I’ve trusted the guidance on this towing forum for years. So here’s my question.

My new truck is a Ram 2500 with a class 5 Hitch. My gross trailer tongue weight is 900lbs or less. Won’t go over that. Do I need weight distributing? Or would I benefit from it?

Had WD on my F150 and understand the benefits in that application. However the new truck is quite a bit more robust and with the higher hitch rating, just wasn’t sure I needed it.

 

For further clarification. It has a class 5 Hitch. I’m presuming all class 5’s are rated the same regardless of which truck they’re bolted to.

 

You might try the Dodge forum.

 

I’m in the same boat with the same truck and still use my equalizer because I have it.

 

If the hitch is rated above that for weight carrying then yes you can, but you can still take advantage of the WD system. Hitch up and go for a drive to see how it steers, measure how much drop you get on the rear axle then decide. Just remember if the hitch is the larger 2 1/2 inch and you use a adapter down to 2 inch the weight carrying rating is reduced.

 

Please re-read the OP’s opening remark.

To the OP, the best way to find out is to tow your trailer a short distance. When I had my 2500, I did not use WDH for my airstream with about a 800lb tongue weight.

 

Even though the truck is rated to tow/haul more weight, you can still benefit from a weight distributing hitch. The more even you can make the weight on the axles of the truck, the better the overall setup will handle. Go through the same steps, weight the truck empty and loaded. The HD truck will be heavier up front, especially if you have a diesel, so you may not need a W/D hitch.

 

The "class" of the receiver has nothing to do with whether a WD hitch is needed. Hitch weight is the determinate. As long as the receiver is rated to handle the hitch weight of the trailer, then that receiver is fine. A Class III receiver is fine for any trailer with less than 500 pounds hitch weight . And so is a Class IV and Class V receiver.


I don't know about the Dodge Boys, but Ford says you need a WD hitch for any hitch weight over 500 pounds, regardless whether the tow vehicle is a half-ton, 3/4-ton, one ton, or the 1.5-ton F-450. Receiver hitch rating doesn't matter as long a the receiver is rated for at least the maximum hitch weight of your trailer. That 500 pounds or more of weight on the ball about 4" behind the rear axle unloads the front axle of the tow vehicle, reducing steering controllability. So for a trailer with 800 or 900 pounds or more hitch weight, then yes, you need a good WD hitch.

Plus, you want your hitch to provide excellent sway control. Sway bars won't do a good enough job, so you need a hitch with built-in sway control/prevention. Cheap hitches won't provide adequate sway control, so you need to spend more and get a good one. Good weight distributing/sway control hitches include the Equal-I-Zer, Blue Ox SwayPro, Husky Centerline HD #30390, and my Reese Straight-Line trunnion bar hitch. Those list for around $1,000 an cost around $500 to $700 from online discount sources such as eTrailer.com. One of those WD hitches, properly installed and set up, will handle about 99% of all sway-causing conditions.

And if you want to be certain that you'll have no uncontrollable trailer sway for about 99.9% of all sway-causing conditions, then you'll spend the big bucks for a Hensley ProPride 3P hitch. https://www.propridehitch.com/propri...control-hitch/

 

Thing I don't understand...

Without WDH, 2016 F250/F350 had a 8500# tow rating 850# TW maximum...nice bump over the F150 5000#/500# TW.

Now with the 2017+, the trucks have the same tow rating / TW max with or without WDH. (as high as 21000# / 2100# TW)

(According to the Ford Trailer guide)
From a physics standpoint, that just doesn't make sense...

 

No it makes zero sense but i guess they went from a 2.5" reciever in 2016 to a 3" in 2017 so I assume that may be part of it. I'd be curious to see what the actual hitches say on those trucks. Imagine 2100#s pushing down 4 feet behind the rear axle!? I bet a set of sticky drag radials and the torque from the new diesel and you could do wheelies.

My thought on the whole thing is that it doesnt matter what the truck is, the same trailer is going to unload the front the same amount all else being the same. A diesel cover up this problem becuase it adds so much weight to the front axle that the unloaded weight may not be that bad. I see guys around here with 3/4 and 1 tons that probably dont technically require WDH, but their rear ends are crushed down just like any half ton.