WD & Max TW

Right, and that 1000lbs tongue weight rating is the actual weight of the tongue, not after the WD hitch has done its magic.

Most receivers and many vehicle owners manuals have two ratings for the receiver for with and without WD. You really need to look at the specific vehicle/receiver. Note mine:

The main reason why the answer is "No" is because there is no way to easily determine how much weight is "removed" from the tongue when WD is applied and adjusted properly. It can be done but only if you know exact weights, and are good at math.

The ratings numbers indicate the dead weight of the trailer tongue, to make it simple. If it says 1000lbs with WD hitch, that means if you put the tongue of the trailer on a scale, it darn well better not weigh more than 1000lbs.

I would add #6 to your list. You must not exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating, front and rear, especially rear.

jim1521 wrote:
No. Max weight is max weight. If your truck manufacturer says max tongue weight is "X", then that is the most they recommend. Here's the straight story based on my recent experiences (2016 Nissan Titan XD SL diesel and Grand Design Reflections 313RLTS):

1. I must not exceed the GVWR of the Nissan (8,800 lbs as specified by Nissan), whether towing something or not. I drive on to a CAT scale - in any configuration - and I must not exceed 8,800 lbs, AND
2. I must not exceed the GVWR of the 313RLTS (10,995 lbs as specified by Grand Design), AND
3. I must not exceed the Maximum Gross Combined Weight Rating of the Nissan (19,450 lbs as specified by Nissan), AND
4. I must not exceed the Maximum towing capacity Tongue of the Nissan (1,231 lbs as specified by Nissan using a WD hitch), AND
5. I must not exceed the Maximum towing capacity (12,314 lbs as specified by Nissan).

These are all the sticker numbers on your truck and trailer. They will vary by manufacturer, but the bottom line is that you must meet all five of these criteria if you want to "play by the numbers".

That is not to say that your truck cannot exceed these numbers safely; it just means that these are the numbers that the manufacturers are living by.

Thanks.

When you hang the tongue weight on back of TV, it adds weight to TV's rear axle and takes weight off from the TV's front axle. If too much weight is removed from the front axle, it can cause steering and control issues, including trailer sway.

The WD hitch uses leveraging to restore some (in some cases all) of the weight lost on the front axle. There is a small reduction in tongue weight, but, not enough to rely on it to not overload an undersized receiver.

Also note, tongue weight is not a constant number. It goes up and down during every trip. Water and groceries get loaded and used up. Holding tanks get filled. Depending on location (in relation to trailer axles) of holding tanks, they can raise or lower tongue weight considerably.

My trailer has a galley tank in front of the trailer axles, and a fresh water tank behind the axles. My black and grey tanks are directly over the axles. My tongue weight can fluctuate as much as 200 lbs during any trip.

No. Max weight is max weight. If your truck manufacturer says max tongue weight is "X", then that is the most they recommend. Here's the straight story based on my recent experiences (2016 Nissan Titan XD SL diesel and Grand Design Reflections 313RLTS):

1. I must not exceed the GVWR of the Nissan (8,800 lbs as specified by Nissan), whether towing something or not. I drive on to a CAT scale - in any configuration - and I must not exceed 8,800 lbs, AND
2. I must not exceed the GVWR of the 313RLTS (10,995 lbs as specified by Grand Design), AND
3. I must not exceed the Maximum Gross Combined Weight Rating of the Nissan (19,450 lbs as specified by Nissan), AND
4. I must not exceed the Maximum towing capacity Tongue of the Nissan (1,231 lbs as specified by Nissan using a WD hitch), AND
5. I must not exceed the Maximum towing capacity (12,314 lbs as specified by Nissan).

These are all the sticker numbers on your truck and trailer. They will vary by manufacturer, but the bottom line is that you must meet all five of these criteria if you want to "play by the numbers".

That is not to say that your truck cannot exceed these numbers safely; it just means that these are the numbers that the manufacturers are living by.

Thanks.