I'm looking for some feedback on this. My factory class 4 hitch is rated for 500# tongue weight carrying, and 880# with weight distribution. Do I need to go with the w/d hitch on this open trailer, or am I better just keeping the vehicle on the trailer back far enough to keep it around 500#? I know i'd only need the bars when it's loaded, but I'm looking for some feedback on this. Thanks.

 

that doesnt sound like a class 4 hitch your hitch sould have wc/weight carring and wd/weight distribution load amount on it!

 

class 4 sould be 7,500(WC) 1000(TW) i think maybe someone else no`s more

 

Second it. Should have tow ratings for actual tongue weight and tow weight. One as is without a weight distribution hitch and one with the weight dist hitch.

I have a class V and its 6000 tow as is and 12,500 with weight dist hitch. I dont remember the tongue weight. But a class IV should have a higher value than you listed with a weight dist hitch.

Just looked at etrailer (dot) com. Tongue weight is 10%-15% of your weight dist hitch. Mine is 1250 tongue. Class III hitches were 6000/10,000. So 1000 on the tongue with a weight dist hitch. A class IV should be a little bit higher than a class III.

 

I know that guys. I only listed the tongue weights. I'm not concerned about overall tow capacity, I know i'm within that. I'm just looking for opinions on if I should go with the w/d hitch or not (just leave tongue weight around 500). Thats what I need opinions on, not total capacity.

 

How about - it depends

What is the total weight of the trailer with the car on it? Tongue weight should be between 10 & 15% - if your trailer with the car on it is heavier than 5000lbs, then use weight distributing. If you just move the car back to achieve 500lb tongue weight, you run the risk of it being a handling nightmare, especially at highway speeds, as it will start to wig-wag if you are light on tongue weight.

 

When I set mine up, I put the bars and a single sway control on it. Then again, I wanted it set up so I could put a full size pickup on it if I had to. You don't have as much room to play with in terms of moving to adjust the tongue when it's a bigger vehicle.

What will be best for you depends a lot on how you plan to tow with it. I needed a setup that was versatile and capable of doing cross-country runs. If it's just going to be an occasional toy hauler, you might want to experiment with it a bit before dropping the cash on an expensive hitch. If you're going to do serious hauls, though, don't waste your time...get the weight distributing hitch.

 

I even use the WD hitch when I tow our 16' flat bed EMPTY. It weighs about 3500# empty, so tongue weight should be about 525#. I lift just enough with the spring bars to raise the drawbar in the reciever, taking up the slop, or slack, without lifting the truck. It makes it ride better - less 'hitching', or sharp bouncing on the rear axle. I then readjust when I put the load on the trailer. The only trailer I pull that I do not use the WD hitch on is our horse trailer, and that is only until I change the coupler to a 2-5/16 so I can use my same WD drawbar.

 

I also use the spring bars when empty - it also keeps the trailer from bouncing so I don't have to listen to the ramps bouncing around in their storage slots

 

I keep the spring bars in with mine when it's empty, too. I just back it down to nearly no tension and ease off a bit on the sway control. That way, it's already there when I load it up. I've also found that it's nicer for high wind when I'm heading toward New Mexico.

You know, it had never occurred to me to put a WD setup on the horse trailer until I replaced my old one and I had it parked next to the car hauler. Man, did that ever make a difference! Once again, much better on the highway.

 

I use one. It rides better empty and puts less stress on the truck and tounge when loaded. My stock hitch on my 01 F150 says 500 max tounge / 5000 max tow or 800 max tounge and 8000 max tow with a W/D hitch. I bought the 1000# set-up from Summit Racing. It's a nice outfit. I often tow over 7000# and it drives much better with it than it did without it.