How a Weight Distribution Hitch works
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ค. 2023
- In this video we look at the mysterious Weight Distribution Hitch and try to work through how it is actually working. This is not designed to be a comprehensive video but more to help you visualize how the hitch works.
Here is the best Weight Distribution Hitch set up video I have seen from our friends in Canada at Can Am RV Centre.
• How To Properly Set Up...
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I stumbled onto your video today. I am 56 and have worked on and set up campers and trailers for30 years. I am going to give you some unsolicited advice. I used to build , set up and repair hitches on all kinds and categories of vehicles from cars up to semis. You do put out some good information for some of the basics. Weight distribution hitches are very mis understood for most people. The center of gravity or weight fulcrum point is shifted and spread across the tow vehicle and the trailer.
There used to be an advertisement years ago where they took a car that was front wheel drive, I believe an Oldsmobile tornado and installed a weight distribution hitch and removed the rear wheels to prove what the hitch was doing.
What it actually does is shift a percentage of the weight forward on the tow vehicle and a higher percentage back onto the trailer.
When you set the system up properly the tow vehicle will be level. The hitch ball will be plumb or vertical and the trailer will be level. The spring bars will be near level with a slight upward bow or tension on them. You need 12 to 15 % of the total weight of the trailer over the ball. 10% is to light and will cause bucking like a bronco when you hit dips and raised portions on the road.
The weight distribution hitch actually moves tongue back toward the rear axles of the trailer and not onto the tow vehicle.
Lastly, Grease the hitch ball and the spring bars where they go up into the sockets. When you take them out to store them or temporarily take them out, place a 1 gallon ziplock freezer bag over the greased bar ends. A hitch will last for ever if you take care of it.
DO NOT grease the metal on the anti sway bar but do grease the small ball and socket joints. They are under extreme pressure.
Always loosen or remove the anti sway bar when backing into a tight spot or when in a large city in tight areas at low speeds. It is meant for control during high speed travel or low speed on tightly curved mountain roads where jack knifing is a danger.
I am just sharing knowledge for everyone.
With 5 th wheel and goose trailers you use things on the truck and raise and lower the hitch point on the trailer to try and move weight or you actually move the load or the axles.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge! If you would be interested in coming on the channel for a video podcast send me an email at JeremsGarage@gmail.com and we could try to set something up.
Thanks again! I appreciate you taking the time to type all the information out!
im confused, is any difference between weight distribution hitch and anti sway bar? thanks
Viewers, please follow the manufacturers instructions or have a professional set up your weight distribution hitch. While his intentions are probably good, I believe you should not follow these instructions for safety reasons.
Yea, I link to a pros video in the description. I’ve had to reset every hitch set up by “pro’s”.
See the community tab for an example of a hitch set up by Pro’s. lol
Thanks for the information brother! Very helpful! God richly bless you and your family!
nice explanation but why don’t you show connection to camper, just for 30 sec? 😮
Excellent video brother. I have a scenario I need help with. Maybe more of a math question? So does the weight distribution hitch actually decrease the tongue weight and therefore decrease the overall payload you're putting on the truck?
For instance, if a tongue weight of 823 lbs on a camper with an additional 500 lbs of cargo/people in the truck that puts my payload at 1323. If the total payload rating of my truck is let's say 1600 lb then that gives me 277 lb left. Would a weight distribution hitch decrease the 823 lb of tongue weight to an ideal minimum weight by transferring the weight back to the trailer axle? Essentially decreasing total payload on vehicle?
Does that question make sense? And am I misunderstanding? Is the purpose of the weight distribution hitch more for drivability or payload reduction on vehicle or both?
Thanks for sharing my man god bless
You are welcome! Take care.
Hey Jerem,how long do the 1/2" bolts need to be? Thank you very much for the great video, as well as including God in your work,Very Impressive!
Thank you! I think I got 1 inch or 1 1/4. You just need enough length to get the lock nut on securely. If you hold Two links side by side and put a measuring tape over it you will get a better idea of the length you need for your chains. Thank you for watching! And yes! Christ is King.
Can a weight distribution hitch set up work on a straight tongue trailer? I tow, sell and deliver firewood processors and they do not have the V or A frame tongue. I have considered using a WD hitch when I deliver and have my slide in camper in the bed of the truck.
Great question! The answer is yes! There are adaptors you can use to make the weight distribution hitch work. Here is an example from eTrailer. www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Reese/RP58393.html?feed=npn&Google%20%7C%20Shop%20-%20Accessories%20and%20Parts&adgroupid=86797745660&campaignid=1672411894&creative=404001588947&device=m&devicemodel=&feeditemid=&keyword=&loc_interest_ms=&loc_physical_ms=9013273&matchtype=&network=g&placement=&position=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzdOlBhCNARIsAPMwjbzO83U64h2cS_vjBe4gmQEmcLBtn4NCaWkCBEUjF1AvspTdIUY2KdYaArsAEALw_wcB
@@jeremsgarage Thank You. I have had this question for a while. After seeing that an adapter exists I can make it happen here in my fab shop. The machines I tow have a couple different box tube sizes for the tongues so I will need to fabricate the adapter to work on every model. I never thought I would need the WD set up again once I started using 2500HD trucks but when you throw a 3,000 lb plus camper in the bed I think it might be wise to control the tongue weight a bit. Thanks again. Blessings.
@@wayawolf1967 glad the solution will work for you! Yes I agree that the Weight Distribution hitch will give you a more comfortable ride. Take care and let me know how it works out for your rigs.
It still seems weird to me how the arms are lifting from the load itself. It's like standing in a bucket and trying to lift yourself.
It is very weird. But it works great.