Weight Distribution Hitches Explained - How They Work, Why You Need One
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Date: 2020-02-22
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Comments and reviews: 9
ElroyMcDuff
Very interesting, thanks for taking the time to discuss that. I've been towing a utility trailer with a Mazda 6 but don't get anywhere near 5k lbs. My local dealer wasn't very helpful when it came time to install the hitch but the frame had holes (and rubbery tape for the interface) already in place so the aftermarket hitch just bolted right on. It was surely designed with other markets in mind where folks tow with cars more often. One thing I've always wondered is why do they recommend putting so much weight onto the hitch? Assuming the connection to the hitch won't let go, wouldn't a weight distribution of around 49% rear and 51% front on the trailer be better? That way you wouldn't put so much stress on the tow vehicle's suspension. Is the extra weight meant to provide more traction for the rear wheels on a truck or is it more of a safety thing for the trailer connection?
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Very interesting, thanks for taking the time to discuss that. I've been towing a utility trailer with a Mazda 6 but don't get anywhere near 5k lbs. My local dealer wasn't very helpful when it came time to install the hitch but the frame had holes (and rubbery tape for the interface) already in place so the aftermarket hitch just bolted right on. It was surely designed with other markets in mind where folks tow with cars more often. One thing I've always wondered is why do they recommend putting so much weight onto the hitch? Assuming the connection to the hitch won't let go, wouldn't a weight distribution of around 49% rear and 51% front on the trailer be better? That way you wouldn't put so much stress on the tow vehicle's suspension. Is the extra weight meant to provide more traction for the rear wheels on a truck or is it more of a safety thing for the trailer connection?
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BGUFF
How do these systems perform if you have a pitch in the road or are going up and over a hump and then back down the other side? When driving the vehicle up hill while the trailer is still going down the hill, wouldnt the weight distribution hitch have the potential to snap under these much higher loads? An example of this would be backing your trailer into a up pitched/ up hill driveway. As the trailer climbs the driveway before the vehicles back tires get to the driveway pitch wouldnt the weight distribution system be suspect to extremely high tension prior to the vehicles rear tires making it to the pitched part of the driveway? Im assuming the bars will bend/flex a bit but is there a certain grade/pitch that should be avoided when using a trailer weight distribution system?
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How do these systems perform if you have a pitch in the road or are going up and over a hump and then back down the other side? When driving the vehicle up hill while the trailer is still going down the hill, wouldnt the weight distribution hitch have the potential to snap under these much higher loads? An example of this would be backing your trailer into a up pitched/ up hill driveway. As the trailer climbs the driveway before the vehicles back tires get to the driveway pitch wouldnt the weight distribution system be suspect to extremely high tension prior to the vehicles rear tires making it to the pitched part of the driveway? Im assuming the bars will bend/flex a bit but is there a certain grade/pitch that should be avoided when using a trailer weight distribution system?
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Tony
I replaced my weight distribution hitch that was similar to yours with a Blue Ox. Blue Ox claims that their hitch prevents sway from occurring in the first place. And indeed, that has been my experience when towing my 7, 000 pound travel trailer. In addition it doesn't make any noise after the initial pull, and can be left connected when backing up (even in tight turns. The only downside is that it costs a couple of hundred dollars more than the average WD hitch.
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I replaced my weight distribution hitch that was similar to yours with a Blue Ox. Blue Ox claims that their hitch prevents sway from occurring in the first place. And indeed, that has been my experience when towing my 7, 000 pound travel trailer. In addition it doesn't make any noise after the initial pull, and can be left connected when backing up (even in tight turns. The only downside is that it costs a couple of hundred dollars more than the average WD hitch.
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Alex
As one of our viewers pointed out, a weight distributing hitch can end up also shifting some weight from the tongue back onto the trailer's axle(s) depending on teh exact situation. However in our quick and dirty test with a load cell accurate to within 10 pounds, we noticed no rearward weight transfer but it is possible.
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As one of our viewers pointed out, a weight distributing hitch can end up also shifting some weight from the tongue back onto the trailer's axle(s) depending on teh exact situation. However in our quick and dirty test with a load cell accurate to within 10 pounds, we noticed no rearward weight transfer but it is possible.
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Tom
You haven't created a lever arm, but a force-couple. The bars impart a rotational torque, counter-clockwise as you look at the side profile with the truck to your left. This pitches the bar in your receiver down in front and up in back, causing the vehicle frame to rotate in the same direction, pushing the front end down.
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You haven't created a lever arm, but a force-couple. The bars impart a rotational torque, counter-clockwise as you look at the side profile with the truck to your left. This pitches the bar in your receiver down in front and up in back, causing the vehicle frame to rotate in the same direction, pushing the front end down.
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pelleper
Holy crap, there must be soooo many accidents in Europe. 7700 pounds is max towing without a CDL-ish. No weight distribution hitches at all. Tongue weight UP to 300 pounds. The 10% rule on tongue isn't used at all. It should be obligated to have leveling headlights, that is extremely common here.
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Holy crap, there must be soooo many accidents in Europe. 7700 pounds is max towing without a CDL-ish. No weight distribution hitches at all. Tongue weight UP to 300 pounds. The 10% rule on tongue isn't used at all. It should be obligated to have leveling headlights, that is extremely common here.
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TheCondoInRedondo
Alex, would you use this device with your Durango Citadel? Doesn't your Citadel have an active load-leveling rear end? Would this gizmo in any way harm or confuse that active rear suspension of the Citadel such that the load-leveling feature was fighting the weight-distribution hitch?
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Alex, would you use this device with your Durango Citadel? Doesn't your Citadel have an active load-leveling rear end? Would this gizmo in any way harm or confuse that active rear suspension of the Citadel such that the load-leveling feature was fighting the weight-distribution hitch?
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Alec
These hitches are so underrated. Having all of that extra weight put on the front axle aids so much in steering feel and trailer sway. I recommend the Equalizer WDH with sway control.
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These hitches are so underrated. Having all of that extra weight put on the front axle aids so much in steering feel and trailer sway. I recommend the Equalizer WDH with sway control.
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MQNguyen
Does Insurance cares if you are using the correct type of hitches? Otherwise, I don't think any other incentives to get lazy people to do so.
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Does Insurance cares if you are using the correct type of hitches? Otherwise, I don't think any other incentives to get lazy people to do so.
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