WD hitch on while backing up?

[rwoods61]

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

[Terryallan]

DutchmenSport wrote:
Use a standard old fashioned Reese WD bars and never remove them. I do remove the sway bar. First one I purchased, the dealer say, when backing up, it could cause the little ball on the hitch to break off. Not good. So I never took the chance ... 3 TT later, still doing that! I NEVER back up with the sway bar on. WD, no problem there.

I remove my swaybar at the office when I check in. As for the WDH bars. Nope. Removing the bars will over load your receiver. Read it. Weight carrying, (No WDH) 500lbs. WDH 9500lbs

[Jack_Diane_Free]

Agree. I take friction sway bar off when backing but never the bars. 5 trailers doing this with never a problem.

[DutchmenSport]

Use a standard old fashioned Reese WD bars and never remove them. I do remove the sway bar. First one I purchased, the dealer say, when backing up, it could cause the little ball on the hitch to break off. Not good. So I never took the chance ... 3 TT later, still doing that! I NEVER back up with the sway bar on. WD, no problem there.

[linnemj]

gafidler wrote:
used a Equilzer for 4 years never removed it before backing up

The same with us. I would think you would block traffic on the access road if you had to remove the bars every time you had to back up. Our hitch makes some popping noises but that is all.

[gafidler]

used a Equilzer for 4 years never removed it before backing up

[old_guy]

say what? I have read this statement about needing to remove the bars many times but I don't know of a single person who has done this religiously. so what if you mess it up, they are still making them.

[Bull_Rider]

Never removed our WD hitch and I've never removed the friction sway bar before backing.

[K_Charles]

You don't need to remove the WD hitch but if they installed the sway bar wrong then it could bottom out if you jack knife to far, and it could brake. So the answer is either the guy that told you that doesn't know what he's talking about or he knows that he installed your sway bar wrong.

[downtheroad]

I'm not familiar with Curtis WD hitch with Torsion bars and chains...is there some kind of friction sway bar also?

I have never removed any of my towing equipment when backing up and have owned 3 different hitching systems...currently Reese Dual Cam Strait Line.