Weight Dist question...

[slowzuki]

I've got a 2010/11 2.5" hitch off an F350DRW on my 2001 F350 SRW, it was direct bolt on, even with my power tailgate.

 

[meburdick]

I ditched the OEM receiver and upgraded to a new receiver with higher ratings just to avoid the WDH system. My F350 from 2000 had the same silly ratings that required WDH for tongue weights over 500 lbs. I like WDH systems and use one on my RV trailer but I do not want to buy, install, and use one on an equipment trailer with varying loads. I have not regretted it and tow without the WDH, no bad side effects other than my headlights are higher than they used to be.

I bought a curt brand receiver which was a direct bolt in and of excellent quality. Non-WDH ratings are up to 1500 tongue weight and 15000 trailer, way more than I would ever tow. The stronger hitch is a benefit even if you choose to continue with the WDH system. GM's hitches sucked there for awhile.

While you may have removed limitations imposed by the hitch, you have not changed anything in terms of what the vehicle itself is capable of. The max tongue weight is decided by the weakest of what the hitch will bear for weight and what the rear axle will bear for weight without compromising handling and braking.

Additionally, you have to subtract any passenger and cargo weight being borne by the rear axle from its GAWR to understand "what's left". And then you could calculate the max tongue weight that you could still carry (and it will be lower than GAWR minus cargo weight because of leverage).

The GTWR and max tongue weight is calculate by a formula that takes many variables into account and is not simply changed by "upgrading" the hitch.

 

[jejeosborne]

I ditched the OEM receiver and upgraded to a new receiver with higher ratings just to avoid the WDH system. My F350 from 2000 had the same silly ratings that required WDH for tongue weights over 500 lbs. I like WDH systems and use one on my RV trailer but I do not want to buy, install, and use one on an equipment trailer with varying loads. I have not regretted it and tow without the WDH, no bad side effects other than my headlights are higher than they used to be.

Forgot to mention lengthened stopping distance but you may not have noticed that........yet.

 

[newbury]

I ditched the OEM receiver and upgraded to a new receiver with higher ratings just to avoid the WDH system.<snip>

While you may have removed limitations imposed by the hitch, you have not changed anything in terms of what the vehicle itself is capable of. The max tongue weight is decided by the weakest of what the hitch will bear for weight and what the rear axle will bear for weight without compromising handling and braking.<snip>

Reading Highbeam's post it seems he was only trying to get rid of the requirement for a WDH system. My F350 is burdened with a similar OEM rated hitch rated for 5,000 lbs w/o WDH and 12,500 with WDH system and a 20,000 lb GCVWR with either.

 

[newbury]

Forgot to mention lengthened stopping distance but you may not have noticed that........yet.

How does a WDH system affect straight line stopping distance? Isn't that dependent mainly on vehicle and trailer brakes?

 

[meburdick]

How does a WDH system affect straight line stopping distance? Isn't that dependent mainly on vehicle and trailer brakes?

Overloaded tongues remove weight from the front axle of the tow vehicle. Since your front brakes do much more work than the rear, your stopping force is greatly reduced and the distances are significantly increased.

 

[meburdick]

Reading Highbeam's post it seems he was only trying to get rid of the requirement for a WDH system. My F350 is burdened with a similar OEM rated hitch rated for 5,000 lbs w/o WDH and 12,500 with WDH system and a 20,000 lb GCVWR with either.

He didn't "do" anything but put on a new hitch. Distribution of weight among all axles of the tow vehicle and the trailer did not change.

 

[slowzuki]

Skipping a WDH and putting a heavy rated receiver and putting the correct tongue weight on the trailer does unload the front axle of the tow vehicle. Simply adding airbags to the rear axle makes it harder to notice but its still happening. Why do you think the nose of the truck is so far up in the air?

I'm guilty of having done it myself. You'd better keep your trailer brakes in good shape if you do this as the fronts lock up easily. They also don't steer very well. Not as big of problem on a long wheelbase as swb trucks, also, trucks with diesels have an extra 1000 lbs or so in the right place to help with this too.

He didn't "do" anything but put on a new hitch. Distribution of weight among all axles of the tow vehicle and the trailer did not change.