Hitch Question
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,420
Likes: 695
From: Minnesota
Hitch Question
We just bought a new travel trailer. It is 26' long and will weigh about 7,000 pounds loaded; tongue likely 900.
Our hitch on the F350 is rated 1,820/18,200.
Would you think that a WDH hitch would be necessary? We WILL be doing some long tows from Minnesota to Tucson. Lots of wind. My concern is trailer sway.
If you think I should do a WDH, do you have a recommendation?
Our hitch on the F350 is rated 1,820/18,200.
Would you think that a WDH hitch would be necessary? We WILL be doing some long tows from Minnesota to Tucson. Lots of wind. My concern is trailer sway.
If you think I should do a WDH, do you have a recommendation?
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 385
Likes: 116
From: Full time RVer
I had a WDH and will never have another one. I now have 5000 pound bags and should have went this route right away. They are quiet and they also control body roll if plumbed independently. I have Firestone units.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 89
From: TN
You would probably be ok without the WDH with that little of weight BUT, trailer sway can wreck your day especially in windy regions where bursts of wind gusts can affect the trailer severely. You will wish you had some kind of sway control. Always better to have and not need than need and do not have!
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 371
I don't feel comfortable making a blanket statement other than maybe/maybe not. Kinda depends how the camper is balanced. Equipment trailers can be loaded to balance the weight. Campers are a little tougher to move weight forward/back for better balance.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 809
Likes: 291
From: KY
Was just gonna post a similar question. Out trucks are 3/4 or 1 ton. If you dont over do that bed weight, and the trailer is loaded correctly with that 10% or so as tongue weight, your under that 3/4 or 1 ton rating correct?. I realize a already built RV may be a different story but a Cargo trailer with a load? So what the benefit of a WDH hitch? Hauling a 24' cargo weighing 6500lbs across country without a WDH, am I/we asking for trouble?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,686
Likes: 12,808
From: Wyoming
I'll never tow a bumper pull RV trailer on the highway without a WDH. I've tried it with and without and my bumper pull trailer is a lot more stable when the WDH is in use and configured properly.
A flat bed trailer or a shorter enclosed utility trailer can get by without a WDH. Travel trailers need some help.
A flat bed trailer or a shorter enclosed utility trailer can get by without a WDH. Travel trailers need some help.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 410
I follow many forums, most everyone with your HD truck and that length trailer would say, it wouldn't be needed BUT it will certainly make for better towing experience. If it was my, I'd probably opt for the Equal-izer 4 pt unit, seems a good slightly above average with built in sway. I would not get the friction pad type (as I have)
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Cargo Master
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Was just gonna post a similar question. Out trucks are 3/4 or 1 ton. If you dont over do that bed weight, and the trailer is loaded correctly with that 10% or so as tongue weight, your under that 3/4 or 1 ton rating correct?. I realize a already built RV may be a different story but a Cargo trailer with a load? So what the benefit of a WDH hitch? Hauling a 24' cargo weighing 6500lbs across country without a WDH, am I/we asking for trouble?
With my DRW I have no problem towing empty or loaded without a WDH.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10,712
Likes: 1,495
We just bought a new travel trailer. It is 26' long and will weigh about 7,000 pounds loaded; tongue likely 900.
Our hitch on the F350 is rated 1,820/18,200.
Would you think that a WDH hitch would be necessary? We WILL be doing some long tows from Minnesota to Tucson. Lots of wind. My concern is trailer sway.
If you think I should do a WDH, do you have a recommendation?
Our hitch on the F350 is rated 1,820/18,200.
Would you think that a WDH hitch would be necessary? We WILL be doing some long tows from Minnesota to Tucson. Lots of wind. My concern is trailer sway.
If you think I should do a WDH, do you have a recommendation?
Also: Not quite related but: Weigh your trailer at a scale where you can put the front leg down and know what your trailer and tongue weights are. The favorite here, and my personal favorite, is CAT scales that can be found all over the country.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 969
Likes: 576
From: Middle TN
Totally agree on getting weighed, and the ease of finding a scale. I'm newer at this than some / most of you and, to be honest, I was a bit intimidated to drive back there with the "big" boys the first time. But, at my local Love's anyway, the professional drivers and staff inside have always been friendly and helpful. I've never weighed a travel trailer, but on my fiver I get everything packed, then weigh the truck by itself (steer and drive axles). Then I hitch up and go back to weigh the steer, drive and trailer axles. Comparing the two drive axle weights gives a pretty good idea what my pin weight is. Then pin weight compered to trailer axle weight gives a pretty good idea what the front to back weight distribution is in the RV. It's not that expensive either. At Love's a single weigh costs about $14.00 and a second weigh (within 24 hours or so) costs about $4.00.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
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Looking back, I've never been in anyone's way, even when unhitching to see actual trailer axle and tongue weights, but I still feel like if I'm in the way the first time, I'm affecting someone's income LOL. I guess it's a good mindset to have.
Of note: If the vehicle weighs less than 2,000 pounds, CAT scales can't give a weight. Like they're not able to. I found this out when moving from one state to another and the new state required a weight slip for the trailers in order to register them. My little box trailer weighs well less than 1,000 pounds when empty, so that's when I found this out. Took it to a local landscape materials place and that worked fine.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,670
Likes: 668
From: DeMotte, IN
My Reese wdh also incorporates the sway control into the trunion bars. I would think weight distribution is a lesser concern and sway control is what you really want. I had a friction sway control with no wdh on some smaller trailers years ago and did feel it helped.
I also have air bags. Air bags do nothing for weight distribution. They address rear end sag. They also reduce sway if you have them isolated from each other.
Weight distribution puts more weight on the front tires to improve handling.
I also have air bags. Air bags do nothing for weight distribution. They address rear end sag. They also reduce sway if you have them isolated from each other.
Weight distribution puts more weight on the front tires to improve handling.
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