Tow without a hitch? a 30 footer?

[MACINRIC]

Does anyone out there regularly tow without a WD hitch? Seems like I can drive 55 under near perfect conditions and fair ok. However, it also looks like a WD hitch is quickly rising to the top of my Necessary list of acquisitions. Just behind a P3 break controller and ahead of the desired renovations. So for now, I have new tires and wheels will install the break controller, acquire a 9V battery and convert to LED's and plan to get a WD hitch ahead of a fixing or replacing the generator, functional plumbing, built in heating, stopping the few leaks and a full restore. oh that list.

[SteveH]

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't tow a 30 footer around the block without a properly setup WD hitch with anything short of a Kenworth. Also, I wouldn't tow it at all without a properly working brake controller.

However, some may consider me overly cautious.

[AStreamNerds]

Originally Posted by SteveH

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't tow a 30 footer around the block without a properly setup WD hitch with anything short of a Kenworth. Also, I wouldn't tow it at all without a properly working brake controller.

However, some may consider me overly cautious.

I totally agree! Better safe then sorry

[mandolindave]

I meant to say what steve said

Also…..do you mean a 12 volt battery

About the WD hitch, besides the more important safety issues. Not having weight distribution will cause the rig to bob up and down, if you go over bumps or seams in the highway.

About brake controller. IT'S ILLEGAL to not have brakes on a trailer that is over 2000 lbs. ( laws vary state to state ) You are inviting a jack knife situation, and are endangering others on the road. Also your increased stopping distance could cause an accident as well.

[dannydimitt]

definitely not 30 ft , but we drove the entire 11,000 mile round trip in two months , to Alaska and back using nothing but a 2.5/16 ball and a single sway bar .
Had a wonderful time with no problems or concerns whatsoever .

[PeterKV]

There are a lot of things you can do, back in the 50's and 60's we pulled all kinds of trailers with only a plate bolted to a car bumper with a ball attached but back then we drove slower, dealt with much less traffic and did not know any better. Today most roads have heavy traffic going 70+ and we have numerous safety features we can take advantage of so why not be as safe as possible, I enjoy the road trips more when I am relaxed and not worried about getting a high speed wiggle or if I can safely stop.

[PaulnGina]

What he said.....

Originally Posted by SteveH

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't tow a 30 footer around the block without a properly setup WD hitch with anything short of a Kenworth. Also, I wouldn't tow it at all without a properly working brake controller.

However, some may consider me overly cautious.

[paiceman]

Have a 30', have had another also and would never tow without a WD.

Bud

[larryglarson]

I have been pulling a 30' Classic for 5 yrs, half the time with WD hitch and half with out. I would never go back to a WD hitch. I have pulled almost 15,000 miles with out the hitch. Easy hook up, not heavy stuff to lift. Yes, going down hill in the wind at speeds over 65 you can have trouble. I do not go down hill in the wind at 65 miles per hour. It is true I am 73 years of age and I am not it a hurry.

Now I have not checked it out, but when it comes to Weight distribution there are 2 things. My ball is about 9 inches closer to the back of my truck so the weight of the trailer has less effect on the weight on my rear end. Two setting normal there is about 800 less weight on my rear end than front end. Now I add 750 lbs. from my trailer and my rear end is just a little heavier than my front end.

Ask the people who tow the trailers from the factory to the dealers, they do not use WD hitches.

[xrvr]

I tow a thirty foot Avion with two sway controls and no WD. Of course I have a one ton truck. Anything less and I would use WD.

[ijustlee]

I would go for good brakes way before a WD hitch! My 3/4 ton Chevy doesn't need anything other than a ball when towing my 31 footer although passing semi-trucks does cause a little lane wobble. I'm very curious if any hitch could fix the bow wave of a large truck pushing sideways on my trailer? The handling of every rig is different and there are many variables, the most important thing is being able to stop straight and quickly. Most rigs would probably benefit from a WD hitch but if you luck out on the way the tongue weight, hitch overhang, wheelbase and tire flex combines you might not need one. Leland

[NY24]

No SteveH, you're NOT overly cautious.

[rmkrum]

Hensley design hitches or ProPride version flat eliminates the bow wave issue, the crosswind issues, and downhill heavy braking issues. Flat can't sway. I won't tow without one




Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

[Sbb]

I do not if out on vacation with unloaded car. i do when loaded for festivals. I use a 3/4 ton and have Bambi.

[guskmg]

If you hit a high gust of wind while dealing with a large vehicle bow wave without a trapezoid design hitch, you are going to get diverted. A friction sway control will help up to certain point, then all hell will break loose as/or if the sway oscillations become dynamically unstable. This combination has probably caused more towing wrecks than any other cause. It only take an instant for all this to happen.
guskmg

[A W Warn]

[QUOTE=MACINRIC;1712652]Does anyone out there regularly tow without a WD hitch? .....snip... [QUOTE]

You do not say what your tow vehicle is. If you are towing with a half ton truck or a SUV you probably need WD hitch to transfer load from the rear axle. If you are towing with a 3/4 ton or larger with a heavy diesel engine you probably do not need any load transfer, so WD is not necessary with the larger tow vehilce.

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by SteveH

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't tow a 30 footer around the block without a properly setup WD hitch with anything short of a Kenworth. Also, I wouldn't tow it at all without a properly working brake controller.

However, some may consider me overly cautious.

I know that you are right!..

[J. Morgan]

I towed for a few trips "on the ball" it was safe enough to about 60 MPH, but things are so much sweeter at any speed with my "unnamed" premium hitch.

Trailer brakes? I never leave home without them.

Brevi tempore!

[Jacob D]

For me, the 2 main purposes of WD is to level the TV and ensure good steering traction. When I towed with a 1970 Cadillac with coil springs in the rear, leveling was more important as the car was almost as heavy as the loaded 26' trailer. Now with a long bed Chevy 1500 PU with HD leaf springs in the rear, steering traction is more important. A sway bar is always good insurance.

[TLBIJOU]

Every trailer to towing vehicle is different with many variables. The primary concern related to the physics is TONGUE WEIGHT. See your owners manual to see what the max is supposed to be, then go to a truck scale and measure the "downforce" weight that is put on your tow vehicle. Your tow vehicle, if it came with a factory hitch will also provide max to the hitch. The engineering is done for you! Do not ask for opinions when it comes to safety, rely on the engineering data.