Should I Consider A Weight Dist Hitch?

hossmp2500 · January 13, 2010

hello,

I tow a 18ft Open steel car trailer. I would estimate the total weight around 6000lbs to be safe. I have done a few things with moving the car up and back and towing but I am still getting a little trailer sway.

I was curious if you guys think its wise to use a WD hitch on this size load? I see some people using them at events I go to and some not.

I am towing with a 2009 CCSB with the 6.0 and 6 speed. I dont have issues with the power or how it handles the load. I was also a little concerned with adding a WD hitch to the class III hitch thats under the truck already. I wasnt sure if it was wise to look at the Curt hitches in IV and V also.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

dlstewart01 · January 13, 2010

Yes, you need a weight distributing hitch, one with sway control built in.

See..

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/

66nova · January 13, 2010

I am not arguing with the fact a weight distribution hitch would be a good idea and it will very well solve you problem, BUT I have towed a LOT of open car haulers that weigh in basically right where you are at, and never had an issue with sway IF...

1. The load was placed correctly

2. Trailer tires are inflated properly

3. Truck tires are inflated properly

4. Proper speed for load.

An Wt Dist hitch may solve the sway, but cover up an issue. It's sure not going to fix low tire pressure or too much speed.

dlstewart01 · January 13, 2010

How a weight distributing hitch works...

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseacti...id/14265335.cfm

hossmp2500 · January 13, 2010

I am not arguing with the fact a weight distribution hitch would be a good idea and it will very well solve you problem, BUT I have towed a LOT of open car haulers that weigh in basically right where you are at, and never had an issue with sway IF...

1. The load was placed correctly

2. Trailer tires are inflated properly

3. Truck tires are inflated properly

4. Proper speed for load.

An Wt Dist hitch may solve the sway, but cover up an issue. It's sure not going to fix low tire pressure or too much speed.

Thanks for the info, this is what I thought also. Prior to this trailer I was using an aluminum open trailer. It was about 17.5 feet ( Featherlite). I loaded it basically the same as this trailer. With approximately 10% tongue weight give or take a little. The tire pressure is about 40psi in the trailer tires. I have moved the psi in my truck tires from 35psi up to 45psi and a few increments in between and its not really impacting it.

I thought it could be that this is just a little heavier and it required a WD hitch to take care of it.

Do you use a WD hitch on your open trailer and car? I see you have a similar set up in terms of trailer. The only difference is I dont have that air dam and instead I have a tire rack on the front.

redvett · January 13, 2010

66nova hit the nail right on the head. Extra emphass on the #4 Speed.

1. The load was placed correctly

2. Trailer tires are inflated properly

3. Truck tires are inflated properly

4. Proper speed for load.

I am not arguing with the fact a weight distribution hitch would be a good idea and it will very well solve you problem, BUT I have towed a LOT of open car haulers that weigh in basically right where you are at, and never had an issue with sway IF...

1. The load was placed correctly

2. Trailer tires are inflated properly

3. Truck tires are inflated properly

4. Proper speed for load.

An Wt Dist hitch may solve the sway, but cover up an issue. It's sure not going to fix low tire pressure or too much speed.

hossmp2500 · January 13, 2010

In terms of speed I would say I tend to be at the speed limit and in some cases under depending on traffic and terrain. If traffic is bad I just hang back as much as possible. I would guess the maximum speed would be around 65 on interstates. I think this past fall I was sticking around 60ish with it.

I could just be over sensitive. I previously had a 2500 CC with the Duramax and this sort of set up was very easy for it to tow. I never really paid as much attention to the way it was loaded as long as it felt decent. Now I am much more critical since it is near the limits of the truck. My truck according to its configuration is good for approx 10k. I have the max trailer package.

I was thinking of adding a little more tongue weight as this could possibly stop this but I figure I am around 500-600 now.

66nova · January 13, 2010

I am not arguing with the fact a weight distribution hitch would be a good idea and it will very well solve you problem, BUT I have towed a LOT of open car haulers that weigh in basically right where you are at, and never had an issue with sway IF...

1. The load was placed correctly

2. Trailer tires are inflated properly

3. Truck tires are inflated properly

4. Proper speed for load.

An Wt Dist hitch may solve the sway, but cover up an issue. It's sure not going to fix low tire pressure or too much speed.

