what if tongue weight is the only "problem"?

[Slidepop]

I just set up my Airstream 28' with a 2016 F250 diesel equipped with Ride Rite airbags and an adjustable height hitch. As set up, my setup at about 20 lbs in the airbags gives me a level truck and level camper.

The rig seems to drive just fine -- a little smoother than the F250 dually I used to tow the trailer with, and it doesn't seem to wander at all at any speed. The electronic sway control built into the F250 has not activated once in about 500 miles of towing. I have not yet driven in heavy wind.

I weighed the rig yesterday at a certified scale. None of my axle weights (steering, drive, and trailer axles) came anywhere near the weight limits for the axles, and I am many thousands of pounds under the towing weight limit, and way under the GVWR for both the camper and the tow vehicle.

My tongue weight, however, is 960 (the stated limit for tongue weight on the F250 is 800 lbs with the "standard" hitch supplied with the truck). This happens to be exactly 15% of my total trailer weight -- just at the upper limit percentage of TT weight recommended by Ford and, it seems, everyone else.

My question: Do I need a WD hitch? According to the Ford towing guide, this would raise my tongue weight limit to 1400 lbs (if the WD hitch weighs 80 lbs, the actual tongue weight will be 1040 lbs). But it seems potentially wrong to me to mess with the distribution of the weight (and add the weight of the hitch) when the vehicle seems to drive well and I'm nowhere near the weight limits for any axle or the GVWRs.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Lantley wrote:
Ideally the WDH will keep front axle weight the same as unhitched.

Exactly, and that's what you don't want. I know it's been parroted over and over on here but it's just not a good thing to do and even the manufacture have finally realized it.

As I have already stated, a 50/50 weight on both the front and rear axel is the best for handling and braking on any vehicle. Ever notice how the new trucks have their engine tucked up under the dash? There is a reason for that. They are trying to build a 50/50 front to rear weight bias. In the racing game we take it to the extreme by taking tire temperatures on all 4 tires and 3 different areas. We want all of the tires to do the same amount of work. And before anybody starts; it doesn't matter if this vehicle is an Indy car and a F350.

Pickups are inherently front end heavy because of how they are made. Diesel trucks are more so because of the big ol block of iron and aluminum sitting right on the front axel.

And while I'm on the subject. Ever notice that WD hitch manufactures and pickup truck manufactures don't recommend to bring the height of the front tire and the wheel well opening back to unhitched height anymore. Have any idea why they are doing that; because I do. They are trying to get more towards that 50/50 weight bias that I have talked about for years.

[Lynnmor]

Tvov wrote:

Slidepop wrote:
...

The rig seems to drive just fine -- a little smoother than the F250 dually I used to tow the trailer with, and it doesn't seem to wander at all at any speed. The electronic sway control built into the F250 has not activated once in about 500 miles of towing. I have not yet driven in heavy wind.

...

I don't know much about the "built in" sway control on the new trucks, but I thought they wouldn't activate until it is basically an emergency situation. I would be careful depending on that. Even basic hitch sway control, like a friction bar, will help to reduce sway even starting.

I think the Ford factory hitches are very good and heavy duty, but still I would certainly get a weight distribution hitch with sway control, especially with a pretty long trailer like you have. Just because you use a WD hitch, that doesn't mean you will overload the front end. You can adjust the weight distribution however you want, more or less weight forward, for the ride and safety you are looking for.

You are absolutely correct, if one gets into a situation where the sway control kicks in while towing a large trailer, you are having an emergency.

[fla-gypsy]

owenssailor wrote:
Put on a heavier hitch receiver if you are adamant about not wanting a WD hitch.

Me - I'd upgrade the receiver and use a WD hitch.

Good answer

[noteven]

Borrow a WD hitch and hook up with it with a bit of tension in the bars. Go for a drive and see what you think...

[Tvov]

Slidepop wrote:
...

The rig seems to drive just fine -- a little smoother than the F250 dually I used to tow the trailer with, and it doesn't seem to wander at all at any speed. The electronic sway control built into the F250 has not activated once in about 500 miles of towing. I have not yet driven in heavy wind.

...

I don't know much about the "built in" sway control on the new trucks, but I thought they wouldn't activate until it is basically an emergency situation. I would be careful depending on that. Even basic hitch sway control, like a friction bar, will help to reduce sway even starting.

I think the Ford factory hitches are very good and heavy duty, but still I would certainly get a weight distribution hitch with sway control, especially with a pretty long trailer like you have. Just because you use a WD hitch, that doesn't mean you will overload the front end. You can adjust the weight distribution however you want, more or less weight forward, for the ride and safety you are looking for.

[Lantley]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

Lantley wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Not really. The best handling vehicles have a 50/50 weight bias.

