Towing without load level bars or sway control

[4x4crazy]

I'm looking at new jayco jay feather trailers and in specific the 24rlsw model. Weight is about 5200lbs dry 7000lbs gross. I'd be pulling it with my 2017 f250 super duty with the diesel. Debating if I should even use load leveling or sway control. Ford says there's no need. My truck also has a built in sway control. Ive read of people towing much more without load leveling hitches with this truck and it's almost thr same weight as my boat. ..im more concerned if not having a weight distribution hitch will be a big issue if I ever go sell it. Looking for opinions

[drsteve]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
No proof, but I think some states REQUIRE WDH on trailers over 5000 lbs. Brake for sure.

MI requires brakes on anything over 3K pounds. Never heard of a WD requirement. I see RV delivery drivers coming up I-69 from Indiana all the time with new TTs and no WD.

[KD4UPL]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
No proof, but I think some states REQUIRE WDH on trailers over 5000 lbs. Brake for sure.

No proof? So you're just starting your own internet rumor then?

I've never ever heard of such a thing. Some time spent doing internet searches doesn't reveal even a hint of a any state law to this effect. If there is such a law it's well hidden, unknown, unenforced, and extremely difficult to find.

[naturist]

Lots of opinions here, both ways. Contrary to some, there exist rigs that do not need either WDH or sway control. I would try it without and make your own decisions.

I would caution everyone to pay close attention to tire pressures. Under inflated (for the load you are carrying) will make any rig squirrelly. A WDH with sway on under inflated tires is putting a bandaid on a major surgical incision: a really bad idea.

I encountered a guy who swore his rig, essentially identical to mine, which tows straight as an arrow without WDH/sway, was a death trap. His was all over the road even with both WDH and sway. Turned out he had overinflated fronts and under inflated rears, having paid no attention to either the owners manual or the door sticker and just put 35 psi all around because he always had put 35 all around. When he tried the right pressures, he was astonished to find it solved the issue.

[Huntindog]

It depends on your expectations.

Is it going to be "good enough" without WD.... Only you can decide.

Personally, "good enough" is not where I want my rig to be. I want it to be as good as it can be. There have been a couple of times I was glad it was not just "good enough"

FWIW. I have a long bed crewcab dually diesel.
I can tell the difference in one hole of adjustment with my WD.

[ScottG]

Gdetrailer wrote:

ScottG wrote:
Probably "OK" without it but it will tow a lot nicer with it.

The answer is "maybe".

From my understanding, spring rates between F250 and F350 with 9900/10K GVWR ARE the same, may not be the case with your Dodge so with the Ford F250/350 the "ride" quality is pretty much the same.

I suspect that most likely there will be very little "ride" quality improvement with the OPs setup with WD.

All of my F250s I have all ride very firm, no mushy soft F150 ride.

As I mentioned, the OP and my own situation is nearly the same, the ONLY thing that WD might improve is the small amount of front end "porpoising" (UP/DOWN) that sometimes happens under some road conditions. I have never had this fell like it has been excessive or out of control.

OP may or may not like that movement, if not objectionable they could SKIP WD.

IF they find the slight porpoising they get is objectionable then they MIGHT want to LIGHTLY apply some WD.

Otherwise they most likely will never be able to tell the difference between WD and no WD.

In some cases, the application of WD CAN adversely affect ride quality and possibly cause instability especially when attempting to fully return the no load front ride height. It is for that reason manufacturers like Ford, no longer recommend attempting to return to no load front ride height, it is not needed. Instead opting for PARTIAL OR HALF ride height as the recommendation.

Folks on this forum are totally obsessed with WD and restoring front ride height, sometimes it is not needed, the rear height of the truck IS CONSIDERABLY RAKED and you have a HEAVY ENGINE/TRANSMISSION on the FRONT AXLES.. If a truck cannot handle 900-1000 lbs at the end of the frame it doesn't deserve being called a truck..

For the record, I do have 3400 lbs of cargo capacity, I HAVE loaded more than once 3000 lbs of cement blocks in the bed of my truck.. Never, not once had "light steering" or any driving issues.

Actually I was referring to handling rather than ride - which I agree wont be much different.
I absolutley guarantee it will handle better with WD. It will track better with less sawing of the steering wheel back and forth.
Unless the WDH is set up wrong, it is never going to handle worse with it. Of course, like anything, if someone sets it up wrong it can cause all sorts of problems.

[Nv_Guy]

I say no need. I have a twin to your truck. I pull a car trailer carrying an off road truck, combined weight is probably 8K. Barely drops the talk of the F250. Never had any sway or other "excitement".

[boogie_4wheel]

My trailer is 6k before toys with 1k of tongue weight (5k on the axles).

