When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Based on the type of trailer you plan on using and the fact that the load distribution can easily adjusted one of the more reasonably priced WD would be adequate with or without integrated sway control. Discussing it with the folks at Etrailer is a good idea.
Yes they do, as long as you don't encounter severe sway-causing conditions. There are numerous combinations of sway-causing conditions that will result in the greasy side up when towing with a cheap hitch, but you'd still be cruising down the road if you had a better hitch with better sway control.
If you have ever experienced uncontrollable trailer sway, you'll pay a lot to be sure it never happens again. That's why I tow my TT with a Hensley ProPride hitch.
Cheap hitch, expensive hitch, red hitch & blue hitch, I guarantee the three root causes of trailer sway can be attributed to improper set up and operator error cited below.
1. Improperly loaded trailer. Not enough tongue weight and too much weight in the rear. The tail wags the dog.
2. Speed. The faster you go, the less control you have as the driver.
3. An improperly set up weight distribution hitch. Trailer not sitting level and too little tension on the bars causes too much weight behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. Again, the tail wags the dog.
With the above not being dialed in and working correctly, the following contributing factors amplify the three root causes:
1. The wind from a semi,
2. A side wind,
3. Road conditions
4. Plus many more.
The bottom line is that a correctly installed, cheap hitch is multiple times safer than an improperly installed, expensive hitch.
Last edited by clarkbre; Nov 13, 2017 at 09:11 PM.
Based on the type of trailer you plan on using and the fact that the load distribution can easily adjusted one of the more reasonably priced WD would be adequate with or without integrated sway control. Discussing it with the folks at Etrailer is a good idea.
I tow my jeeps frequently, with the heaviest being a JKU rubicon. You dont need a weight WDH. Easier to adjust the load than adjust a hitch.
But the professionals here will demand that you do. You really dont.
I tow my jeeps frequently, with the heaviest being a JKU rubicon. You don’t need a weight WDH. Easier to adjust the load than adjust a hitch.
But the “professionals” here will demand that you do. You really don’t.
You must mean those "professionals" at Ford?
Those idiot engineers say the hitch has a weight capacity and that anything over a 5000lbs loaded trailer and a 500lbs tongue weight needs a weight distribution hitch. WTF do they know?
It's like for some stupid reason, they want us to be safe when towing trailers with our trucks. How dare them!!!
Take a look at the sticker underneath the hitch receiver under the back of the truck. It gives the maximum allowable receiver weight with and without a weight distribution hitch. Usually it will say use a WD hitch if the tongue weight is over 500 lbs. Hitch weight lifts weight from the front wheels which reduces traction for steering and braking. A weight distribution hitch returns some of that weight to the front wheels.
I use one of the cheap hitches with one friction anti-sway bar to tow a 7200 lb. camper. So far, it has worked well.
My hitch returns 89% of the weight lifted from the front so it's only 40 lbs. lighter than the unhitched weight. The front axle is loaded to 94% of its limit, the rear axle is loaded to 92% of its limit and the truck is loaded to 95% of its limit.
Yellow sticker weight limit is 1409lbs. I was also thinking the having the two axle trailer and moving the jeep centered over the axles will eliminate tongue weight. I trying to get going for this weekend and then can customize the truck with timbrens or air bags to make it a better tow down the road. This weekend I just want to make a safe trip.
That statement says you need to read a lot more to understand safe towing. As noted you want 10 - 15% tongue weight. Watch that video.
Those idiot engineers say the hitch has a weight capacity and that anything over a 5000lbs loaded trailer and a 500lbs tongue weight needs a weight distribution hitch. WTF do they know?
It's like for some stupid reason, they want us to be safe when towing trailers with our trucks. How dare them!!!
Ive towed a lot more than 5k without one. It is 100% not needed in this instance. Use the vehicle to balance the load, just like the video above does with the weights.
I mean the “professionals” like you and all the other tin foil hats here who tow a camper every now and again.
Ive towed a lot more than 5k without one. It is 100% not needed in this instance. Use the vehicle to balance the load, just like the video above does with the weights.
I mean the professionals like you and all the other tin foil hats here who tow a camper every now and again.
OK Expert, show us your Class A CDL if you have one. Best guess is you don't.
You pull a 5K trailer with less than 10% tongue weight, you are asking for disaster, but what do I know since I have only driven 18 wheelers, among other various trailers for the past 30 years. I have seen people doing stupid things and paying for it with either their lives, or others lives. When you see a baby ejected through a windshield because someone did something stupid, maybe that will change your mind.
OP, don't listen to guys like this if you value yours and others lives. We are giving you proper advice to keep you and others on the road safe.
Lol. Strawman arguement. Go to uhaul and ask to rent a auto transport and see if they make you get a wdh for such an insignificant load.
Asking towing questions on here is always a terrible idea. You’ll always get responses like the ones above. “Will a baby ejected through a windshield change your mind?” Why was that baby not properly put in a car seat? What does that have to do with a wdh?
