WD hitch on while backing up?

rwoods61 wrote:
We recently upgraded from a hybrid to a full TT. At the dealership, the salesmen made sure to reminded me NOT to back up with the WD hitch installed.

I have been towing with a WD hitch for 4 years and have never removed the WD hitch prior to backing up. Mainly because I forget and there have been no adverse effects. If there would have been consequences then I would have remembered!

Now that my camper is heavier and since the salesman reminded me again, I have to ask WHY? Are the physics different going backward then they are forward? I need help understanding. Do I need to remove my WD hitch bars prior to backing up?

If it is needed, I have a inexpensive Curtis WD hitch with Torsion bars and chains.

rwoods61

Your first mistake is listening to anything the dealer told you with regards to towing. It amazes me how someone who sells travel trailers for a living can be so clueless as to the function of the hitch.

When I was told this once in a campground, I asked two questions:
1) How does the hitch know which direction I'm travelling?
2) What damage could occur if I don't?

No, the afore-mentioned sway control interference can be a concern depending on your particular rig. If the sway control was not installed properly, or if the trailer tongue has a protrusion for the safety chains that can contact the sway control at certain angles, then yes, it may be possible to damage the sway control, but that can happen in reverse, or while going forward because, again, the hitch components have no idea which direction they are traveling.