Weight distribution hitch
Thread Starter
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4wd Low
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
Weight distribution hitch
Hey gang. My first post. I can’t seem to find what I’m looking for in the search.
I just bought 2008 f350 cab/chassis with an enclosed service body. Weighs about 7520.
I’m looking at an equipment trailer or car hauler. I’m getting paranoid on how much I can tow.
In 30+ years in construction I’ve never paid much attention to towing numbers but haven’t pulled anything crazy either.
Anyway, to my point. Looking at towing numbers, it mentions weight distribution numbers which are considerably higher.
I’ve never seen a weight distribution setup on a regular trailer. Do I need a weight distribution hitch to achieve, what seem to be, regular towing weights?
I hope I’m making sense.
I would greatly appreciate any information.
Thanks in advance.
I just bought 2008 f350 cab/chassis with an enclosed service body. Weighs about 7520.
I’m looking at an equipment trailer or car hauler. I’m getting paranoid on how much I can tow.
In 30+ years in construction I’ve never paid much attention to towing numbers but haven’t pulled anything crazy either.
Anyway, to my point. Looking at towing numbers, it mentions weight distribution numbers which are considerably higher.
I’ve never seen a weight distribution setup on a regular trailer. Do I need a weight distribution hitch to achieve, what seem to be, regular towing weights?
I hope I’m making sense.
I would greatly appreciate any information.
Thanks in advance.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,876
Likes: 4,116
From: Angier, NC
My take on WD hitch is to level out the puller & trailer.
Most of the time when you hook the trailer up the rear will drop down taking weight off the steer wheels.
Being you have a 350 you may not have the rear drop down if it dose I cant see it being much.
I say this as I used a 76 E350, 460 / C6, to pull a long boat trailer converted to haul 2 cars.
Most of the time it was 2 Jeeps we took to off road races in the north east,
It was heavy with the wood decking but did not drop the rear of the van or take weight off the steer wheels.
We backed the first car on to put the motor weight closer to the trailer wheels and drove the 2nd on for the same reason.
I would say give some short pulls to see how it handles and adjust from there.
Dave ----
Most of the time when you hook the trailer up the rear will drop down taking weight off the steer wheels.
Being you have a 350 you may not have the rear drop down if it dose I cant see it being much.
I say this as I used a 76 E350, 460 / C6, to pull a long boat trailer converted to haul 2 cars.
Most of the time it was 2 Jeeps we took to off road races in the north east,
It was heavy with the wood decking but did not drop the rear of the van or take weight off the steer wheels.
We backed the first car on to put the motor weight closer to the trailer wheels and drove the 2nd on for the same reason.
I would say give some short pulls to see how it handles and adjust from there.
Dave ----
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
My take on WD hitch is to level out the puller & trailer.
Most of the time when you hook the trailer up the rear will drop down taking weight off the steer wheels.
Being you have a 350 you may not have the rear drop down if it dose I cant see it being much.
I say this as I used a 76 E350, 460 / C6, to pull a long boat trailer converted to haul 2 cars.
Most of the time it was 2 Jeeps we took to off road races in the north east,
It was heavy with the wood decking but did not drop the rear of the van or take weight off the steer wheels.
We backed the first car on to put the motor weight closer to the trailer wheels and drove the 2nd on for the same reason.
I would say give some short pulls to see how it handles and adjust from there.
Dave ----
Most of the time when you hook the trailer up the rear will drop down taking weight off the steer wheels.
Being you have a 350 you may not have the rear drop down if it dose I cant see it being much.
I say this as I used a 76 E350, 460 / C6, to pull a long boat trailer converted to haul 2 cars.
Most of the time it was 2 Jeeps we took to off road races in the north east,
It was heavy with the wood decking but did not drop the rear of the van or take weight off the steer wheels.
We backed the first car on to put the motor weight closer to the trailer wheels and drove the 2nd on for the same reason.
I would say give some short pulls to see how it handles and adjust from there.
Dave ----
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,876
Likes: 4,116
From: Angier, NC
It is in the name Weight Distribution 
It can also help control sway by its self but some hitches have hook up for add on sway control.
I think the extra sway control is needed more travel trailers where they have large flat sides that wind hits and pushes the trailer that causes the sway.
Flat bed equipment trailers is not such a problem at least I have not had any with them (when loaded right), mine were / are car trailers but have pulled a travel trailer or 2 also.
Dave ----
It can also help control sway by its self but some hitches have hook up for add on sway control.
I think the extra sway control is needed more travel trailers where they have large flat sides that wind hits and pushes the trailer that causes the sway.
Flat bed equipment trailers is not such a problem at least I have not had any with them (when loaded right), mine were / are car trailers but have pulled a travel trailer or 2 also.
Dave ----
Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 52
Likes: 39
You are almost correct. The rear sagging under load is not what lifts the front end, though, it's the weight on the ball vs the weight in front of the rear axle. The rear axle acts as a fulcrum, regardless of sag. If you compare an f150 to an f250 or f350 with the same wheelbase, the front end will lighten by the same amount with the same trailer load, but the F250 & f350 can haul more without a WDH because they are much heavier vehicles. The frame is much heavier to handle the higher payload capacity, this heavier weight causes the lift on the front end to be less noticeable when driving. lightening the front end by 100lb makes less difference in stability on a 7000lb truck than it does on a 5000lb one. Also, a longer wheelbase truck will not be as affected as a short wheel base one due to 2 factors: weight and length of the lever (the part of the truck in front of the rear axle). It's simple leverage, the longer the lever, the more pressure it exerts downward.
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