Weight Distribution Hitch Setup

[94BULLITT]

Does it look like I have the WDH setup right? I'm setting on completely level ground in the pic.

The jack was not supporting anything.

 

[C4Ranch]

Looks right to me. Just gotta do a little by feel and make sure you're loading weight on your trucks front axle without taking too much away from your drive wheels.

 

[Sprinklerman]

looks good with one exception , that looks like a 12K lb trailer behind a f 150 , just watch your weight

 

[94BULLITT]

Thanks for the replies. I don't know if you guys could see it but I am somewhat concerned about the trunnion bars. Should they be bowed like they are?

This pic may show them a little better.

Looks right to me. Just gotta do a little by feel and make sure you're loading weight on your trucks front axle without taking too much away from your drive wheels.

I measured the front and rear bumpers of truck without any weight on it then messed around with the WDH and kept checking the measurements. I did not drive the truck after adjusting the hitch. The truck handled good before I adjusted the hitch hopefully it will handle better.

looks good with one exception , that looks like a 12K lb trailer behind a f 150 , just watch your weight

Lol, I've heard that before. I've had 2 guys tell me it is too much trailer for the truck. The one guy said his truck (2015 Ram 3500 with a Cummins) would not pull it:laughing:. I don't plan on loading it to 12k but the F-150's with the max tow in this year could tow 11,700 and there is not much different on them. If I go to the quarry I'll tell them to 3 tons on it.

 

[C4Ranch]

What are the specs of your WDH system? Don't recall mine bowing that much.

 

[tcartwri]

Looks like you have the wrong bars for the weight.

 

[CJONE]

You may have the bars a bit tight, I personally never use a WD hitch but have had to adjust a few for people. If they are too tight they have the potential of bending something and I did see one in a dip that lifted the rear axle almost off the ground and bent the receiver. I have the same dump and tow it loaded with wood with my F-150 all the time. When I haul gravel or dirt I will use the 250, that adds up the weight fast. CJ

 

[wolfpack2]

Here is what mine look like. It's a 15K setup and I'm running about 1500 lbs. of tongue weight and 12000 lbs of trailer.



I would say you have either the wrong bars for you tongue weight, or you have them setup to offset too much weight. Your truck should not bet setting at the same level in the back as it was unhitched. The front axle should actually be unloaded slightly (1/2" increase in gap between tire and fender) and the rear should squat a few inches given that load.

 

[downsizingnow48]

The manufacturer of the hitch surely provides installation instructions. To get the right load on front axle, rear axle, etc. I used an Equalizer hitch on a 14k trailer for a couple years. The setup procedure was very detailed.

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/pdf/EQOwnersManual.pdf

 

[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.

 

[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.