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1965 mustang · 09-28-2014, 10:41 AM

With weight distribution, doesn't half that weight get distributed to the trailer? So your 1000# tongue weight would really be 500#?

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aftermath · 09-28-2014, 11:35 AM

[QUOTE=1965 mustang;1517139]With weight distribution, doesn't half that weight get distributed to the trailer? So your 1000# tongue weight would really be 500#?]

As I understand it, no. An expert will chime in soon. What the wd hitch does is distribute the weight to the front wheels while taking some off the back. You are still looking at 1000K.

Am I right? Anyone?

m.hony · 09-28-2014, 12:02 PM

Some, a little- not half of the weight is transferred-
Think of it this way: no weight distribution, the truck and trailer sag in the middle. The weight bars (spring bars, angle) pick it back up to somewhat level. Cat scales will show you exactly how much weight is transferred.

switz · 09-28-2014, 12:02 PM

The theory is less than a third of the tongue weight gets transferred back to the trailer axles. More typically one is lucky to see a couple of hundred pounds with a 1,000pound tongue weight.

In order for that to happen, a loft of twisting torque is applied to the hitch of the truck trying to force the front end lower by moving a part of the downward force vector forward. So the more one cranks the weight distribution hitch, the more one is applying rotational forces to both hitch socket and tow vehicle frame.

This rotational force has been known to cause issues in the tow vehicle rear end like cracked welds or hitch failure on vehicles without frames.

Our 25FB had a 1,175 pound tongue weight camping ready. That was too close to the factory maximum rating of 1,200 pounds on our Dodge 2500HD factory receiver so I cut the factory receiver off and installed a Curt 15049 receiver rated for 2,550 pounds tongue weight and capable of pulling a 17,000 pound trailer.

Before picking up the 25FB from the selling dealership, my ML320 CDI Mercedes had to go to CanAm to have the hitch reworked so it would not twist off with the weight distribution system.

Our Classic has a tongue weight over 1300 pounds, so we are not overloading the Dodge tow vehicle capability.

m.hony · 09-28-2014, 02:16 PM

200# transferred is really good.

BoldAdventure · 09-28-2014, 03:38 PM

Switz I believe you mean Curt 15409 receiver there is no 15049 series.

slowmover · 09-29-2014, 11:49 AM

As a rule of thumb:

A WDH will leave about 75-80% of TW on the rear axle of the TV. From there, the ratio is 2:1 TV front axle versus TT axles.

The short version is that hitching the trailer will lighten the front axle. Adjust the WDH so that the front axle unhitched and hitched weight are the same or close (less than versus more than). Called FALR [Front Axle Load Restoration].

" . . Of course you can influence this number somewhat by distributing your loads properly inside the trailer".

By properly it is meant that loads need to be near the TT axles (and never to the rear of the TT). On them, or within a short distance.

.

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John Moody · 09-30-2014, 01:02 PM

Hi, We have just gone from a 25' FC to a 30'11" FC and tow with a 2008 IForce V8 Crew Max Cab Tundra. We bought from Colonial Airstream and ordered the ProPride Hitch. Amazing......we still don't know the Airstream is back there. Tows like a dream. John

J. Morgan · 09-30-2014, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john d moody

Hi, We have just gone from a 25' FC to a 30'11" FC and tow with a 2008 IForce V8 Crew Max Cab Tundra. We bought from Colonial Airstream and ordered the ProPride Hitch. Amazing......we still don't know the Airstream is back there. Tows like a dream. John

I am with you with the 1/2 ton, articulated hitch and a big trailer... Let us see if everyone concurs....

m.hony · 09-30-2014, 05:55 PM

It's the ProPride that makes it so.
I have a Tundra CrewMax 5.7 pulling a 30' Classic with an Equal-i-zer. It handles fine, but fine tuning is almost impossible.
I can tow easily with good weight distribution and sway control, but my trailer is nose down and it bugs me.

Doc Foster · 10-01-2014, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john d moody

Hi, We have just gone from a 25' FC to a 30'11" FC and tow with a 2008 IForce V8 Crew Max Cab Tundra. We bought from Colonial Airstream and ordered the ProPride Hitch. Amazing......we still don't know the Airstream is back there. Tows like a dream. John

Thanks for the feedback. Will be heading soon to Colonial Airstream to see about trading up to a 27 or most likely a 30 footer.

m.hony · 10-01-2014, 07:46 AM

Go for the 30!
Make it the last trade for a while-

KJRitchie · 10-01-2014, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m.hony

It's the ProPride that makes it so.
I have a Tundra CrewMax 5.7 pulling a 30' Classic with an Equal-i-zer. It handles fine, but fine tuning is almost impossible.
I can tow easily with good weight distribution and sway control, but my trailer is nose down and it bugs me.

