truck and trailer with WD engaged
Front axle: 4,450
Rear axle: 4,070
Total truck: 8,470
4,620 - 4,450 = 170# light on the front end.
Truck rear 4,070 -3,330 = 770# gained on the rear axle.
And with these
Truck and trailer no WD
Front axle: 4,356
Rear axle: 4,180
Total truck: 8,580
Trailer weights
Tongue: 820
Axle: 5,100
820/5100 = 0.16 * 100 = 16% loaded TW.
4,180 - 4,070 = 110# was only removed from the rear axle with WD.
4,620 - 4,356 = 264# removed from TV front axle with raw dead load on tow ball and no WD.
WD restored (264 - 170#) = 94# to the front axle.
Your truck unhitched has a GVW of 7,920#
Your TT GVW is 5,100 + 820 = 5,920#
The truck weighs (7,920 - 5,920#) 2000# more than the TT.
Where I am going with this is:
You have an excellent truck! It is hands down a very positive tow vehicle for your TT. The truck weighs 1 ton more mass than the TT. Your TT has 16% tongue weight. This is a very good towing combination.
If I myself was using your TT and TV I would not try adjust the WD to be at 50% front end load restoration. The WD hitch is only removing 110# of weight off the rear axle of the truck and only shifting 94 # to the front axle. (using your numbers) The WD hitch is barley working. The anti sway control will barely work with such a small load on the WD bars if that is your goal to be using it to do some good.
I'm looking at the actual weights, not the percentages. Your truck is so much more TV compared to the TT that this 50% guideline on your TV does not fit well with your present TT.
I myself would adjust the WD hitch to get close to unhitched weight on the front axle. Say 30 to 50# light. This is about as good as your going to get with anti sway control. The WD is doing about all it can do. Your camper is very well balanced and the trucking being 2000# heavier will have less tendency to be pushed around. You are within the GM guidelines. I would "not" over drive the front to be heavier than unhitched.
After looking at it this way, again this is for your truck and your TT, what reason will making 50% front end load restoration be better than close to 100%?
I understand the oversteer concerns of the current SAE recommendations, however we need to keep the entire picture in check. If other members see major oversteer concerns with this TV and TT combo at 100% FLR, please help explain it to us.
Hope this helps
John
