Weight Distribution Hitch Question

TomG2 wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:
I don't have to use WDH with my rig but I still do because the Equal-izer WDH incorporates sway control into the hitch.

Makes me feel safer and more confident of the rig.

Bingo! If you "Think" you need something, then you need it. Perception is reality. "Feeling" safer is almost as good as being safer. If the OP has any fear about not using a WD hitch then he certainly should, or every twitch or bump in the road will make him think he is missing something.

Nope, not even close.

That would be just the SAME thing as having a bunch of beers or a few shots of Whiskey, THEN driving.. Your "judgement" becomes impaired making YOU "feel safe" all the while risking not only your life but others.

First and foremost is to ENSURE you have ENOUGH HITCH WEIGHT for the trailer. A Properly loaded trailer will tend to not sway.

Not enough tongue weight for the trailer or too much weight behind the trailer axles and you are setup for disaster EVEN WITH WD AND ANTI SWAY DEVICES.

As long as you have enough tongue weight AND you are not overloading your tow vehicles rear axle or other tow vehicle specs WD becomes less effective and can be optional.

WD was designed to overcome shortcomings of lighter less capable tow vehicles and of itself is not really a "safety device" per say as far as sway goes..

I myself have never felt the "need" to use WD, instead I optioned to go with a tow vehicle that has plenty of capacity (some would say overkill) for my loads..

I spend a bit more for a more capable vehicle instead of choosing to be on the cheap side and buying a less capable vehicle then masking it's short comings with a bandaid (WD).

My choice HAS earned dividends not once but several times over the years having to make emergency maneuvers to avoid crashing into deer running across the road in front of me.. If I had a lesser vehicle and using WD the outcome would not have been pretty.

drsteve wrote:

deer30084 wrote:
Well I have another question. I am using an Eaz-Lift 750 Weight Distribution hitch that I bought in 1996 for my first travel trailer. So that makes it about 22 years old. Anybody know the lifespand of these hitches? I was told they would outlive me.

If it has trunnion style spring bars, check the trunnion ends and the pockets where they fit to the hitch head. Those tend to wear after a while.

Thanks. It's not the trunnion style.

beemerphile1 wrote:
I don't have to use WDH with my rig but I still do because the Equal-izer WDH incorporates sway control into the hitch.

Makes me feel safer and more confident of the rig.

I'm kind of in the same boat. I bought a Reese HP WDH with no sway control to satisfy the 650 lb weight capacity of the truck's receiver. With WD it's rated for 1250. We towed with it for a year and had no sway. Push and pull from passing trucks with a cross wind was a little annoying but never scary. Then I saw a barely used Equalizer 10k 4 point hitch on ebay for a song. Even with a little lube on the L brackets to keep it quiet, it provides enough control to keep it solid with passing trucks. It simply feels better.

beemerphile1 wrote:
I don't have to use WDH with my rig but I still do because the Equal-izer WDH incorporates sway control into the hitch.

Makes me feel safer and more confident of the rig.

Bingo! If you "Think" you need something, then you need it. Perception is reality. "Feeling" safer is almost as good as being safer. If the OP has any fear about not using a WD hitch then he certainly should, or every twitch or bump in the road will make him think he is missing something.

I don't have to use WDH with my rig but I still do because the Equal-izer WDH incorporates sway control into the hitch.

Makes me feel safer and more confident of the rig.

SoundGuy wrote:

garysol wrote:
Newbie TT question. I have a 2014 Ram 3500 SRW with a payload capacity of 4,022lbs. Do I need a weight distribution hitch for a TT with a dry tongue weight of 643lbs?

Tvov wrote:
Are you getting a new TT, or is this question from a friend? Or are you just bored and asking a question on a slow morning?

The OP was quite clear, saying he's asking a "Newbie TT question". If you had bothered to read the OP's concurrent parallel discussion about downsizing from a large 5th to a 30' travel trailer you wouldn't be posting such dumb & insulting comments. :R

Holy mackerel!! It is just the beginning of winter, and if the forums are already getting this touchy, it should be interesting come February!

They are real questions. NO, I did not "follow" the original poster to see all of his threads, I just read this one. I don't usually track and shadow individual posters, I just read threads as I see them.

But... seeing in the OP's signature that he is an experienced RV'r, I thought he maybe was asking for a friend.

If not, I thought he was just curious about weights, towing, trailers, and possibly on a bored morning over coffee thought that it would be a good theoretical thread about weights and towing.

Thank you garysol for simply answering my post.

deer30084 wrote:
Well I have another question. I am using an Eaz-Lift 750 Weight Distribution hitch that I bought in 1996 for my first travel trailer. So that makes it about 22 years old. Anybody know the lifespand of these hitches? I was told they would outlive me.

If it has trunnion style spring bars, check the trunnion ends and the pockets where they fit to the hitch head. Those tend to wear after a while.

deer30084 wrote:
Well I have another question. I am using an Eaz-Lift 750 Weight Distribution hitch that I bought in 1996 for my first travel trailer. So that makes it about 22 years old. Anybody know the lifespand of these hitches? I was told they would outlive me.

The one on my old trailer is 32 years old and works just fine. You were told correctly if they are treated correctly.

Well I have another question. I am using an Eaz-Lift 750 Weight Distribution hitch that I bought in 1996 for my first travel trailer. So that makes it about 22 years old. Anybody know the lifespand of these hitches? I was told they would outlive me.

One of the pluses of downsizing can be the elimination of WD hitches. Get an electric tongue jack and you will be hitched up and out of the park while some other guys are still looking for their pry bar. To the OP. You have received a few comments, but what does your owner's manual say on this subject? GM is very helpful on what is required for towing in their manuals.