As a few others have said, it may help with porposing. I have an Equalizer 4-Way and it does help with that. Handling with or without is a minimal difference (and I scaled with and without for adjustment). I would expect you to have similar results.

[theoldwizard1]

No proof, but I think some states REQUIRE WDH on trailers over 5000 lbs. Brake for sure.

[Gdetrailer]

ScottG wrote:
Probably "OK" without it but it will tow a lot nicer with it.

The answer is "maybe".

From my understanding, spring rates between F250 and F350 with 9900/10K GVWR ARE the same, may not be the case with your Dodge so with the Ford F250/350 the "ride" quality is pretty much the same.

I suspect that most likely there will be very little "ride" quality improvement with the OPs setup with WD.

All of my F250s I have all ride very firm, no mushy soft F150 ride.

As I mentioned, the OP and my own situation is nearly the same, the ONLY thing that WD might improve is the small amount of front end "porpoising" (UP/DOWN) that sometimes happens under some road conditions. I have never had this fell like it has been excessive or out of control.

OP may or may not like that movement, if not objectionable they could SKIP WD.

IF they find the slight porpoising they get is objectionable then they MIGHT want to LIGHTLY apply some WD.

Otherwise they most likely will never be able to tell the difference between WD and no WD.

In some cases, the application of WD CAN adversely affect ride quality and possibly cause instability especially when attempting to fully return the no load front ride height. It is for that reason manufacturers like Ford, no longer recommend attempting to return to no load front ride height, it is not needed. Instead opting for PARTIAL OR HALF ride height as the recommendation.

Folks on this forum are totally obsessed with WD and restoring front ride height, sometimes it is not needed, the rear height of the truck IS CONSIDERABLY RAKED and you have a HEAVY ENGINE/TRANSMISSION on the FRONT AXLES.. If a truck cannot handle 900-1000 lbs at the end of the frame it doesn't deserve being called a truck..

For the record, I do have 3400 lbs of cargo capacity, I HAVE loaded more than once 3000 lbs of cement blocks in the bed of my truck.. Never, not once had "light steering" or any driving issues.

[drsteve]

Make sure your truck's receiver is rated for the tongue weight without WD.

[ScottG]

Probably "OK" without it but it will tow a lot nicer with it.

[Gdetrailer]

4x4crazy wrote:
I'm looking at new jayco jay feather trailers and in specific the 24rlsw model. Weight is about 5200lbs dry 7000lbs gross. I'd be pulling it with my 2017 f250 super duty with the diesel. Debating if I should even use load leveling or sway control. Ford says there's no need. My truck also has a built in sway control. Ive read of people towing much more without load leveling hitches with this truck and it's almost thr same weight as my boat. ..im more concerned if not having a weight distribution hitch will be a big issue if I ever go sell it. Looking for opinions

You are pretty much in the same place my setup is, on the bubble to need or not to need.

My TT is 26ft long, weighs 5400 empty and loaded about 6300 with a loaded tongue weight of 875-900 lbs..

Have towed this same trailer with a 2003 F250 super cab 4x2, 2006 F250 super cab 4x2, and current 2013 F250 Super cab 4x2.

Never used any WD with any of the above vehicles and the combination tows great. I have also more than once made emergency stops from 70 MPH to avoid hitting deer on the highway without any feeling of losing control..

F250 has PLENTY of up front weight in the engine, transmission and in your case (I am assuming that you have 4x4)the front 4x4 axle and most likely to not need much if any "correction" in weight loss from the front axle.

I would recommend trying without first, if the tow feels solid and ride is OK you most likely will be fine.

However, keep in mind, my 4x2 sits CONSIDERABLY LOWER in stance than a 4x4. 4x4 suspension raises the vehicle body 11 inches!!! YES, ELEVEN INCHES, I HAVE measured this difference!!

That extra height you have raises the vehicles center of gravity (COG) considerably which may lead to more body sway than what I have..

The ONLY thing I think WD will do for you is perhaps reduce a bit of the "purpoising" of the front end (I am used to that since I came from a family that had slide in TCs and boy can those "porpoise").. And perhaps help compensate for the additional body height that you have..

[old_guy]

but on the other hand I knew a guy who told me he wouldn't tow across the street with out sway control. I have the four point system now and love the way mine tow. but honestly I know nothing about ford's built in sway system and no feedback on it .

[2Rad4U]

You will want WDH witb sway control.

The truck is good. Dropping a ton of weight onto the rear bumper is bad.

A good hitch setup fixes that.

[Lynnmor]

The idea is to restore some of the weight to the front axle that was lost when you dropped the weight on the hitch. I have a similar combination and even with the WDH, I needed air bags to restore rear height. The last few years the F250s didn't sag quite as bad, so you may not be too far off level with the WDH adjusted correctly. My suggestion is to use the WDH for the added control.