Are ALL WD Hitches Adequate?

[Sean Woodruff]

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

I really wish there were a way to test them all. Like 10 setups with the same exact TV and TT but with different hitches. Say a closed test course with certain turns, obstacles, braking requirements, etc. You could drive every one of them knowing the only*** difference is the hitch and then decide. But that's not going to happen.

I have offered to get this independent testing done a number of times. It all falls on deaf ears. I can't get even one other hitch manufacturer to step up and contribute financially to the testing and the reporting. If I pay for it alone everyone will say it is biased. We all need to contribute.

[LFC]

Originally Posted by Birdmaestro

@Michael - I have a Blue Ox because it came with the trailer. I've only towed with it for a 1,000 miles but it seemed to do OK in a variety of conditions. I don't have an emotional involvement with it yet.

Poppy

I think it takes spending 2 grande on a hitch to cause an emotional involvement

[ghaynes755]

LFC it only seems to take a few hundred dollars based on my readings of the Andersen hitch on multiple threads... Robert nailed it. You will like what you have until it fails to perform and then you won't. Hopefully it won't be an expensive educational moment.

Since I am new and learning I am still looking for the thread arguing over whether to grease or not grease the ball, or if the Andersen no grease is the best...

[John&Vicki]

Originally Posted by Sean Woodruff

I have offered to get this independent testing done a number of times. It all falls on deaf ears. I can't get even one other hitch manufacturer to step up and contribute financially to the testing and the reporting. If I pay for it alone everyone will say it is biased. We all need to contribute.

Seems like this would be an excellent product line for testing by Consumers Reports. There are millions of trailers on the road and hitches are a vital item. You might consider sending them a proposal.

Poppy

[LFC]

Originally Posted by ghaynes755

LFC it only seems to take a few hundred dollars based on my readings of the Andersen hitch on multiple threads...

The 3 Weight Distribution hitches I've owned all functioned flawlessly....All for $300 or less.

I'm so emotionally attached to mine (don't tell her) but honestly I'm ashamed to say I couldn't tell you her name without going outside and looking....

I do recall my current luv has long sleek 800 lb legs that I chain her to the Airstream with when sitting atop her well lubed 10 or 12,000 lb ball.

If I'm running the interstate at 70 plus I might even strap on her sway bar just to keep her from straying when I blow by those big rigs.

[louaxtjr]

Some great points, but IMO it all comes down to the individual and circumstance. If you are towing a smaller (lighter) trailer and pay attention to how it is loaded and balanced, and the same with an adequate tow vehicle, there may be a number of WD hitches that really are overkill, especially if you are an experienced and cautious driver. However, as you near the capacities of the trailer and/or tow vehicle the weight distribution of your AS/TV becomes more and more critical.

Towing my old 800 lb canned ham made no noticeable difference in handling and very little difference in braking when hooked to my 1/2 ton with suspension upgrades. The same cannot be said of my current AS. The basic WD and anti-sway hitch I have makes a difference I can feel, especially at highway speeds. It also allows me to carry more load in the trailer safely.

I do not believe there is a "best for everyone" answer, hence the ongoing debate. Frankly, I was more concerned with the "best I could afford" as a any of the very high end hitches would have priced me out of some other upgrades I needed to do to the AS prior to departing as a full timer.

My suggestion would be to recognize that there may not be one simple answer and do your own research based on personal preferences, situation and budget. Then ask a multiple choice question when you have whittled it down to a few options. The open-ended questions stir an endless debate without any real conclusions, other than that there are many passionate people with Airstreams!

By the way, I have a name brand factory "rebuilt" hitch that cost less than a third of new. The box had been opened, but I couldn't tell the thing had ever been used before. Maybe it was just a return. The WD and built-in anti sway have performed flawlessly.

[John&Vicki]

Thank you Lou. Your post is consistent with the intended spirit of this thread. It was not intended to be a sniping platform and many thanks to the moderators for keeping it clean.

The title of the thread is perhaps too over- arching given the many variables involved in towing: type of TV; size and weight of TT; conditions towed under; margin of safety required for peace of mind; etc. But I really like Sean's idea of comparative testing under controlled conditions. Thinking I might run it by Consumer Reports myself. They couldn't cover all of the combinations, but they could test using median equipment and conditions.

Poppy

[dkottum]

No. Not all weight distributions hitches are adequate, and it's hard to mention brands without an uproar of resentment. We use them for safety and towing comfort.

First look for a tried and true hitch that can evenly distribute the weight of your trailer tongue for a smooth ride and sure-footed steering under adverse conditions such as a combination of heavy cross-wind, large trucks passing, and slick road surface. Not all of them pass this test.

Then look for sway control for additional safety. This could be a separate sway control bar(s), built-in sway control, or the Hensley-style that eliminate the possibility of sway.

Your personal level of safety may be determined by the type of tow vehicle you use, the type of traffic and roadways you typically travel on, and the amount of Airstream towing you do.

[Skater]

Whatever brand you buy, make sure it's set up correctly. I think THAT is the single most important factor in hitches.

[John&Vicki]

Thank you Doug for the unambiguous No. I suspect you're right. It sure is hard for newbies like me to figure out which ones don't measure up though. I really have done a lot of homework reading probably hundreds of posts about hitches here. But because it's such an emotional issue for some it's really difficult to glean solid empirical information.

I'm pretty convinced that I can buy one of the high-end hitches such as the ProPride and not have any further concern about performance or service. But the Airstreaming part of my life has its own budgetary constraints and there are gobs of goodies I'd like to have in this great new world and I want to get as much mileage out of my budget as possible.

