Weight Distribution Backing Up

I don't know of any hitch made that does not allow you to back up with it in operation. You all must be thinking of some folks problems with the friction sway control bars.

Now, there is at least one situation that I can think of where you would be well advised to remove the WD bars before you backed up. That would be , as has been already mentioned by others earlier, where you are backing up a fairly steep incline which would increase greatly the pressure on the A frame of the trailer via the WD bars pulling down on it as you backed up the incline.
Barney

I have a Reese Strait Line and don't remove the bars when backing up. When I was shopping for the hitch, I did notice some allowed backing and others did not. The cams on my WD bars let the bars roll over them when backing up.

Yeah I really am just going by what I've seen in videos about removing the bars. I have to back into a somewhat steep driveway and it seems like taking them off may help. But have not tried.

Our KZ Sportsmen Classic sits really, really low--many flipped axels on this brand, just for highway use. I have a massive drop hitch, and the BARS are even lower (obviously). I hit D@mN near everything if I am not careful.

By biggest fear is digging the bars into the ground...if that ain't about to happen. I am not dropping trailer in the middle of the CG just to remove the bars.

If this hitch can make 90 degree right hand turns thru city streets (sway bar is on right side) without "pinching", and make left turns without spreading beyond limits....how can I possible do much more backing it up????

I am convinced that many dealers say to remove them, just to assist in the backing process (loosen that pivot up), and to assure you do not dig them into the ground. Possible, also because if they don't and someone jacks the trailer into the truck, bending everything---"YOU DIDN'T TELL ME--boo hoo".

N-Trouble wrote:

cs2kplus wrote:
I was backing into my steep driveway. I am thinking I may just remove the bars in that case only. Otherwise I hear all the hmmm and hawww of the linkages.

If having to backup a steep incline I would make an exception and remove the bars in that case.

Removing the bars may prevent you dragging the rear of the trailer on the drive when backing in. Just make sure you won't drag the hitch shank as a result.

Only other thing to concern yourself with when turning VERY tight is if you have a trunnion bar system, the lug of the bar (part that goes in hitch) hitting the trailer frame in very, very tight turns... There is an extensive thread about the Reese Dual Cam system somewhere here on the forum, and it is explained about the possibility of the lug hitting.

I take them off when backing into my driveway. Fairly tight turn and the driveway is at fairly steep angle.

I also take them off if backing into a campsite and the site is not level left to right. I've found that if I level the trailer left to right and the truck is at a much different angle then when I disconnect the bars the suspension on the trailer might push up one side or the other and the trailer ends up out of level - removing the bars first prevents that from happening.

cs2kplus wrote:
I was backing into my steep driveway. I am thinking I may just remove the bars in that case only. Otherwise I hear all the hmmm and hawww of the linkages.

If having to backup a steep incline I would make an exception and remove the bars in that case.

I figured I'd do a little homework on the tire manufacture date thinking - they just may not be from 1989. I have a dot 6wvt 1306 on the tires. From one site I saw 4 digits is after 2000 and 3 is pre 2000. Mine being 1306 makes it possible that it was made 13th week of 2006. Agreed...still no spring chickens...but not 89. Anyone familiar with this dot code? Hard to find exact code on web.

I agree philh

Note to self...

Don't take the weight off the bars suddenly without supporting the trailer first. First one came off pretty easy. 2nd came off rather suddenly and dramatically. Me thinks I'm not going to worry about backing up with the bars on :)