"How tight is the WDH?"

[FreshAir]

I was asked the question two hours ago, "How tight are you making your WDH?" by the installer of my TV hitch. I took the car into him because my hitch is bending. My TV is a '71 Buick. The hitch was fabricated to span across the underside of the fuel tank with a box channel. The '66 Trade Wind tongue weighed about 650# two weeks ago with full propane and about 25 gals. of water. I use 1000# spring bars. I chose that size because the car weighs 4400# with a long deck and a longer than 'normal' hitch ball shank. When the bars are adjusted they are TIGHT with a little bend in them at the chain. I can't imagine using say 750# bars. That may be too springy. I think my problem is the long distance from the car axle to the trailer hitch. What do you think? 750#s? The hitch fellow is going to beef up my hitch.
Neil

[TomW]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

... What do you think? 750#s? The hitch fellow is going to beef up my hitch.

I think you need the 1000 lb bars for your tow vehicle's suspension.

I also think that beefing up the hitch is the best approach.

Tom

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

I was asked the question two hours ago, "How tight are you making your WDH?" by the installer of my TV hitch. I took the car into him because my hitch is bending. My TV is a '71 Buick. The hitch was fabricated to span across the underside of the fuel tank with a box channel. The '66 Trade Wind tongue weighed about 650# two weeks ago with full propane and about 25 gals. of water. I use 1000# spring bars. I chose that size because the car weighs 4400# with a long deck and a longer than 'normal' hitch ball shank. When the bars are adjusted they are TIGHT with a little bend in them at the chain. I can't imagine using say 750# bars. That may be too springy. I think my problem is the long distance from the car axle to the trailer hitch. What do you think? 750#s? The hitch fellow is going to beef up my hitch.
Neil

The bending of your bars, is good.

That gives the rig some resiliency when hitting bumps, which is a good thing.

It's a "very bad" thing when the bars are hitting the A-frame.

The bars, under stress should be ball park, parallel to the A frame.

To correct the problem, in your case, is simply moving the ball mount so that it's tilted rearward.

Andy

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

The bending of your bars, is good.

That gives the rig some resiliency when hitting bumps, which is a good thing.

It's a "very bad" thing when the bars are hitting the A-frame.

The bars, under stress should be ball park, parallel to the A frame.

To correct the problem, in your case, is simply moving the ball mount so that it's tilted rearward.

Andy

Thanks, Andy. I have since this picture, taken last year, tilted the ball rearward. I then didn't notice the hitch support was bending down across and away from the bottom of the fuel tank. I tightened up one link and was puzzled why I had too. When I noticed that problem at our spring rally I loosen the chain back to where it was orginally. The bar 'looked' in a better position but the weight distribution to the TV front wheels lessened a lot.
Neil.