WDH too much tension and how would you know?

[1L243]

I am setting up my new Toy Hauler with a Standard WDH rated at 10k. After weighing I am a little light in the front end and would like to try and transfer come more weight forward by dropping the head angle by adding one more washer. It works, I was able to add more weight to the front but it is a bugger to get the bars hooked up even using a electric tongue jack to help lift..

My question can you apply too much tension to the tension bars and how do you know what is too much?

[goducks10]

1L243 wrote:
The airbags prevent the rear from dropping which you would think would prevent the front from raising but I really don't know.

I am going to get some 1500# bars.....

If you would watch the video I linked you'd see that the air bags do nothing to transfer weight or lower the front fender.
Air bags should only be used to carry the added weight from extra gear in the truck.
Load the truck then air the bags and bring the truck back to it's original height. THEN hitch up the TH and use the WD to reset the front wheel well back to as close to it's original height as you can.

[1L243]

The airbags prevent the rear from dropping which you would think would prevent the front from raising but I really don't know.

I am going to get some 1500# bars.....

[MudChucker]

Agreed...looks like you need to verify your bars load capacity...it would seem to me that you will need 1500 pound bars.

[goducks10]

When I had my 2010 F150 and was towing our previous TT that had a TW of 900-950 lbs, I had to really lift the truck up. I was using an EQ with 1200 lb bars. If I didn't pay attention I once in awhile lifted the rear tires off the ground.
Kudos to Barker tongue jacks as it never broke. I had to lift the truck up 4-5" or more. I've also used an EAZ-Lift WD and when hitched up the spring bars had some bend in them. Seemed normal to me.
JMO but you should be setting up the front fender as close as you can back to it's original height. That would get you back to the original weight.
From you weights it looks like you need 1500 lb bars. If you empty RAWR is 3900 lb a when hitched it's 5450 lbs then thats an increase of 1550 lbs.
Bags won't do anything to transfer weight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBZu39pQ8Gg&feature=youtu.be

[1L243]

Thanks for those pointers. This is a Toy Hauler so I know that they tend to have alot of tongue weight. I have spent alot of time getting the WDH dialed in. I have weighed the truck by itself but loaded with cargo and the truck and trailer loaded together to get a tongue weight.

My truck is a 1999 F250 Super Duty with 35 psi in rear air bags.

I measured the distance from the top of the wheel wells to the ground with the WDH tension and without to get a idea on how much weight I am able to transfer forward.

And what I came up with is Fully Loaded with trailer and cargo dog and the wife I am 250lbs lighter in the front with the trailer and WDH.

So, not happy with this , in my driveway so I dont' have weights for this only measurements, I added one extra washer on the WDH to drop the bars a little so I could get more tension and still have level bars.

Doing this transferred more weight the front, front wheel well measurement dropped and the rear came up. But I had to really lift the truck and trailer with the Jack and it was a bear to get the springs set. So, I was wondering just how much force can I put on those WDH bars!

weights
Truck no trailer but with cargo
front axle 4150
rear axle 3900

Truck with trailer and cargo and WDH
front axle 3900
rear axle 5450

Trailer was 6300 when I weighed it coming home from the dealer

Trailer now 8200 with cargo

[mkirsch]

Don't be afraid to lift things up with the jack. A jack properly sized in good condition will be able to lift the truck and trailer plenty high enough. If it breaks it was about ready to let you down at the worst possible time.

[ScottG]

In my experience, too much spring tension cased the back of my truck to bounce upward a lot and the handling was a bit "floaty" at times. Almost like the truck was pivoting in the middle.

[BarneyS]

Take a good long read of this thread. 🙂
Barney

[MudChucker]

Here is a great write up http://www.tundratalk.net/forums/tundra-towing-hauling/324930-weight-distributing-hitches-weights-explained-ish.html

Clicky link

I may get flamed for the following, it is not the most accurate, bjt its likley close enough...
In a crude nutshell, weigh your TV front rear axel with no bars...hook up bars, re weigh...the difference on the front axel will give you a sense of how much load you have transfered from rear to front, and how much the bars are carrying.

My bet is that you are fine...vehicle level, bars parrallel to the frame..