Where does the weight go to when using wd hitch?

jpsowa wrote:
Is there a suggested limitation to use of a WD hitch? For example, if your trailer tongue load is too light, and your suspension is stiff, the WD might create more sway than desired. Is there a rough formula for this?
In my particular situation, I have a 2008 Volvo XC90 (max 5000 lb capacity), looking at a travel trailer between 500 and 1000 lb tongue load and between 2000 and 3200 dry weight. I'm assuming both a WD hitch and trailer brakes would be beneficial for this situation, but if it's a very light trailer I don't want to create unnecessary sway.
Please let me know if I am mistaken!
Thanks

You will almost for sure have to use a WDH because the car like suspension will need help returning weight to the steering axle and to help keep the rear axle from being over its rating (curb weight of 4600 with a RAWR 3150 gives ~800 pounds of rear axle capacity). I would get the lightest trailer you are comfortable with and try not to load too much forward of the axle.

Jayco25E wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:
It goes “poof” and disappears, according to the RV salesman who sold my kids their first camper.

Same salesman that tells them yes your mini van can tow more than a pop-up. LOL

Well, it can, you just won't want to do it for very far.

/took the $500 gamble of adding a hitch and brake controller to the van
//It could start it and stop it, it was everything in between that was no fun. Too soft of suspension even if it was technically in spec.

Is there a suggested limitation to use of a WD hitch? For example, if your trailer tongue load is too light, and your suspension is stiff, the WD might create more sway than desired. Is there a rough formula for this?
In my particular situation, I have a 2008 Volvo XC90 (max 5000 lb capacity), looking at a travel trailer between 500 and 1000 lb tongue load and between 2000 and 3200 dry weight. I'm assuming both a WD hitch and trailer brakes would be beneficial for this situation, but if it's a very light trailer I don't want to create unnecessary sway.
Please let me know if I am mistaken!
Thanks

The old advertisement for Equalizer Hitches showed a front wheel drive Olds Toronado pulling a travel trailer with No REAR WHEELS on the car. How would this be possible if the WD hitch did not reduce the weight on the hitch?

path1 wrote:
If tongue weight scale says 930 pds and then you hook up to to hitch ball and then load up wd spring bars...what happens? Where does that 930 pds go?

The WD hitch transfers part of the weight forward to the front axle.
Properly set up the WD bars need a little lift to go on with some pressure.
If the bars go on to easy, it ain't set up correctly.

Equalizer has a pretty good video that explains it better than I can...

GrandpaKip wrote:
It goes “poof” and disappears, according to the RV salesman who sold my kids their first camper.

Same salesman that tells them yes your mini van can tow more than a pop-up. LOL

good explainations.

Note that the tongue weight does NOT change. forces change and hence the force on the axles changes, but tongue weight does not change.

Think of it this way. you stand on a scale. Opps, I need to loose 10 lbs, so I push down on the counter next to it and the scale drops 10 lbs. Wow, easy way to loose weight! No you didn't loose any weight, but you now have a 10lb opposing force dropping a force of 10lbs off the scale reading but putting 10lbs on the countertop. total forces didn't change, nor did weight, just how the forces are distributed.

Or a wheelbarrow full of stuff. As you lift up the arms, you feel the force on your feet, and some goes to the wheelbarrow front wheel, moving force from the wheelbarrow legs. but if you and the wheelbarrow were on a scale, the scale doesn't change. Nor does the sum of all the forces.

While the term WD is a good marketing term, the reality is that these hitches are really a FORCE distributing hitch. The force distribution changes the forces (weights) on various points but does not change the actual system weight nor total system forces.

APT wrote:
Here is a typical example:

Dead TW: 1000 pounds

Drop tongue on ball:
TV Rear axle increases by 1400 pound
TV front axle decrease by 400 pound

Apply and adjust WD for 100% front axle restoration:
TV rear axles increased by 800 pounds from unhitched (decrease of 600 from no WD)
TV front axle same as unhitched
Trailer axles increased by 200 pound

Good example.
You'll actually see this if you weigh your rig on a CAT Scale, with and without WDH bars attached.

The WD applies upward leverage in the joint between your RV and the TV.

Here is a typical example:

Dead TW: 1000 pounds

Drop tongue on ball:
TV Rear axle increases by 1400 pound
TV front axle decrease by 400 pound

Apply and adjust WD for 100% front axle restoration:
TV rear axles increased by 800 pounds from unhitched (decrease of 600 from no WD)
TV front axle same as unhitched
Trailer axles increased by 200 pound