weight distribution system

[m.hony]

I git it-
Just sayin'-
Your example of a lever is exactly how it is-
Weight distribution hitches also keep your headlights from blinding other drivers-

[minke]

Please humor my fantasy that I understand 19th century physics. I know for certain that I don't grok 20th century physics.

My underlying assumption for what follows is that control derives from the coefficient of friction that the tires and road have. Nothing else. If you had Tour de France bike wheels and tires strong enough to support your TV then your control derives from the coefficient of friction. The same would be true for monster truck wheels and tires. Neither would be practical, but for e.g. one straight line stop if the coefficient of friction is the same the stop will be the same.

Fat, skinny, road tread, snow tread,,, will have different coefficients of friction on dirt,asphalt, concrete,,, roads. For the discussion of WD that is irrelevant.

With a too-high tongue weight the front end is lightened, the coefficient of friction (CofF) is diminished and the possibility of loss of control goes up. As has been pointed out, pickup trucks may be light in the rear, hence diminished CofF too.

Perhaps it is a rarity in our language, but WD is exactly what it says it is. We need a proper distribution in our vehicles and TVs. Sometimes we need nothing to achieve that distribution, sometimes we need massive trunnions, or any shade of gray in between.

With pickup trucks which are designed to tow the manufacturers provide guidance. For example my F-250 requires WD if the tongue weight is >600 lbs. I suspect that in an accident, had I ignored that it could constitute at least partial negligence. Perhaps auto and SUV manufacturers do a good job too but I don't know.

I hope I haven't made things worse. And, if we have any real physicists out there, please keep me honest!

[J. Morgan]

The weight baring down on the tires affects the coefficient of friction.

I think it can be safely assumed that moving tongue weight forward is not ALWAYS the right thing to do.

I hear a lot about what is too light for the steer tires, but nothing about what is too light for the drive tires.

Is it possible that a WD device can make the rear tires of a TV too light and therefore and actually degrade safety? I say yes.

Additionally trailer configuration and loading can and do affect tongue weight to a great degree.

[J. Morgan]

I wonder how many vehicles with WD approach a 50/50 weight bias between the front and rear of a pickup truck?

If the truck is a diesel, I doubt it unless the bed is chock full of heave stuff.

[MYater]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

I wonder how many vehicles with WD approach a 50/50 weight bias between the front and rear of a pickup truck?

If the truck is a diesel, I doubt it unless the bed is chock full of heave stuff.

I think the better question in regards to safety of the TV operator as well as all those around them on the road is, "How many people have taken their setup down to the scales and messed around to get the best weight distribution, versus just eye balling it and hoping it works out?"

Not just Airstreams, but all trailers that have enough tongue weight to warrant a WD hitch.

[AWCHIEF]

I love kitchen table engineering. It is so entertaining. People act like they are expressing origional thought on this subject.

[m.hony]

so-
How 'bout weight distribution on that new 23' trailer and Jeep Grand Cherokee?
I don't know if we are necessarily trying to achieve 50/50 weight distribution, but be within factory spec the same amount on the front and rear...
You see, a Yugo could tow a 34' Airstream if he knows something about science- using the levels of gravitivity and polarity-

[cwf]

The "Escapees" group had a "weigh in" recently. I missed it unfortunately. It would be good to get a "validation" of current setup.

I also recently replace TV tires which lifted truck a bit so will have to verify the setup of the ProPride.

When I setup air-boats everyone had ideas for proper "trim"'setup. Customer is occasionally right, but if he insists, I did it their way and had a signoff. One customer would always break the boat. Come to find out he was running it through fences, up boat launches and across paved roads to access a gas pump so he did not have to carry fuel.. He said, "hey, it's under warranty!" He was an orthopedic surgeon.

I learned a lot through that experience. You can't through books.

Same with the multitude of possible TV, trailers, loads, etc.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by m.hony

so-
How 'bout weight distribution on that new 23' trailer and Jeep Grand Cherokee?
I don't know if we are necessarily trying to achieve 50/50 weight distribution, but be within factory spec the same amount on the front and rear...
You see, a Yugo could tow a 34' Airstream if he knows something about science- using the levels of gravitivity and polarity-

Ummm, I don't think so....a Yugo couldn't pull itself ou of its own way.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by m.hony

so-
How 'bout weight distribution on that new 23' trailer and Jeep Grand Cherokee?
I don't know if we are necessarily trying to achieve 50/50 weight distribution, but be within factory spec the same amount on the front and rear...
You see, a Yugo could tow a 34' Airstream if he knows something about science- using the levels of gravitivity and polarity-

Ummm, I don't think so....a Yugo couldn't pull itself out of its own way.

[dznf0g]

what? how'd that happen?

[m.hony]

Hey, a bicycle pulled an Airstream once upon a time...

[m.hony]

We'll never know-
I haven't seen a Yugo in over 20 years-

[dznf0g]

Yes, and that guy had about twice the HP of a Yugo!

[m.hony]

I reckon so-
His icon is on my awning and on my Zip Dee chairs-

[dznf0g]

Now, if that guy had a chain saw accident......why then we'd have a horse race!

[Larry C]

This probably isn't has not much to do with this thread, but y'all should find it interesting.
Years ago, I worked for Trailer Life Magazine, when Art Rouse, and his family owned and ran it.
Also at that time, Wally Byam, was still alive and building Airstreams. These two were good friends, as Art and his wife, Harriet owned and used a 34' Airstream. T.J. Reese was the original builder of the Reese WD hitch.
It was very difficult to make people understand how WD works, just by explaining it.

These three guys, (and they are all in the RV Hall of Fame) got together, and decided to show people how it worked. Art Rouse bought one of the first Oldsmobile Toronado's, (front wheel drive, with a 455 cubic inch V-8).

Reese supplied the hitch (an early version of the current Dual Cam), Byam supplied the Airstream, and Rouse supplied the TV. A Reese frame receiver was installed on the Toronado, hooked up to the Airstream, then they removed the rear wheels from the Toronado, and drove that rig from Los Angeles, to New York City. My office was in Elkhart, Indiana at the time, they stopped there on the way to New York.

After seeing that, I finally understood how WD worked, and I have used it ever since. By the way, that was in the late 1960's, I was 27 years old at the time.

For whatever it's work, I just thought y'all might be interested in a bit of RVing history.

Larry C

[GCinSC2]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

what? how'd that happen?

Rich,

It was so good, we asked to see it twice.

[SteveSueMac]

I've seen a pic of that, LarryC - great story - thanks!

[J. Morgan]

Fwiw, while posting on a different WD thread I was compelled to go find the weight ticket I got last year while leaving town on my first trip out.

No WD

Steer axle 2,880
Drive axle 2,880
Trailer axles 6100
Total weight 11,860

I didn't remember that the steer and drive were exactly the same, but they were.

The trucks GRWR;

Front 3,950
Rear 3,750

Does this vehicle need WD?

Would it be better to move a couple hundred pounds forward?

I say maybe. Necessary for safety? I don't think so.

But still,,,, I did buy a Hensley last night, so I will play around with it some.