Any of you guys use distribution hitches? what are the advantages are they really a big help when towing looking at them and they look like a huge PITA.... i usually just use the standard ball hitch for my heavy loads....

 

When I was running a half ton, it was very noticeable, the rear of the truck would lift quite a bit.

 

I remember using a distribution system when we towed a 24ft trailer with a shuttle bus(don't ask, it was my dads idea) The guy who lifts those brackets under pressure with the bar can't be a idiot. But it did bring the bus up a little.

 

I have one so I can tell you my experience with it. I bought it when I needed to haul an old 80's model 32 ft bumper pull travel trailer. I pulled it about 350 miles with a 1976 Chevy "Heavy Half".

When I let the weight of the trailer loaded with all of my belongings down onto the Chevy's class 5 hitch, it didn't quite bottom out the rear suspension, but it did squash it to about 80% of it's travel. The truck angled towards the sky, the steering was really light, the truck would barely steer on the rock road the trailer was on, and the rear bumper was so close to the ground that it would have dragged on most any kind of debris.

When I got the distribution arms on correctly and adjusted, I was able to make the truck sit level. The steering problem was completely gone. The rear springs were back up at a reasonable level, and I pulled the trailer 350 miles without issue. A few times, while holding the pedal on the floor, I exceeded 70 mph. My setup also had a second ball for an anti sway bar. The sway bar combined with the leveling bars really made a dramatic improvement. I would never have hauled it with the rear of the truck squashed into the road like that. So IMHO, a heavy load distributing class 5 hitch, and leveling bars, and a sway bar, can basically turn something that is going to get you killed, into something that pulls and handles nicely.

 

If you check down in the towing and RV forum there is a lot of people down there that can add to this discussion. I'm sure they can answer any question you might have.

 

Lukes66 's post is the typical reason for using the setup, hence the name distribution hitch. There are different weight bars but vary depending manufacturer, usually 750lb. or 1000lb.. Also I recommend getting the cam style bars and brackets. Even with a dually I use them whenever possible. It controls any sway that could develop if not using them.

Also to ease installation, hook the trailer up like normal then with the coupler latched use the trailer jack to lift the back of the trucks suspension a little, then hook up the bars.

Not my pic but it gives you an idea.

 

I also run a load leveler set of springs with my class 5 hitch for my travel trailer (30 footer) along with anti-sway bar. Darn near makes it feel like a 5th wheel or gooseneck in how nice it tows. Aside from the slower acceleration I hardly can tell it's back there.