Why do I need a hitch? Confused.

[crispyboy]

Ibskot,
Like you I tow with a 3/4 ton vehicle - more than enough spring capacity to handle the weight of the trailer. I also tow utility trailers and a bumper pull deck over equipment trailer (#13,000 loaded). You can certainly tow the travel trailer without the weight distribution and I have in a pinch but..........
the weight distribution really helps smooth out the ride, takes out the porpoising on rough roads and keeps restores the appropriate amount of weight to the front axle (important for steering, braking etc...)
The anti-sway portion of a good hitch setup helps to protect you from sudden cross winds caused by nature or passing trucks.
All of these items make for a stress free and safer ride for you and others on the road. It also puts an element of predictability in the vehicle/trailer handling when you are driving along unknown roads.

If you are able I would take back the hitch for now. Wait to purchase the hitch setup until you purchase the trailer to see what you need. It is likely you need the lighter spring bars - depending on the hitch you buy.
Study WHAT equipment others are using and WHY they are using it. When traveling down an interstate watch how other peoples travel trailer and tow vehicle handle passing trucks, rough roads and cross winds. You will then see WHY it is needed.

[tkowalyk]

Originally Posted by Larry C

A WD hitch works exactly the same as a loaded wheelbarrow. You lift up on the handles and it transfers weight to the front wheels. Imagine the bars being the handles.....
Hope this helps

Best ever simple explanation.

[slowmover]

The vehicle manufaturer requirement for WDH has nothing to do with trailer type. A tongue weight of from 350-500# meets the maximum rating for the hitch receiver when WDH is not used. Up to 1,500-lbs of TW when WDH is properly used. (See owners manual and/or hitch receiver manufacturer instructions for actual ratings for your vehicle).

TW is a measurement made under static conditions. But a roadgoing vehicle has exerted on it dynamic forces which increased the TW to thousands of pounds . . a giant hammer striking repeatedly. WDH spreads the TW across three points instead of one, and improves handling (tendency to yaw dimihished), braking (increased weight on trailer axles) and keeps the TV steering to a closer "feel" to the solo vehicle.

As to why others can't be bothered to read an owners manual or hitch receiver sticker is right up there with failing to inspect tires before a trip with the excavator, masonry supplies, etc. And I'd imaging they aren't making 2000-mile trips with those, are they? Or driving in all sorts of weather for extended periods, etc. One might aks those "friends" about the TW of the trailers, and how much weight is removed from the truck steer axle. Some may know . . . but most don't, in my experience.

.

[jdalrymple]

ibskot,


You have asked a question that, as you can see, stirs up a lot of debate.

My ideas are these:

When towing a utility or equipment trailer, one can adjust the load on the trailer forward or back to manage tongue weight. With a little experience, one can "eyeball" the load the trailer is placing on the TV and fairly effectively place the load in the right spot to keep the truck and trailer stable.

I realize this does not transfer any of the load to the front axle of the TV, but it keeps most of the load centered over the trailer's axles and off the the truck entirely.

With RVs, weight is spread all over the place. Yes, we can place any loose items we decide to haul inside the trailer over the wheels. But, the furniture, walls, and such can't be moved to manage tongue weight. For the most part it is what it is.

Most of the equipment trailers towed by bumper hitch are shorter than the RVs we are speaking of. Longer over all length means more distance between the rear axle of the TV and the trailer axles. This can allow more sway, as the trailer is a longer "lever" against the hitch point. Sway control helps manage this.

I would also suggest that RV's are towed in a wider range of conditions. I don't see many backhoes and trailers full of lawn mowers running 65 (or more) mph down the interstate. Most are in less dynamic conditions than found when towing our RVs.

I tow my Airstream with a Reese dual cam system.

I tow my small farm tractor on a 14' utility trailer with nothing but a ball, but carefully centered over the trailer axles.


Regards,

JD