WDH Understanding

[cccougar]

Regarding wdh, is there a standard percentage of weight they disburse throughout the tv and the tt?

I am new to tt and I am picking up a Heritage Glen in two weeks and having both a wdh and sway bar installed. The tongue weight is 650# dry- so in theory, a wdh will spread that weight around so not all of it is on the ball?? Thanks

[myredracer]

Also, be careful about buying a WDH c/w spring bars unless you are confident you know what the tongue weight is likely to be. You mention a 650 lb tongue wt. but the dry tongue weight will definitely go up and you don't want to end up with a set of under-sized bars. Over-sized is not good either. You'd be safer basing it on 12-13% of the GVWR rating which is typical for when you're are fully loaded up for camping. Your tongue wt. could possibly be over 1,000 lbs. In some cases the tongue weight can be closer to 15% of the GVWR. I would weigh your TT once it's loaded for camping. Is the dealer sizing the spring bars? What if they end up being too small? Dealers are notorious for messing up WDH installations. I would check it over at home - torque on bolts, bar angle, chain links and amount of wt. transfer. Which brand and type of WDH?

[Ron_Gratz]

jerem0621 wrote:
Ron, do you think the old equal squat recommendation was due to the type of TV being used? The main types of TV were big cars with soft suspensions.

Yes.

[jerem0621]

Ron Gratz wrote:

scrubjaysnest wrote:
---Connect the TT and adjust spring bars to bring all 4 wheel wells back to the original measurement( or close to it).---

If all 4 wheels are returned to the original measurement (or close to it), the TV would be carrying none of the tongue weight (or close to none).

That would be impossible.

In the old days, some of the WDH manuals specified equal settling at front and rear, but that is not the same as returning front and rear to the original heights.

Ron

Ron, do you think the old equal squat recommendation was due to the type of TV being used? The main types of TV were big cars with soft suspensions.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[Ron_Gratz]

scrubjaysnest wrote:
---Connect the TT and adjust spring bars to bring all 4 wheel wells back to the original measurement( or close to it).---

If all 4 wheels are returned to the original measurement (or close to it), the TV would be carrying none of the tongue weight (or close to none).

That would be impossible.

In the old days, some of the WDH manuals specified equal settling at front and rear, but that is not the same as returning front and rear to the original heights.

Ron

[AH64ID]

The 2006 Reese manual only wants you looking at the front wheel wheels, and it does say back to the original measurement if able. If it's not possible the instructions just want you to ensure the front is lower with the bars hooked up.

[scrubjaysnest]

The general rule is measure the highest point on all 4 fender wells to ground without the TT connected. After setting the ball height so the tt will be level. Connect the TT and adjust spring bars to bring all 4 wheel wells back to the original measurement( or close to it). This is the way the Reese wdh manual says to do it and has worked for me the last 30 years without a problem. The truck makers may be weigh in on this now but haven't bought a new one in 7 years so I can't say.

[APT]

Consult your tow vehicle owner's manual for towing with weight distribution. Every model year 2000+ vehicle full sized vehicle I have owned or considered owning has it documented on how much front axle weight to restore.

Generalities: Travel trailer tongue weight will go up, by 150-250 pounds over published dry weight. RVers add stuff, more so in front of TT axles because that's where the bulk of storage is. For most full sized pickups and SUVs with front axle weight fully restored with a WDH, about 80% of trailer TW will be carried on the truck's rear axle and 20% on the trailer axles. For 50% front axle weight restored, 100% of TW is carried by the TV rear axles, 10% on the trailer axles (-10% on truck front axle).

Use of a WDH does not change trailer tongue weight as measured at the ball.

You may be interested in more info in the , and specifically the how a WDH works thread and how to adjusted a WDH thread.

[Ron_Gratz]

Campfire Time wrote:

AH64ID wrote:
Some references call for all the weight to be restored to the front axle and some call for 50%.

I am about 50-60% on my setup and it tows great.

What references? The only one that's accurate is your tow vehicle's owners manual.

Your owners manual should have a spec for this. With GM, you are supposed to measure the front fender before adding the trailer. Then adjust the hitch to bring the front fenders back to stock height.

Your understanding of the GM spec applies only up to about MY 2012.

For the past 3-4 years, GM has specified that the WDH should be adjusted to eliminate only about 50% of front-end rise, for most TV/TT combinations, when a WDH is required.

Ron

[GaryWT]

It is all about getting he weight back to the front tires. I have a Ford so it is the bring it half way back to before hooking up. For me it was one inch different so the bars bring down 1/2 inch. Steering is great. When I had a 150 it was not as good but it worked.

[Wishbone51]

cccougar wrote:
The tongue weight is 650# dry- so in theory, a wdh will spread that weight around so not all of it is on the ball??

All the weight is still on the ball. Some of the weight is transferred to the front axle instead of all being on the rear.

[AH64ID]

My owners manual doesn't even mention weight distribution hitches, nor does the towing supplement. The only reference would be the hitch manual. The hitch manual wants the front height at least half way back to the unhitched height.

On my truck there is zero difference in steering with or without the WDH, and it's the same towing or not. The biggest difference the WDH makes is porpoising.

With 1250lbs of TW, an 18" shank, and a 160" wheelbase I don't want to see the kind of strain needed to put the front axle back at the unladen weight. The bars already are doing a LOT of work to get me to 50-60%.

Before I changed a few things around I was only restoring 200lbs with WDH hooked up and I lost around 900lbs from empty. I am now restoring more with zero change in handling.

The amount of weight that needs to be restored is going to be compleatly dependent on the TV. I wouldn't want my front 700lbs lighter on a LD 1500, but it makes no difference on my 3500. Even restoring only 200lbs I was approx half way on height adjustment, the extra weight now didn't move the front that much lower.

YMMV

[Campfire_Time]

AH64ID wrote:
Some references call for all the weight to be restored to the front axle and some call for 50%.

I am about 50-60% on my setup and it tows great.

What references? The only one that's accurate is your tow vehicle's owners manual.

Your owners manual should have a spec for this. With GM, you are supposed to measure the front fender before adding the trailer. Then adjust the hitch to bring the front fenders back to stock height.

Other manufacturers specs vary on this. I know Ford's is different for example.

Personally I've driven them when they were 50% and the lack of steering control was just plain scary.

[AH64ID]

Some references call for all the weight to be restored to the front axle and some call for 50%.

I am about 50-60% on my setup and it tows great.

[Campfire_Time]

A WDH hitch does not reduce the tongue weight. A 650# tongue with a WD hitch is still a 650# tongue.

When you put a trailer on a hitch it takes weight off of the front wheels, thereby reducing steering control and creating a safety issue. A WD hitch redistributes the weight that was removed and puts it back on the front wheels.

Tongue weight should be between 10%-15%. Dry weight is meaningless. It's the weight of the trailer loaded and ready to tow that you need to be concerned about.