Tongue weight limits and wdh

[waynefi]

What happens with the tongue weight limit when you are using a weight distributing hitch?

My Tacoma says the the tongue weight limit is 650 lbs. Does that mean that if my trailer has a tongue weight over 650 I need a wdh, or that I shouldn’t pull that trailer even with a wdh?

The function of a wdh is to take weight off the tongue, right? How would you even measure the tongue weight with the wdh in place?

My current trailer has a nominal tongue weight of 380, but that is before water, a second battery, etc.

[valhalla360]

Typically, there are two ratings.
- Just the ball: It's usually a lower hitch weight and towing limit.
- With WDH: It's usually a higher hitch weight and towing limit.

There are typically 4 bolts holding the hitch to the truck. With just the ball, the rear 2 carry pretty much all the hitch weight and it's multiplied due to leverage.

With a WDH, the hitch weight is distributed across all 4 bolts (though not perfectly evenly).

[IdaD]

Some factory hitches give you a rating with and without a WDH. My Ram just has a single max weight which I assume means don't exceed whether I'm using a WDH or not. Your Tacoma is probably the same. If you're really at 380 lbs empty I doubt you'll get it up to 650 lbs loaded assuming your hitch runs around 10%.

[Grit_dog]

For a Taco that’s likely the overall rating. But idk for sure.
And coming from a person who pulls all kinds of things sometimes with trucks that aren’t really big enough for the load, I wouldn’t want much more than that on a midsize truck. For multiple reasons.

[Lwiddis]

It means don’t put more than 650 pounds on the hitch! Weigh the tongue fully loaded.