Weight Distribution Hitch Setup

[xtruckerbob]

I have a set of #1000 bars on our trailer travel and the bars have a little tension but not enough to "bow" the bars. There are several videos on Youtube for correct setup. Measure at your fender wells before and after you hitch up your using the WDH. Also a trip to the truck scales will let you know if the hitch is working correctly. With our TT I run with the trailer nose down about 1.5 inch low which allows big trucks to pass with less turburlance The starting point is getting the ball at the correct height. Good luck.

 

[94BULLITT]

This is the WDH I have. CURT Manufacturing - CURT Long Trunnion Bar Weight Distribution Hitch #17302 10k gross trailer and 1k tongue weight.

I had 1,300lbs of tongue in the first pic I posted. I was pretty sure with 300lbs too much tongue weight and by the way the bars were bowing I needed different bars. I just wanted to see what you guys thought since this is my first WDH. I need to read the Equilzer Instructions better but they are different than the ones that came with the Curt. Curt wants an equal amount of settling on the front and rear axles of the tow vehicle. It looks like Equalizer wants the tow vehicles front axle to be at least hallways between the uncoupled height and the coupled height with out the bars hooked up. I've watched this video several times. I guess I need to get these bars that are good for 1,000 to 1,500lbs of tongue weight. CURT Manufacturing - CURT Replacement Long Trunnion Weight Distribution Spring Bar #17310

 

[bdog]

I have never used a WDH and I have towed tag trailers behind pickups up to 14k. Going heavy I much prefer a gooseneck but never really saw the need to use a WDH. Maybe they are better, safer, recommended, etc. I don't know. It seems the only people I see using them are people hauling RV's but the contractors I see hauling skid steers and stuff like that which likely weighs more never have them.

 

[Raspy]

I have a similar setup for my Ram 3500. I don't like running it so tight that the truck sits level, or overcompensating for an undersprung truck. Let the truck springs do some of the work. Otherwise it seems like too much strain on the hitch and in deep dips the stress goes up even more. On one trip my ball was severely galled on top from the heavy stress, so I'm careful to make sure it's generously greased and I run the bars at less load or bend.