WD Needed?

Back in the day, we really needed to shift some of the weight to the front axle of our Buicks and Fairlanes. It got to be an automatic add on for the trailer dealers. Some light duty pickups still need to unload the rear axle, many don't. I have towed thousand of miles with F-250 and 2500HD's with none of the much feared bounce or loss of front tire contact. I will go with what GM engineers say that their pickups "require".

IDoMyOwnStunts wrote:

brulaz wrote:

2016 Ram Manual, p290 wrote:
If the gross trailer weight is 5,000 lbs (2 267 kg) or more, it is mandatory to use a weight-distributing hitch to ensure stable handling of your vehicle.

That's from an online version of the 2016 manual (Version 3) I downloaded. Trouble is, it's very generic. Used for ALL Rams, 1500s, Vans as well as 2500 and 3500s.

*sigh*

Not sure where you got that. That is NOT what my manual says.

"If the gross trailer weight is 5,000 lbs (2 267 kg) or more, it is recommended to use a weight-distributing hitch to ensure stable handling of your vehicle."

Ah well, it doesn't really matter.

The true test is for the driver to go out there on a really gusty, windy day and see for himself how the rig handles.

After doing that once w/o a WDH, I decided to use my Equal-I-Zer almost all the time. Would only be willing to take short local trips on calm days w/o it.

A weight distributing hitch make the "tow life" so much nicer. No hammering or teeter/tottering. Always remember, it's not "just" about how far down it pushes you truck when you set the trailer on the ball or what the manufacturer say you can get away with without a weight distributing hitch. It's about spreading the weight across both axles of the tow rig to make a much nicer ride.

brulaz wrote:

2016 Ram Manual, p290 wrote:
If the gross trailer weight is 5,000 lbs (2 267 kg) or more, it is mandatory to use a weight-distributing hitch to ensure stable handling of your vehicle.

That's from an online version of the 2016 manual (Version 3) I downloaded. Trouble is, it's very generic. Used for ALL Rams, 1500s, Vans as well as 2500 and 3500s.

*sigh*

Not sure where you got that. That is NOT what my manual says.

"If the gross trailer weight is 5,000 lbs (2 267 kg) or more, it is recommended to use a weight-distributing hitch to ensure stable handling of your vehicle."

IDoMyOwnStunts wrote:

TomG2 wrote:
What does Ram have to say on the subject? A similar Silverado 2500HD does not require WD for the trailer you are towing and experience proves GM to be correct.

Read my post above. From the manual on page 689, Ram recommends a WD hitch for trailers over 5000 lbs.

Problem solved. Do as Ram says, or buy a Chevrolet.

2016 Ram Manual, p290 wrote:
If the gross trailer weight is 5,000 lbs (2 267 kg) or more, it is mandatory to use a weight-distributing hitch to ensure stable handling of your vehicle.

That's from an online version of the 2016 manual (Version 3) I downloaded. Trouble is, it's very generic. Used for ALL Rams, 1500s, Vans as well as 2500 and 3500s.

TomG2 wrote:
What does Ram have to say on the subject? A similar Silverado 2500HD does not require WD for the trailer you are towing and experience proves GM to be correct.

Read my post above. From the manual on page 689, Ram recommends a WD hitch for trailers over 5000 lbs.

What does Ram have to say on the subject? A similar Silverado 2500HD does not require WD for the trailer you are towing and experience proves GM to be correct.

You will probably find no bars has a bit more side to side rocking in cross winds than a basic WD system. A dual cam or equal will have a bit less. As far as towing straight, you should be able to do this with out bars, then add bars for more protection if you will. I've towed loads to 13K ball/pintle mounted and NO bars just fine, Along with oh SHEET!. Trailer was loaded incorrectly, and my equipment trailer loaded to 8500 lbs, with ALL of that on the axels was all over the road, despite the dumptruck that weighs in a 12K lbs in the front. A bigger dually style truck is not always the answer. But moved bobcat forward, corrected the HW to axel wt ratio. towed like a dream. Whether behind my reg cab pickup with an 8K rating, my dually dmax or sw CC 3500. If the trailer is incorrectly loaded etc, you WILL have issues, unless you have a hensley. Even then, yes it stops sway, but if the system brakes, you now have an uncontrollable trailer behind you.

I find generally speaking, if I lose on a typical 8600-10K SW 25 or 35 series truck, somewhere between 300-400 lbs off the FA, then handling goes south per say. Be this with a load in the very back of the bed, or a hitch! Under this, not so may problems. I also find, the amount off the front is not linear. Ie always say 20 lbs per 100 lbs of HW. It is more like 5-10 lbs the first 100, 10-20 for the next, 20-30 for the next etc etc. At 1000 lbs of HW, you will literally take 100 off the front for that 100 you had in HW, so a total of 200 lbs to the axel. maybe a total of 50% as one persons math says, but less than this amount, you will be less, and over way more than the ratio suggests. This will vary based on WB, size engine in the front, rear axel spring rating, be it a stiff or soft suspension also can vary the amount off the front vs the amount added to the rear.

At the end of the day, if properly setup, yes you will be safe. Probably safer per say with a dual cam or equal. BUT, i have had bars fall off, so best as mentioned earlier, make it so you can safely tow the trailer with no sway and no bars, then add the bars for extra measure.

Just my own findings after 35-40 years of towing various and sundry trailers.

Marty

There is a warning in the 2016 Ram manual on page 689 recommending a WD system if the trailer weighs over 5000 lbs. It doesn't use the word "requires" like it does on trailer brakes for trailers weighing more than 1653 lbs (odd number. I'm still not going to put brakes on my utility trailer).

As far as using a sleeve for a 2.5" to 2" adapter, at least on mine, once the WD is set up there is no slop in it. I only notice slop when I don't have a load on the hitch.