Poppy

[AWCHIEF]

I am very happy that I was able to find the most suitable WD system for my trailer and TV combination the first time around. It meets all the requirements of a proper and effective weight distribution and sway control system all in one cost effective, light weight, quite and clean package.

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

I am very happy that I was able to find the most suitable WD system for my trailer and TV combination the first time around. It meets all the requirements of a proper and effective weight distribution and sway control system all in one cost effective, light weight, quite and clean package.

Yes but it's weight distribution is inadequate on anything but tiny trailers like yours. Or you don't think you need full weight distribution. Go to the Andersen threads to argue further, and to see other issues with this device.

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by dkottum

Yes but it's weight distribution is inadequate on anything but tiny trailers like yours. Or you don't think you need full weight distribution. Go to the Andersen threads to argue further, and to see other issues with this device.

I am not the one trying to start an argument. Only stating satisfaction with my purchase as many others have done. I no longer have any issues, it works as advertised to my requirements. I am happy for anyone that can say the same with their choice of towing equipment.

[HowieE]

Poppy

What are you towing with? The combination may limit your choices.

[John&Vicki]

My TV is a 2006 MB ML500 and the hitch is a Blue Ox. As I mentioned, I have only towed a 1,000 miles with this setup, but it was under a wide range of conditions, including cross winds and semis rolling by, by everything felt stable.

Poppy

[AWCHIEF]

Poppy this past week I got a chance to check out the new Blue Ox. Simply put if I was in need of a new WD system that is what I would strongly consider. Excellent design and construction. I talked with a couple of users and they were both very happy with their choices. Both were former Hensley users. They sighted several issues why they changed but both said the primary issue was the weight of the system. With increased age they needed systems that were not so hard on the back. This was at the local Airstream dealership and they were having their trailers serviced in the shop.

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

Poppy this past week I got a chance to check out the new Blue Ox. Simply put if I was in need of a new WD system that is what I would strongly consider. Excellent design and construction. I talked with a couple of users and they were both very happy with their choices. Both were former Hensley users. They sighted several issues why they changed but both said the primary issue was the weight of the system. With increased age they needed systems that were not so hard on the back. This was at the local Airstream dealership and they were having their trailers serviced in the shop.

Michael, hard to imagine they dumped their Hensleys because it was too hard on their back. Once installed on the tongue, it stays there. All that's left is the stinger, and you don't even have to lift that, just pull a head a few inches, unfasten it from the receiver, and slip it back into the Hensley.

So how can that be?

[AWCHIEF]

Not sure what your agenda is in continuing to questioning my post, but I am just reporting what I was told by actual users. As I have never used the Hensley system I can not make a personal observation as to the truth of your statement. People have different perceptions of the facts as they see them. I can only assume that is why they told me what they did.

[rmkrum]

Initially, I hauled our rig with a standard WD hitch with lever-type bar tensioners. I think it was made by Huskey, but don't quote me on that. It's sitting in the junk pile back home.

Spent a lot of time reading the intense (near-religious) debates in the forums about the capabilities and costs and characteristics of too many brands and styles of hitches.

Finally decided to go with a Hensley-style hitch in the interest of maximum safety because admittedly, my TV is a little light for the trailer and I don't like emergency after-action clean-ups. I looked into both Hensley manufacturing and ProPride for cost, availability, and installation ease. I finally determined that the 1000 pound ProPride was the best deal.

Yes, it was heavy, but a 66 year-old software engineer and an 18 year-old daughter can easily install one in a few hours.

As far as towing and maneuvering go, here are my impressions.

Turning and backing are a little different than with a standard ball hitch. the trailer tends to track inside on turns more than usual setups. I do regularly take advantage of the fact that the setup can turn sharper with the right positioning into a turn. Backing is a bit easier once you figure out that the length of the whole setup is about 2 feet longer.

Towing is where the hitch really shines--it is smooth and not at all twitchy on the road. Big rigs passing cause a pull on the whole rig parallel to the direction of travel, but no rear-steering effects I felt with the conventional hitch. My only issue towing is a lack of power in some situations--but I knew that was going to be an issue.

Panic stops are where the sway prevention really shines. I have had to literally put BOTH feet on the brakes in heavy traffic to get the rig to stop because of idiot drivers ahead of me. The trailer STAYS in line, does not pull to either side, and all I have to do is get it stopped--no corrective steering or anything like that. Traveling in wind, at speed limits, and up and downhill is also solidly comfortable. Since we have put almost 10, 000 miles and about 5 panic stops on this hitch so far, I am sold on the solid sway-prevention technology built into it.

I personally prefer the quality of construction and the great support from ProPride both before and after the sale. I did not like some of Hensley Manufacturing's high-pressure sales tactics. That is all I will say about that subject.

In any case, for my situation, which includes wife, daughter and 4 dogs aboard when traveling, I like the safety and comfort the Hensley hitch design provides.

[John&Vicki]

I was curious to find out more about my Blue Ox WD hitch that is seldom mentioned on this forum and I did a bit of looking around to see what the buzz is. Mostly positive comments so far:

Blue Ox Sway Pro or Reese Dual Cam - Forest River Forums

Blue Ox SwayPro Weight Distribution System w Sway Control - Trunnion - 10,000 lbs GTW, 1,000 lbs TW Blue Ox Weight Distribution BXW1000

Trailer Life Magazine Open Roads Forum: Good and Bad about Blue Ox Sway Pro

As I mentioned previously, the Blue Ox came along with the trailer so I'm not invested in it. Nice to see that it might be OK though.

Might be interesting if those who own other hitches post some review links of their hitches. This thread could become a pretty good resource.

Poppy