Nov-15-2017 10:29 AM
Dec-14-2017 10:19 AM
Dec-14-2017 08:13 AM
IdaD wrote:Lantley wrote:
The idea that you need to somehow balance the weight between the axles is a farce. You really want to maintain your original FA weight. You are not trying to equalize the weights between the axles.
A 5th wheel trailer is designed to place all the weight on the rear axle and little to no additional weight on the front axle.
A bumper pull wants to achieve a similar balance. The idea to to maintain the front axle weight.
A bumper pull trailer is attached to the truck behind the rear axle vs. above the rear axle on a 5'er.
The purpose of WDH is to keep the initial weight on the front axle. It is not to balance the weight between the axles.:h
Even a 1 ton SRW pick will benefit from a WDH. There is no way to attach 1500# 3' behind the rear axle and not remove weight from the front axle.:@ A trip to the CAT scales will easily prove this point.
With no weight distribution involved. The FA will weigh hundreds of lbs. less with the trailer attached vs. without the trailer.
Apply a WDH and you can restore the weight to the front axle.
The truck will always handle/steer better with the front axle at it original weight vs. being lighter than when it left the factory.
There is really no debate
His front axle with the trailer attached is still significantly heavier than a gas version of his truck with no trailer or with a trailer plus WDH. I could see wanting to add sway control but I just don't understand why a WDH would be necessary in OP's scenario.
Dec-14-2017 07:58 AM
otrfun wrote:Lantley wrote:To focus exclusively on maintaining front axle weight with no regard to rear axle weight makes absolutely no sense and is certainly open to debate, sorry. Do you have any objective, technical data to back up your claim that striving for a balanced front/rear weight distribution (balanced/proportional in terms of axle ratings) is harmful from a handling or safety perspective?
The idea that you need to somehow balance the weight between the axles is a farce. You really want to maintain your original FA weight. You are not trying to equalize the weights between the axles.
A 5th wheel trailer is designed to place all the weight on the rear axle and little to no additional weight on the front axle.
A bumper pull wants to achieve a similar balance. The idea to to maintain the front axle weight.
A bumper pull trailer is attached to the truck behind the rear axle vs. above the rear axle on a 5'er.
The purpose of WDH is to keep the initial weight on the front axle. It is not to balance the weight between the axles.:h
Even a 1 ton SRW pick will benefit from a WDH. There is no way to attach 1500# 3' behind the rear axle and not remove weight from the front axle.:@ A trip to the CAT scales will easily prove this point.
With no weight distribution involved. The FA will weigh hundreds of lbs. less with the trailer attached vs. without the trailer.
Apply a WDH and you can restore the weight to the front axle.
The truck will always handle/steer better with the front axle at it original weight vs. being lighter than when it left the factory.
There is really no debate
You are aware that front axle weight is lost (transferred to the rear axle) when a 5th wheel is hitched up---just like it is when a bumper-pull is hitched up, right? I don't see engineers in a panic to get that weight back on the front axle on a 5th wheel. I believe this fact alone makes your claim about keeping front axle weight static at all costs through use of a WDH, baseless.
Again, there are applications where a WDH is effective and there are applications where they are not. To say a WDH is always effective, regardless of application, is, well, nonsensical.
Dec-14-2017 07:45 AM
Lantley wrote:
The idea that you need to somehow balance the weight between the axles is a farce. You really want to maintain your original FA weight. You are not trying to equalize the weights between the axles.
A 5th wheel trailer is designed to place all the weight on the rear axle and little to no additional weight on the front axle.
A bumper pull wants to achieve a similar balance. The idea to to maintain the front axle weight.
A bumper pull trailer is attached to the truck behind the rear axle vs. above the rear axle on a 5'er.
The purpose of WDH is to keep the initial weight on the front axle. It is not to balance the weight between the axles.:h
Even a 1 ton SRW pick will benefit from a WDH. There is no way to attach 1500# 3' behind the rear axle and not remove weight from the front axle.:@ A trip to the CAT scales will easily prove this point.
With no weight distribution involved. The FA will weigh hundreds of lbs. less with the trailer attached vs. without the trailer.
Apply a WDH and you can restore the weight to the front axle.
The truck will always handle/steer better with the front axle at it original weight vs. being lighter than when it left the factory.
There is really no debate
Dec-14-2017 07:43 AM
Dec-13-2017 07:11 PM
Lantley wrote:To focus exclusively on maintaining front axle weight with no regard to rear axle weight makes absolutely no sense and is certainly open to debate, sorry. Do you have any objective, technical data to back up your claim that striving for a balanced front/rear weight distribution (balanced/proportional in terms of axle ratings) is harmful from a handling or safety perspective?
The idea that you need to somehow balance the weight between the axles is a farce. You really want to maintain your original FA weight. You are not trying to equalize the weights between the axles.
A 5th wheel trailer is designed to place all the weight on the rear axle and little to no additional weight on the front axle.
A bumper pull wants to achieve a similar balance. The idea to to maintain the front axle weight.
A bumper pull trailer is attached to the truck behind the rear axle vs. above the rear axle on a 5'er.
The purpose of WDH is to keep the initial weight on the front axle. It is not to balance the weight between the axles.:h
Even a 1 ton SRW pick will benefit from a WDH. There is no way to attach 1500# 3' behind the rear axle and not remove weight from the front axle.:@ A trip to the CAT scales will easily prove this point.
With no weight distribution involved. The FA will weigh hundreds of lbs. less with the trailer attached vs. without the trailer.
Apply a WDH and you can restore the weight to the front axle.
The truck will always handle/steer better with the front axle at it original weight vs. being lighter than when it left the factory.
There is really no debate
Dec-13-2017 06:30 PM
Dec-13-2017 06:01 PM
rsaylor3 wrote:I understand that you feel your WDH gives you a "controlled feel to the ride" and that "safety is a big part of it for (you)".
It's a Duramax and 4x4. I have put it on a cat scale and the sway pro puts me back at the same front weight as unloaded.
Honestly the safety is a big part of it for me, but also the ride. You can hook it up and leave them loose and tighten each link and drive. You will feel the difference in how the suspension works together and you get a smoother more controlled feel to the ride. Especially on rough interstates and roads. I like to be as smooth and comfortable as possible.
I run my tongue weight right at 13%, give or take depending on how much we packed for said trip
Good luck!
Dec-13-2017 04:46 PM
Dec-13-2017 12:54 PM
rsaylor3 wrote:Is your 2500 diesel? Have you CAT scaled your front and rear axle weight with your WDH fully tensioned? I'd be curious to see what these numbers are. It's very possible with a 2500 gasser (with less weight on the front axle) you may actually get better weight distribution with a WDH.
My trailer is a 32 ft box and 36ft hitch to bumper. I tow with a 2015 Silverado 2500. I use a Blue Ox Sway Pro with 1,500 lb bars.
I honestly would not tow without it. to me it's like seatbelts and everything else. If I have a way to be safer in what I am doing, why would I not? and how would I feel if I had to say I should have after something goes wrong.
takes maybe 5 minutes extra to hook up at most, and it provides for a very stable platform when towing. I have towed a short distance at lower speeds to storage and the difference in feel is night a day.
For the long haul, you will be happy just in the ride quality alone for having it on there.
Good luck and enjoy your new trailer!
Dec-13-2017 10:35 AM
Dec-13-2017 09:47 AM
Dec-12-2017 06:45 AM
Dec-11-2017 08:54 AM