WD hitch vs airbags

[Hein]

Watched the video. Good information. But the reason the weight on the rear axle went up with the air bags inflated is that the trailer was no longer level. With the tongue raised there was a load reduction on the front trailer axle which increased tongue weight. Dropping the hitch ball so the trailer was level likely would have corrected that. That would have made the axle loading on the pickup the same as with air bags deflated.

Take away would be to have any multi-axle trailer level during towing so load is equally distributed on it's axles.

Still good information regarding difference between the bags and equalizer.


All the best,
Hein
DIYvan

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

^
X2

Aftermarket AB's and AirSafe's, are poor choice 'fix's'.

Bob
🇺🇸

Nobody else mentioned anything remotely close to Airsafes in this thread. Airsafes are a type of hitch ,that can be used with a WD hitch. They are mainly to reduce bumps/shocks from a stiff suspention TV going to TT. How are they a poor choice?

[RxDiesel]

Thanks for the helpful posts, guys, particularly the video link. That said, lots of airbags comments, but not much on the enhanced bump stops: Timbren or Sumo. I understand they only engage under load - which, as the video explains well, is redistributed with a WD hitch to the front and trailer. I see the attraction of airbags for 'level', but any thoughts on the Timbren/Sumo bumpstops, a relatively inexpensive [if you install yourself] add on to address leveling for a heavy load on the rear axle ......?

[pteck]

Originally Posted by RxDiesel

Thanks for the helpful posts, guys, particularly the video link. That said, lots of airbags comments, but not much on the enhanced bump stops: Timbren or Sumo. I understand they only engage under load - which, as the video explains well, is redistributed with a WD hitch to the front and trailer. I see the attraction of airbags for 'level', but any thoughts on the Timbren/Sumo bumpstops, a relatively inexpensive [if you install yourself] add on to address leveling for a heavy load on the rear axle ......?

Given the choice between airbags and enhanced bump stops, airbags are the better solution for 2 reasons

1) Airbags are engaged through 90% of the suspension travel
2) Their augmentation of spring rate can be adjusted for load

Bump stops are just that, meant more for off-road type use where they serve as a jounce stop to prevent harsh bottoming out. They only engage through the compressed portion of the suspension travel under normal ride height, more like an overload spring. Not adjustable and if setup for towing for example, may not be ideal for unladen use as it will limit useful suspension travel and comfort. Yes, these are enhanced ones trying to grab some of the towing market, but their utility is probably still more useful for the heavily laden overland/off-road crowd.