I'm towing around the same load you are with a 2500 diesel. I don't want to transfer any weight to the front. With a diesel over the front axel I don't want to transfer any more weight to the front.

That said, I do have a WD hitch but I don't transfer any weight with it. I just hand snap them up and call it good. I tried to transfer some weight and it just does not ride as good or handle as good. This way it can take some porpoising out of the ride without transferring a bunch of weight to the front again.

It always amuses me that people want to put weight in the back of their truck to get more traction in the winter but then when they tow they want to jack a bunch of weight forward again. :R

Without a WDH hitch are you removing weight from the front axle?
What does the CAT scale say?

Any time I have something hitched to the rear it will remove weight from the front. (Think teeter totter)I just don't want to transfer it back to the front with a WDH. I try to get as close to a 50/50 vehicle as I can. With a heavy diesel in the front there is no reason to transfer any more weight to the front.

Exactly without weight distribution we know some weight is being removed from the front axle. the question is how much? I can understand your desire not to add weight to the front axle. However removing it can also have negative effects.
Ideally the WDH will keep front axle weight the same as unhitched.
The only way to really know what the effects are is with a CAT scale.

[goducks10]

950lbs won't remove much from the front axle on a 2500 diesel. BTDT. When hitched to our previous TT the front only raised up 1/4-3/8".
If you're over the receiver rating then you definitely need a WDH.

[owenssailor]

Put on a heavier hitch receiver if you are adamant about not wanting a WD hitch.

Me - I'd upgrade the receiver and use a WD hitch.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Lantley wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Not really. The best handling vehicles have a 50/50 weight bias.

I'm towing around the same load you are with a 2500 diesel. I don't want to transfer any weight to the front. With a diesel over the front axel I don't want to transfer any more weight to the front.

That said, I do have a WD hitch but I don't transfer any weight with it. I just hand snap them up and call it good. I tried to transfer some weight and it just does not ride as good or handle as good. This way it can take some porpoising out of the ride without transferring a bunch of weight to the front again.

It always amuses me that people want to put weight in the back of their truck to get more traction in the winter but then when they tow they want to jack a bunch of weight forward again. :R

Without a WDH hitch are you removing weight from the front axle?
What does the CAT scale say?

Any time I have something hitched to the rear it will remove weight from the front. (Think teeter totter)I just don't want to transfer it back to the front with a WDH. I try to get as close to a 50/50 vehicle as I can. With a heavy diesel in the front there is no reason to transfer any more weight to the front.

[Terryallan]

Well. Think about it. you are overstressing the hitch. It may not break this trip, or next trip. But it could break at any time from overloading. there is a reason it is rated to 800lbs. don't find out what it is.

[Lantley]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Not really. The best handling vehicles have a 50/50 weight bias.

I'm towing around the same load you are with a 2500 diesel. I don't want to transfer any weight to the front. With a diesel over the front axel I don't want to transfer any more weight to the front.

That said, I do have a WD hitch but I don't transfer any weight with it. I just hand snap them up and call it good. I tried to transfer some weight and it just does not ride as good or handle as good. This way it can take some porpoising out of the ride without transferring a bunch of weight to the front again.

It always amuses me that people want to put weight in the back of their truck to get more traction in the winter but then when they tow they want to jack a bunch of weight forward again. :R

Without a WDH hitch are you removing weight from the front axle?
What does the CAT scale say?

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Not really. The best handling vehicles have a 50/50 weight bias.

I'm towing around the same load you are with a 2500 diesel. I don't want to transfer any weight to the front. With a diesel over the front axel I don't want to transfer any more weight to the front.

That said, I do have a WD hitch but I don't transfer any weight with it. I just hand snap them up and call it good. I tried to transfer some weight and it just does not ride as good or handle as good. This way it can take some porpoising out of the ride without transferring a bunch of weight to the front again.

It always amuses me that people want to put weight in the back of their truck to get more traction in the winter but then when they tow they want to jack a bunch of weight forward again. :R

[ScottG]

Yes, you need one and you will notice an improvement in the way it drires.

[TucsonJim]

For Safety sake, yes.

[RedRocket204]

If you are at ~ 12% tongue weight, then your trailer weight is at 8000 lbs? It will not hurt, other than your wallet, to have a WDH so you are under the maximum stated hitch weight for your drawbar.

Speaking of drawbar, what size are you using? If your hitch states 800 lbs dead weight with 2" drawbar, what is it if you move up to a 2 1/2" drawbar?

EDIT: Just looked at Ford's 2016 Towing Guide and if you have the factory hitch, a 2" drawbar is 600 lbs and 2 1/2" drawbar is 850 lbs with no WDH. You may be more over than you are thinking.