Will a distributing hitch take away some tonge weight or does it just level everything?
A proper rated load equalizing hitch, properly installed, and properly adjusted, will transfer 1/3 of the tongue weight back to the trailer axle/axles, and 2/3 to the tow vehicle.
If everything is correct, 1/4 of the 2/3 will be transfered to each tow vehicle wheel.
Assuming a 900 pound tongue weight, 300 pounds goes back the the axle/axles, and 600 pounds goes to the tow vehicle, of which 150 pounds goes to each wheel.
Andy's statements are correct, for some tow vehicles.
Quote:
If everything is correct, 1/4 of the 2/3 will be transfered to each tow vehicle wheel.
However for a truck, most manufacturers specify that the rear axle carry all of the tongue weight (it's in the vehicle owner's manual). So, that given and the WD hitch adjusted correctly, there would be no added weight on the front axle of a truck when the trailer is attached and the WD hitch adjusted correctly, but there would also be no weight reducton on the front axle either.
I guess the manufacturer of that particular truck thinks the weight should be on the back wheels. I do not know where they got that opinion. W/D systems can not accomplish what they are saying. It is a engineering fact. If you follow Reese and other manufacturers suggestions the portion of the tongue weight that will be redistribute will fall approximately equally between the front and rear wheels of the truck. This gives a little more downward force on the front wheels which help you steer the truck better and decreases the downward force on the rear wheel that would have occurred if you did not use a W/d hitch. To more easily understand it:take the example to the extreme to recognize the ill effects. If a very heavy trailer were put on the hitch ball and the lever arm between the wheels and the overhung hitch ball thereby lifted the front wheels off the ground. Would that be bad?
Weight-Distributing Hitches and Weight Carrying Hitches:
"When using a weight-distributing hitch, the hitch must be adjusted so the distance (front wheel fender opening to ground) remains the same both before and after coupling the trailer to the tow vehicle."
This clearly indicates the manufacturer does not want added tongue weight to be applied to the front axle of the truck, and coincides with instructions illustrated elsewhere in the owners manual about the loading of the truck needing to be directly above the rear axle.
This has been discussed several times before, and trucks are built to carry loads differently than passenger vehicles.
Weight-Distributing Hitches and Weight Carrying Hitches:
"When using a weight-distributing hitch, the hitch must be adjusted so the distance (front wheel fender opening to ground) remains the same both before and after coupling the trailer to the tow vehicle."
Am I rong?
I read that statement as.....
Adjust your bars. If you don't, you won't have enough steering weight.
Adjust your bars. If you don't, you won't have enough steering weight.
palin & smilpe
What it means is, adjust the bars so you have the same weight on the front axle after hitching the trailer, as you had before hitching the trailer. Or, you could say, the vehicle manufacturer wants all the tongue weight to be carried by the rear axle, and none by the front axle, the same as they specify for all loads in the truck. i.e., the weight should be carried by the rear axle.
What it means is, adjust the bars so you have the same weight on the front axle after hitching the trailer, as you had before hitching the trailer. Or, you could say, the vehicle manufacturer wants all the tongue weight to be carried by the rear axle, and none by the front axle, the same as they specify for all loads in the truck. i.e., the weight should be carried by the rear axle.
Wrong.
If what you say is the case, what good are the torsion bars?
Weight-Distributing Hitches and Weight Carrying Hitches:
"When using a weight-distributing hitch, the hitch must be adjusted so the distance (front wheel fender opening to ground) remains the same both before and after coupling the trailer to the tow vehicle."
This clearly indicates the manufacturer does not want added tongue weight to be applied to the front axle of the truck, and coincides with instructions illustrated elsewhere in the owners manual about the loading of the truck needing to be directly above the rear axle.
This has been discussed several times before, and trucks are built to carry loads differently than passenger vehicles.
Andy, As you have stated in the past one rule does not apply for every W/D setup. SteveH is simply stating what his manual says. This works for SteveH and in his point of view is not "wrong".
Without W/D bars he can not make sure the "distance (front wheel fender opening to ground) remains the same both before and after coupling the trailer to the tow vehicle."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In
Wrong.
If what you say is the case, what good are the torsion bars?
. . . To more easily understand it:take the example to the extreme to recognize the ill effects. If a very heavy trailer were put on the hitch ball and the lever arm between the wheels and the overhung hitch ball thereby lifted the front wheels off the ground. Would that be bad?
When I read Steve's post, I understood it to mean that the lever arm would reduce the weight on the front axle, and the WD hitch should be set to restore that weight to it's previous load. I don't see anything wrong with that.
If the tongue weight is 800 lbs, it will show up as about 1100 lbs on the rear axle and -300 lbs on the front. Using the WD bars to adjust it to 650 lbs on the rear and netzero on the front just make good sense. For a truck.
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