Not using WDH
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 192
Likes: 52
Just throwing my 2 cents. Earlier this year we traded in our truck camper for a travel trailer. The TT has a GVWR of 7800 lbs, 800 of that being tongue weight. I knew our 2017 F350 could easily handle that and didn't need any weight distribution. However, I felt that the sway control could be beneficial and ordered a WDH hitch with sway control. Took the TT home with just my Weight Safe hitch and had no sway issues, even with varying crosswinds going in and out of wooded and farmed areas. Got the WDH and the first thing I noticed was the reduced porpoising while towing. Since then we've taken the TT on several trips, including a trip of about 2300 miles from SE Virginia, down the coast to Savannah, GA, over to southern Mississippi, and back up to VA through Talledega, AL and Charlotte, NC.
Do I need the WDH and sway control? No. But the reduced porpoising and peace of mind with the sway control make it worth the cost of the hitch.
Do I need the WDH and sway control? No. But the reduced porpoising and peace of mind with the sway control make it worth the cost of the hitch.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 314
Likes: 90
I have a 26ft TT. Weighs 7100lbs. Tongue weight is 1250lbs, even though the sticker says 740lbs.
I often tow it from the storage yard to my house without my WDH. Truck squats pretty bad, but less than 10 min away.
I did try bringing it camping once without the WDH. About 30 min into the drive, I stopped and put it back on. Without it, the ride was horrible, and lots of sway. I had an equilizer hitch, but changed to the blue ox sway pro because the equilizer was a pain to engage. The sway pro is much easier, and have less sway with cross winds. In the equilizers defense, it was only rated to 1000lb TW, sway pro is rated to 1500lbs TW.
If it was something like a dump trailer or a flat bed, I wouldn't even think of a WDH, but with a RV, it's a must. Might be better with a heavy diesel up front, but never tried it since I opted for the godzilla.
I often tow it from the storage yard to my house without my WDH. Truck squats pretty bad, but less than 10 min away.
I did try bringing it camping once without the WDH. About 30 min into the drive, I stopped and put it back on. Without it, the ride was horrible, and lots of sway. I had an equilizer hitch, but changed to the blue ox sway pro because the equilizer was a pain to engage. The sway pro is much easier, and have less sway with cross winds. In the equilizers defense, it was only rated to 1000lb TW, sway pro is rated to 1500lbs TW.
If it was something like a dump trailer or a flat bed, I wouldn't even think of a WDH, but with a RV, it's a must. Might be better with a heavy diesel up front, but never tried it since I opted for the godzilla.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 309
shocked at the number of people clueless about WDH. If someone says they didn't notice the difference, they are either brain dead, clueless, didn't have it hooked up right or didn't have the right components. There is ZERO scenario where a properly adjusted and sized WDH for a travel trailer tow isn't noticeably better than no WDH at speed. PERIOD.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 2,851
Likes: 1,197
From: Southeast MO
shocked at the number of people clueless about WDH. If someone says they didn't notice the difference, they are either brain dead, clueless, didn't have it hooked up right or didn't have the right components. There is ZERO scenario where a properly adjusted and sized WDH for a travel trailer tow isn't noticeably better than no WDH at speed. PERIOD.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 309
Exactly! Most likely they're using the cheapo hitches that the RV DEALERSHIPS SELL THEM! I've used an Equalizer brand hitch since 2007, it absolutely makes the towing experience much more enjoyable and safe. The types that use a friction deal that attach to two small ***** are garbage.
NO surprise. I too use an Equalizer hitch.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 5,872
Likes: 3,508
From: Uh oh, CA
shocked at the number of people clueless about WDH. If someone says they didn't notice the difference, they are either brain dead, clueless, didn't have it hooked up right or didn't have the right components. There is ZERO scenario where a properly adjusted and sized WDH for a travel trailer tow isn't noticeably better than no WDH at speed. PERIOD.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,710
Likes: 12,848
From: Wyoming
shocked at the number of people clueless about WDH. If someone says they didn't notice the difference, they are either brain dead, clueless, didn't have it hooked up right or didn't have the right components. There is ZERO scenario where a properly adjusted and sized WDH for a travel trailer tow isn't noticeably better than no WDH at speed. PERIOD.
I've towed a variety of trailers. Gooseneck flatbed, bumper pull dump, dual axle enclosed utility, bumper pull travel trailer, etc. The loss of weight on the front axle due to a bumper pull trailer can have a huge effect, especially in emergency situations. Most enclosed utility trailers are very easy to tow and never sway. Travel trailer have a higher profile and can catch a lot more wind. This can cause them to be prone to sway.
My bumper pull toy hauler has 940 to 1400 lbs of tongue weight. The loss of weight on the front axle has a very large effect on how well the truck handles at highway speeds, especially when other vehicles are passing me.
Yes, I CAN drive without a WDH. But the handling of the truck is so much better with the WDH in place that I won't travel without it.
The electronic sway control of the truck is reactive and uses the brakes of the trailer. I would rather be proactive with my sway control and not wear out the trailer brakes.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 161
Likes: 92
From: NH
I haven’t tried towing my 34’ 10k GVWR travel trailer without weight distribution, but when I bought it, the dealer did a poor job of setting it up, and the 180 mile drive home was terrible. My 2016 SCLB F250 would porpoise for about 5 seconds after going over a bridge joint. Once I adjusted the hitch properly, it rode great. My trailer is very tongue heavy, especially so with the water tank full, which is all the way forward.