Thanks for the info, this is what I thought also. Prior to this trailer I was using an aluminum open trailer. It was about 17.5 feet ( Featherlite). I loaded it basically the same as this trailer. With approximately 10% tongue weight give or take a little. The tire pressure is about 40psi in the trailer tires. I have moved the psi in my truck tires from 35psi up to 45psi and a few increments in between and its not really impacting it.

I thought it could be that this is just a little heavier and it required a WD hitch to take care of it.

Do you use a WD hitch on your open trailer and car? I see you have a similar set up in terms of trailer. The only difference is I dont have that air dam and instead I have a tire rack on the front.

Yeah, it sounds like you sure could use a WD hitch. I just wanted to make sure those things didn't get over looked before I said that would fix your problem.

I don't have a WD hitch on my set up. I have a 2007 Vmax with a 4 speed instead of your 6 speed (lucky!) and 3.73 gears. I have been very pleased with how it performs. I don't even know my trailer is back there. But every trailer is different.

My dad does have a WD hitch on his trailer, but it's a 28ft enclosed car hauler and loaded he's coming in around 10,000lbs. It made a HUGE difference on how his truck handles the load. It is a 2500hd by the way.

Something I have just installed on my truck is a set of Airlift Helper Bags, but I haven't had the chance to tow with it yet. I haven't had them on a week yet. From everyone that has ever used them I have heard rave reviews.

hossmp2500 · January 13, 2010

I am not arguing with the fact a weight distribution hitch would be a good idea and it will very well solve you problem, BUT I have towed a LOT of open car haulers that weigh in basically right where you are at, and never had an issue with sway IF...

1. The load was placed correctly

2. Trailer tires are inflated properly

3. Truck tires are inflated properly

4. Proper speed for load.

An Wt Dist hitch may solve the sway, but cover up an issue. It's sure not going to fix low tire pressure or too much speed.

Thanks for the info, this is what I thought also. Prior to this trailer I was using an aluminum open trailer. It was about 17.5 feet ( Featherlite). I loaded it basically the same as this trailer. With approximately 10% tongue weight give or take a little. The tire pressure is about 40psi in the trailer tires. I have moved the psi in my truck tires from 35psi up to 45psi and a few increments in between and its not really impacting it.

I thought it could be that this is just a little heavier and it required a WD hitch to take care of it.

Do you use a WD hitch on your open trailer and car? I see you have a similar set up in terms of trailer. The only difference is I dont have that air dam and instead I have a tire rack on the front.

Yeah, it sounds like you sure could use a WD hitch. I just wanted to make sure those things didn't get over looked before I said that would fix your problem.

I don't have a WD hitch on my set up. I have a 2007 Vmax with a 4 speed instead of your 6 speed (lucky!) and 3.73 gears. I have been very pleased with how it performs. I don't even know my trailer is back there. But every trailer is different.

My dad does have a WD hitch on his trailer, but it's a 28ft enclosed car hauler and loaded he's coming in around 10,000lbs. It made a HUGE difference on how his truck handles the load. It is a 2500hd by the way.

Something I have just installed on my truck is a set of Airlift Helper Bags, but I haven't had the chance to tow with it yet. I haven't had them on a week yet. From everyone that has ever used them I have heard rave reviews.

I also have these on my truck. they are sort of needed if you plan on towing with a leveled truck. To load the truck with the proper tongue weight my truck was really down in the rear relative to the front. These definately helped that. I towed both ways and these are great. I only put about 20psi in them and it brings me back to level. My father has a 1500 and its had the bags on it for almost 10 years and they are still going strong. You will really like them.

c4cruiser · January 13, 2010

I am not arguing with the fact a weight distribution hitch would be a good idea and it will very well solve you problem, BUT I have towed a LOT of open car haulers that weigh in basically right where you are at, and never had an issue with sway IF...

1. The load was placed correctly

2. Trailer tires are inflated properly

3. Truck tires are inflated properly

4. Proper speed for load.

An Wt Dist hitch may solve the sway, but cover up an issue. It's sure not going to fix low tire pressure or too much speed.

I tow my 18' steel open trailer without a WD hitch and have never had a problem. The trailer and car along with a few tool in a box and a set of tires weighs in at right around 5600 lbs. The trailer alone is 2000 lbs. It took me a few hours to get the car in the right spot to wind up with 540lbs of tongue weight. Once I had the car in the right spot, I fastened some stops to the bed so I know when the front tires hit the stops, it will be in the right place.

