I'm looking at possibly purchasing a light weight bumper pull toy hauler or travel trailer. The dealer tells me I must have a weight distribution hitch if the trailer has a gross weight rating exceeding 5,000 lbs. I did find an old article that states a weight distribution hitch is required on any SRW Super Duty if the gross weight exceeds 6,000 lbs.
I did find this in the fine print of the Ford towing guide: "Maximum loaded trailer weight requires weight-distributing hitch".
I can't find anything stating the 6,000 lb. requirement on the Ford website but maybe I missed it.

 

I don't think it is required on the new trucks for that weight, refer to you owners manual It should tell you there, I have pulled my 6k tt without one with no issue, But I will use one just for the added anti sway protection. on and f350 your maximum loaded trailer weight is probably up in the 18K range look at the hitch tag it will tell you waht the allowable tongue weight is with and without a W/D.

 

I tried pulling my toy hauler (11k gross) with just a plain ball mount. It did well until I got on the highway at 65 MPH. It started to get a bit of sway, enough that the next time out I used the WDH. No sway with the WDH.

Around town I'll use just the plain ball mount. Highway use, I'll use the WDH.

 

I'm interested in learning more about this too. I have always used my WDH when towing my steel deck car hauler & Jeep. I have never weighed it, and I estimate it is around 6,500-7000 total. With my new 250 I am considering the Weigh Safe hitch only. I do not believe my current WDH has enough drop for my new truck.

 

My plan was to try towing without depending on the weight of the trailer I purchase. I can't see anywhere that states it's required for trailers over 6,000 lbs.
Thanks for your replies.

 

My understanding from what the Ford training said is they've all be eliminated the need for a weight distributing hitch on the SD trucks. If you look at page 35 of the tow guide for 2017 it seems to confirm that with no difference between WDH and standard. Look at F150 and you'll see anything over 5k requires one. Also if you look at last years tow guide on page 28 it shows max of 8500 with regular hitch and then a big jump with WDH. I think it has to do with the newer stability softward/hardward setup.

 

Ford says the new hitch requires no weight distribution but sway control is always a good idea. Cheap and VERY effective without having to deal with heavy weight distribution hitches:

 

I know my receiver hitch on the truck says maximum tongue weight 1500lbs, with OR without WDH..

Our tongue weight is just about 1Klbs, 6000lb trailer, use a WDH. I feel it improves the ride considerably. We carry a couple hundred pounds of stuff in the bed, and of course the cap adds some too..

 

Towed my ~8k toy hauler this weekend. We had some good 20+mph side wind.
I have a Husky Centerline TS WDH. It does great in the wind. I am going to continue to use it.

 

Thanks
this is what I thought

 

1k tongue weight on a 6 k tt is a bit high, may need to move some stuff off the front should be between 600 to 900, closer to 750 is better. Mine is at 850.

 

It's about 18%.. but there is no "correcting it by moving stuff" We carry nothing in the front storage area, and less then 100 pounds of stuff under the front queen. It's a function of the Lance 2295 design. It's also why we sold our '14 Expedition after buying the Lance. While 10-15% is the "sweet spot", under 10% is considered bad.. but over 15% is just.. well.. over 15%.

Our weighed, not figured or guessed, we own a Sherline tongue scale, was 780 empty/new. 5178 factory declared scale weight on the sticker. Nearly exactly the same percentage now. +/- a couple .01's..

EDIT.. so far after 4 trips and about 30 nights.. we have only added a couple of small things over and above what we carried in our little R-Pod..

 

Thanks.
I'll try it without first. If I get any sway I'll definitely add it.

 

Or as I like to call it, the "Hernia Hitch". I haven't weighed mine but it's gotta be in excess of 70 lbs.

 

Limits should be listed on the hitch label.

My 2016 F150 had following limits
Weight distribution max 12,100 lbs, max tongue wt 1,220 lbs
Weight carrying max 5,000 lbs, max tongue 500 lbs

My 2017 F350 hitch label
Weight distribution 21,000 lbs, max tongue 2,100 lbs
Weight carrying 21,000 lbs, max tongue 2,100 lbs