Weight Distribution Hitch

[hog88]

How does a WDH work? Specifically, my trailer (with boat) is about 400lbs over the suggested tounge weight, that is with the bow all the way up against the stop. Can a WDH transfer some of that weight back onto the trailer?

 

[NYBo]

Re: Weight Distribution Hitch

If your tongue weight is the proper percentage of the total boat & trailer weight, being that much over on the tongue may have you over the capacity of the hitch and/or tow vehicle. If so, a weight distributing hitch won't make you safe. What are the specifics of your setup?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Weight Distribution Hitch

Yep, lets start with the details.... what is the total weight of what you are towing? what is the current tongue weight? what is the towing capacity of your vehicle? What is the rating of your hitch? Is your trailer adjustable? IE, can the axle be moved? Is this an I/O? can the boat be moved back?

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Weight Distribution Hitch

Ditto. A LOT OF INFO needed.

 

[hog88]

Re: Weight Distribution Hitch

I have not been able to weight the whole rig yet but, the boat is a Monterey 264fs dry weight 5200 lbs, with 80 gallons of fuel, 15 gallons of fresh water and gear my guess it would be around 6200 to 6500 lbs on the trailer. The trialer is a MFI 28' bunk trailer with 2-3500lbs axles, measured the toung weight and it is 1050lbs. Trailer probably weighs about 800 to 1000 lbs. The trailer is not adjustable, axles are fixed. My truck is a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 with the factory reciever. The tow rating is 8500 lbs.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Weight Distribution Hitch

I have not been able to weight the whole rig yet but, the boat is a Monterey 264fs dry weight 5200 lbs, with 80 gallons of fuel, 15 gallons of fresh water and gear my guess it would be around 6200 to 6500 lbs on the trailer. The trialer is a MFI 28' bunk trailer with 2-3500lbs axles, measured the toung weight and it is 1050lbs. Trailer probably weighs about 800 to 1000 lbs. The trailer is not adjustable, axles are fixed. My truck is a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 with the factory reciever. The tow rating is 8500 lbs.

The 8500 rating is with a weight distributing hitch. You need to have a WD for anything over 6K if you have the factory class 4 hitch. (I've got the same truck in a 2wd)

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Weight Distribution Hitch

I'd estimate your towed load is likely 7500-8000 lbs .... Your tongue weight is right where it should be.... 7500 at 10% is 750 and at 15% is 1125.... 8000 figures as 800-1200... 1050 falls safely into both ranges...... by the numbers, yes you should have a wdh.... are you towing far, fast, and often?

The purpose of the weight distribution hitch is to bridge some of the tongue weight to the trailer axles and to the front axle... It does not actually lower the tongue weight

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Weight Distribution Hitch

Consider the weight distrubting hitch like this: Think of it as attaching a couple of wheel barrow handles to the back of the tow vehicle. Now have a big strong bruiser of a dude lift up on those handles. At this point weight starts coming off the back wheels of the tow vehicle but it gets transferred to the front wheels. Now, while the big dude is holding up the back end, attach the trailer. At the same time, strap the two handles to the trailer tongue. As the big dude lowers the handles, they reach a point where some of the load he was lifting is now transferred between the two vehicle front wheels and the wheels of the trailer. Those of you who are old enough to remember the 1965 Olds Toronado (front wheel drive), one of the WD hitch manufacturers illustrated how this worked by removing the back wheels from the Olds. The load that was on the back wheels was transferred between the front and trailer wheels. No magic here. Just a little physics.

 

[hog88]

Re: Weight Distribution Hitch

Thanks for all of the help.

Smoke - on the normal weekend I go about a mile to the ramp so I'm not worried about that. We are planning a couple of trips this summer that will be 350 miles each way, that's what got me thinking. Our last boat was no issue, towed it all over the place but it was a 21 footer.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Weight Distribution Hitch

Might want to think about getting some helper springs or air bags for the rear axle. I put them on my truck with a similar situtation and it has helped alot.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Weight Distribution Hitch

Thanks for all of the help.

Smoke - on the normal weekend I go about a mile to the ramp so I'm not worried about that. We are planning a couple of trips this summer that will be 350 miles each way, that's what got me thinking. Our last boat was no issue, towed it all over the place but it was a 21 footer.

If you have a surge brake on the trailer you will have to get Weight Dist hitch that work's with a surge brake.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Weight Distribution Hitch

Good shocks, good load range D or higher tires. PERFECT brakes on both truck and trailer... keep the speeds down and following distance long.... Air bags are great and I have to say I probably wouldn't mess with the WDH but that you should. If there are any mountains or really bad winding roads I'd say get a bigger truck or smaller boat for the trip.... either way good luck

 

[merchonda]

Re: Weight Distribution Hitch

You can get away with lowering tongue weight if you adjust the bowstop and balance out the boat a little better. With a heavy boat, you will still get a nice bounce when you drive over construction zones or plain old junk roads--but overall you can dramatically increase your tow-weight range. Distribution hitches are a pain to hook up but they work real nice in connecting the weight transfer from trailer to vehicle--and front wheels--so you can control the downward angle on your rear wheels which also helps with the handling and relieves your shocks. Nothing like a vehicle that can handle the weight though since your tranny will go toast on you sooner than later.