I will definitely be using the WDH on my new CCLB F-350.
I also don’t find the WDH to be a hassle. It takes about 2 minutes to put the bars on. I guess if I didn’t have a power tongue jack, I might think otherwise.
I will definitely be using the WDH on my new CCLB F-350.
I also don’t find the WDH to be a hassle. It takes about 2 minutes to put the bars on. I guess if I didn’t have a power tongue jack, I might think otherwise.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 313
In my opinion and after many years of experience(I've owned an RV dealership for many years), I'll make a bold statement to say that "weight distribution hitches are for folks pulling trailers that are in reality too large for their truck".
I'll leave it at that.
Carry on.
I'll leave it at that.
Carry on.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 109
Likes: 32
I escaped CA in 2013 and towed my boat all the way across FL with a 2008 F150 FX4. I had no idea what the boat weighed until I got to FL but the truck had no issues other than what I thought was hideous gas mileage at anything over 70. I later weighed the boat full fuel and it rolled in at 9,400 pounds with the trailer. The tongue was around 900 pounds. The truck bed probably had 500 pounds of gear in it plus myself and a 100 pound dog. The rig pulled great; one late night while towing through the rolling hills of TX we were likely bucking a 30mph gusting headwind that would occasionally shift to a cross over the hills. Other than mileage dropping to 5 or so, the little F150 pulled your weights completely fine. A 13 year newer superduty would be even better.
During Covid I towed this setup all over the states for something to do. Almost 25,000 pounds, no WDH and probably 1500 pounds of tongue weight. Always rock solid, never once did it sway unless it was an input error I made on the wheel (reaching over to grab another bag of sunflower seeds).
IMO, you are towing something a 2.7L ecoboost F-150 could handle all day.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 137
Likes: 65
I tow a travel trailer that is appx 9K loaded for camping. On our last trip someone stole the L Pins from my Equalizer WDH. I towed home approximately 175 miles without the WDH bard engaged. It was a totally different tow experience and was not nearly as stable as wen the bars are attached. I will always use the WDH when towing. In my opinion its worth the extra time to hook up.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,031
Likes: 72
Us boat guys occasionally chime in on these matters. WDH and saltwater just don't mix, so we never use them. For comparison I will throw up a few personal opinions, they are just that, opinions.
I escaped CA in 2013 and towed my boat all the way across FL with a 2008 F150 FX4. I had no idea what the boat weighed until I got to FL but the truck had no issues other than what I thought was hideous gas mileage at anything over 70. I later weighed the boat full fuel and it rolled in at 9,400 pounds with the trailer. The tongue was around 900 pounds. The truck bed probably had 500 pounds of gear in it plus myself and a 100 pound dog. The rig pulled great; one late night while towing through the rolling hills of TX we were likely bucking a 30mph gusting headwind that would occasionally shift to a cross over the hills. Other than mileage dropping to 5 or so, the little F150 pulled your weights completely fine. A 13 year newer superduty would be even better.
During Covid I towed this setup all over the states for something to do. Almost 25,000 pounds, no WDH and probably 1500 pounds of tongue weight. Always rock solid, never once did it sway unless it was an input error I made on the wheel (reaching over to grab another bag of sunflower seeds).
IMO, you are towing something a 2.7L ecoboost F-150 could handle all day.
I escaped CA in 2013 and towed my boat all the way across FL with a 2008 F150 FX4. I had no idea what the boat weighed until I got to FL but the truck had no issues other than what I thought was hideous gas mileage at anything over 70. I later weighed the boat full fuel and it rolled in at 9,400 pounds with the trailer. The tongue was around 900 pounds. The truck bed probably had 500 pounds of gear in it plus myself and a 100 pound dog. The rig pulled great; one late night while towing through the rolling hills of TX we were likely bucking a 30mph gusting headwind that would occasionally shift to a cross over the hills. Other than mileage dropping to 5 or so, the little F150 pulled your weights completely fine. A 13 year newer superduty would be even better.
During Covid I towed this setup all over the states for something to do. Almost 25,000 pounds, no WDH and probably 1500 pounds of tongue weight. Always rock solid, never once did it sway unless it was an input error I made on the wheel (reaching over to grab another bag of sunflower seeds).
IMO, you are towing something a 2.7L ecoboost F-150 could handle all day.
In one of my Grand Design forums, the tow police would be all over you for your lack of "proper" truck. I am pretty sure some of them would assert you needed a dually one-ton for that setup (:
I towed my 31 foot (actual length, not model length) with a 2.7 eco f150 for a couple of years. It never felt unsafe, but have always had WDH. It's replacement, a V8 powered f150 with a longer bed and Roadmaster Active Suspension handled it with ease, and even more stability just not a lot of power climbing hills. The 2.7 actually fared better climbing. I just like the sound of V8s and the feel of V8s over ecoboost
Oddly, fuel economy has stayed the same towing for the most part through my 2.7, 5.0 V8 and now 7.3 V8. Just lost 5 mph on the highway, unladen, at least and about the same non-highway mpg unladen. We got the f250 after putting down a deposit on a larger Grand Design and then backed out. Wife wanted the f250 anyway. I miss my f150 Lariat 4x4, but the f250 fx4 is fun, just rough.