I think my Equalizer is the same and the trailer may be slightly nose down as well with my Tundra. Would adding another washer into the head help or with 1000 lb bars are they all ready doing all they can do with 4 washers. Propride and Hensley are heavy compared to an Equalizer so do they reduce the payload even more. I'm not sure most RV repair/dealers would know how to install one correctly in my area.

Kelvin

Doc Foster · 10-01-2014, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m.hony

Go for the 30!
Make it the last trade for a while-

That is what we are thinking!

Doc Foster · 10-06-2014, 11:11 AM

We went ahead and put a down payment on a 30' International Serenity. Will have to wait a couple of weeks as the dealer had to order and then install the window awning package. So about this time next month, will let you know how the Tundra handles the 30 footer, though the 4 hour drive home will have almost no hills to mention. Can't wait!

m.hony · 10-06-2014, 12:37 PM

It will be fine. I drug a 28' travel trailer behind my Tundra 2 1/2 years before I bought the 30' Airstream. I've been dragging the Airstream around for 2 years. 32,000 of my 42,000 miles are towing a camper. We just returned from a 250 mile trip and are going to Texas Saturday.

m.hony · 10-06-2014, 12:39 PM

Go ahead and get a ProPride now.
$45,000 truck
$80,000 trailer
Why not invest in a $2,300 hitch to make it safe, comfortable, enjoyable?
No, I don't work for ProPride...

Gene · 10-06-2014, 02:01 PM

ST tires are not speed rated, but there is a suggestion to not exceed 65 mph. Goodyear says you can go 75 by increasing air pressure in Marathons, but that means a harder ride for the trailer. We don't feel comfortable going over 65, so we don't. We use Michelin LT's on the trailer and the truck. Michelins ride smoother than most other tires, so that is another plus. I believe ST tires are poor quality, don't last long plus they have a history of blow outs; Michelins easily go 60,000 or more miles, so although they are expensive, over time you are ahead.

The Tundra easily pulls our 25 and I don't think a 27 is much different. I'm sure it can pull a 30, but the added weight will wear the engine, transmission and suspension faster. At the price of today's trucks, that would concern me. The Tundra is overbuilt for a half ton, but things wear and you don't know it until it breaks.

Tongue weight as stated by Airstream is unrealistic. And it doesn't count the weight of the propane or a spare tire or stuff loaded into the front of the trailer. A WD hitch transfers approximately 1/3 of the tongue weight to the trailer axles and 1/3 each to each truck axle. We weighed the stuff we bring and got just under the payload for a Double Cab. The Crew Cab has less payload. I was glad to get by because otherwise we would have had to amputate our left legs to reduce weight. Since the Tundra is an automatic, you don't really need your left leg to drive, but it could be a problem to set the emergency brake or walk.

The owner's manual tells you how to weigh the tongue with a household scale and a lever set up, but I've never done it. Take the company weight and add several hundred pounds, divide by 3 and take the number and subtract it from tongue weight to calculate true tongue weight with a WD hitch. Toyota includes a full gas tank when they state payload, so that helps. Some people add an extra leaf or air bags to the suspension, but you still have to consider axles, differential, transmission and engine wear. Put the heaviest stuff forward in the bed to balance weight between front and rear axles. I put the trailer spare in the front of the bed because a 16" tire is hard to get in and out of the tire carrier. This adds maybe 10 lbs. for payload, not enough to worry about.

Gene

m.hony · 10-06-2014, 04:39 PM

You really don't want to go over 65 with your Tundra and a travel trailer.
I tried it once and got 7 mpg.
I went 55 mph home on the same trip and got 10 mpg. That's enough to slow me down.

Doc Foster · 10-06-2014, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m.hony

You really don't want to go over 65 with your Tundra and a travel trailer.
I tried it once and got 7 mpg.
I went 55 mph home on the same trip and got 10 mpg. That's enough to slow me down.

Thanks for the heads up. When I drove from MD to Utah this summer, I would accidentally creep up over 55 to as high as 70. When I realized it, I slowed down. That is how easy the Tundra pulled the 25'.