Tire inflation pressure is important as is insuring that the trailer is level when loaded and hitched to the truck. You may have to try different slug heights to get the trailer level or maybe use some rear airbags to adjust the truck height at the rear.

Trailer sway is not as much as an issue with open trailers as the cross-section is much less that it is with an enclosed trailer. Those trailers are impacted by passing big rigs, motorhomes, buses, or sidewinds. I've never really felt a big push from the side when towing my trailer.

One thing I did notice on my '08 was that the factory Class III hitch is rated at 5000 lbs and 500 lbs tongue weight. The factory hitch on my old 99 was also a Class III, but rated at 6000 lbs and 600 lbs tongue weight.

If anything, you might want to consider upgrading to a Class IV hitch if you don't go the WD hitch route. If your total twoed weight is 6000 or more, it might be worth the upgrade. It's easy to find hitch balls with a 6000 lb rating.

csheatz · January 14, 2010

A WD hitch is going to do what the name says, it is taking weight from the rear tires and moving them to the front steer tires. This is for safty, sway control, IMO will NOT prevent sway it will help control sway. The only way to prevent sway is to load the trailer correctly. Some things that can cause sway would be, load of the trailer to heavy on the rear of trailer, you need more weight in front of or over the axle. Also the way the ride height of the trailer, on level ground hooked up and loaded you should sit about 1" lower in the front then the rear (the rear height of a dove tail trailer would be measured before the drop off). A trailer that sits high in the front will collect air and lift at the rear, causing sway.

Not saying all this is fact, just what I have learned and been told.

Spurshot · January 14, 2010

I used to tow a lot of horses with 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. A 7500 lb loaded trailer could be towed without the WD setup. But, it wasn't anywhere near as nice to tow as with the WD setup. Further, using or not using a sway damper on the hitch was noticeable. While most WD hitches have a sway damper, most discussions seem to omit this device.

hossmp2500 · January 14, 2010

Thanks for all the replies. I think the bottom line is I am overly sensitive to it. I talked to a friend that has driven behind me many times with his trailer to events. He says he doesnt even notice that its moving around when he is behind me. I may still give a Weight Dist hitch a try its not a bad thing to have and can be utilized on other trailers possibly an enclosed trailer at some point down the road.

I am definately loaded properly. I spent many evenings moving the car and gear around to acheive the proper 10% tongue weight as well as a few different ball mounts to get the trailer essentially level. It only sits higher in the front when the car is not loaded. Once the car is loaded its level to slightly nose down.

If you guys were to purchase a new WD hitch what ones would you go with? The Reese ones or anything else that is worth looking at? I am sorry I didnt search this just the towing part prior to starting the thread.

music · January 14, 2010

FWIW, the GMT900 1500 trucks w/ the tow pkg get a Class IV hitch from the factory. These are rated to 5k lbs trailer and 500 lbs tongue without a WD hitch, and 12000/1200 lbs with a WD hitch. I use the Reese dual cam system (which is great) for integrated WD and sway control w/ our camper, but big boxes are far more prone to wind induced sway than an open trailer. As others have said, you can do without the WD hitch if you have proper load, supplemental leveling (e.g., air bags), etc., but the integrated WD and sway control is sahweeet for towing enclosed boxes (aka, wind sails).

hossmp2500 · January 14, 2010

FWIW, the GMT900 1500 trucks w/ the tow pkg get a Class IV hitch from the factory. These are rated to 5k lbs trailer and 500 lbs tongue without a WD hitch, and 12000/1200 lbs with a WD hitch. I use the Reese dual cam system (which is great) for integrated WD and sway control w/ our camper, but big boxes are far more prone to wind induced sway than an open trailer. As others have said, you can do without the WD hitch if you have proper load, supplemental leveling (e.g., air bags), etc., but the integrated WD and sway control is sahweeet for towing enclosed boxes (aka, wind sails).

Thanks for the info, I was under the impression the hitch on the truck was a class III not a class IV. My trailer and load runs between 5 and 6k total weight so it seems that to keep things away from the upper limit a WD hitch may also be a good idea. I am at the 500lbs tongue weight right now.