From safely loading your trailer to choosing the proper hitch and tow gear, there’s a lot to study once you’re new to towing an RV. However no selection is extra vital than figuring out in case you want a weight distribution hitch (WDH). In case you’re a brand new or aspiring RV proprietor at the moment asking your self, “Do I really want a weight distribution hitch?”, you’re within the excellent place to study the reply and discover out extra crucial details about this vital towing security accent.
Let’s dive in with a common clarification of those hitches and their goal.
What Is a Weight Distribution Hitch?
The purpose of a weight distribution hitch is to switch weight from the tow automobile’s rear axle to the entrance when hooked as much as a trailer. This will increase stopping energy and steering responsiveness, decreases trailer sway, and improves total stability.
Not utilizing one locations extra weight on the rear axle, which lifts the entrance finish greater. The much less weight you’ve on the entrance axle, the much less steering and braking response you’ll encounter. That is because of the majority of those attributes coming from the entrance finish of the automobile.
A weight distribution hitch additionally serves because the connection level between your tow automobile and your towable camper. The primary elements of a weight distribution hitch, and their features, are as follows:
- The shank inserts into your tow automobile’s hitch receiver. It offers you a mounting level that may be adjusted up or right down to match your trailer’s top. Shanks are sometimes obtainable in 2”, 2.5”, and three” sizes.
- The top supplies the connection between the shank and the spring bars.
- The hitch ball serves because the bodily connection between the automobile and the trailer. It’s secured to the hitch head and is obtainable in three sizes: 1-⅞”, 2”, and 2-5/16”.
- Spring bars switch the load from the trailer to the automobile.
- Body brackets mount to the trailer by way of bolting or drilling and will let you connect the spring bars.
Do You Actually Want a Weight Distribution Hitch?
A weight distribution hitch offers you extra degree towing, will increase management, reduces trailer sway, and improves your tow automobile’s effectivity. The spring bars in a weight distribution hitch basically function a lever. They create upward strain on the automobile, which transfers the load from the rear to the entrance axle.
The necessity for a weight distribution hitch is determined by the burden of the trailer in relation to the burden of the tow automobile. For instance, a ¾-ton truck towing a small pop up camper would possible not want a weight distribution system. Nonetheless, in case you take that very same pop up camper and connect it to a minivan, you may very nicely want one.
The automobile producer will typically specify if or when a weight distribution system needs to be used. It often comes right down to the burden of the trailer. You’ll additionally want to make sure you should utilize a weight distribution system, as some producers don’t enable them because of the further stress it has on the body. Nearly all vehicles can use one, however you’ll must analysis when towing with a van or SUV because of the unibody development.
You need to use this easy rule in case you’re nonetheless not sure and the producer doesn’t specify:
If the trailer’s loaded weight is over half the automobile’s weight, a weight distribution system is beneficial. If it isn’t over half, you possibly can nonetheless use one; the results simply received’t be as noticeable.
Be taught easy methods to modify a weight distribution hitch for degree, environment friendly towing.
How To Select a Weight Distribution Hitch
Weight distribution hitches aren’t suitable with all tow autos and trailers. Right here’s easy methods to discover the correct hitch for you:
Trailer Tongue Weight
A very powerful consideration when deciding on a weight distribution system is trailer tongue weight, also called “hitch weight.” That is the precise weight the system is answerable for transferring, so it’s vital to decide on one rated appropriately to your trailer.
Opposite to common perception, the precise gross weight of the trailer has little to do with deciding on a weight distribution system. You need to discover your loaded tongue weight to get the right system. The loaded tongue weight is how a lot the trailer’s tongue weighs loaded and able to roll. Tongue weight scales can be utilized to seek out this, or you possibly can go to a business truck scale.
Please observe that producers’ hitch weight rankings assume the trailer is empty, so that they alone can’t be used to seek out the true tongue weight. In case you’re unable to weigh the tongue with a scale, a superb rule to comply with is to verify the system is rated no greater than 15% of the trailer’s gross automobile weight score (GVWR) and no decrease than 10%.
Hitch Sorts
There are various totally different sorts of hitches. A lot of the variations come from the spring bars. Some connect to the trailer body with chains, whereas others use L-brackets. The form of the bar may also fluctuate from spherical to trunnion. Let’s go over this and when to make use of one over the opposite.
Spherical bar hitches are more cost effective however provide much less floor clearance. As a result of this, they’re extra reserved for vehicles, which sit greater off the bottom. Some SUVs can use spherical spring bars, however van house owners will wish to keep away from this model.
Trunnion bar hitches are a extra premium choice, providing higher floor clearance. They can be utilized with virtually any automobile, a significantly better choice for vans and SUV’s than spherical spring bars.
Evaluating Weight Distribution Chains and L-Brackets
One main benefit L-brackets have over chains is a further level of sway management. Due to this fact, they’ll do a significantly better job of serving to preserve the trailer in line. They’re additionally thought of simpler to make use of because you’ll use the tongue jack to set the spring bar pressure, whereas most chain-style programs use snap-up brackets, which could be harmful and onerous to make use of.
Hitch Ranking
The hitch receiver in your tow automobile is rated for a selected towing capability. Right here’s a common breakdown:
| Hitch Sort | Tow Ranking |
| Class I | As much as 2,000 kilos |
| Class II | As much as 3.500 kilos |
| Class III | As much as 5,000 kilos |
| Class IV | As much as 10,000 kilos |
| Class V | As much as 20,000 kilos |
Be aware that the majority hitch receivers truly provide two distinct rankings – one for towing with a weight distribution hitch and one for towing with out. Typically, the score for towing with a weight distribution hitch is barely greater – often by a couple of hundred kilos.
Nonetheless, putting in a weight distribution hitch won’t change the towing capacities of any inventory part put in in your truck, together with the truck itself.
Technician Tip: When selecting a weight distribution hitch, guarantee it’s suitable together with your automobile producer’s suggestion. It’s best to by no means exceed the burden capability of your tow system’s lowest-rated part.
Picks for The Greatest Weight Distribution Hitch Fashions
Now that you actually do want a weight distribution hitch, listed below are a couple of of our favourite fashions:
Trailer Life Chain-Type Weight Distribution Hitch
| Ball Measurement | Gross Trailer Weight (Lbs.) | Tongue Weight (Lbs.) |
| 2-5/16” | 10,000 | 1,000 |
The last word cost-effective choice for these on a finances, this Trailer Life system options bolt-on snap-up body brackets for straightforward set up. The pre-installed hitch ball means such particular sockets or torque wrenches usually are not required to get arrange and go.
Trailer Life Spherical Bar Weight Distribution Trailer Hitch
| Ball Measurement | Gross Trailer Weight (Lbs.) | Tongue Weight (Lbs.) |
| 2-5/16” | 8,000 – 10,000 | 800 – 1,000 |
Try this round-bar system in order for you the right compromise between sway management and value. Provided in 8,000 and 10,000 lb capacities, there’s positive to be a Trailer Life weight distribution for you. It’s designed for vehicles and SUVs.
Trailer Life Trunnion Bar Weight Distribution Trailer Hitch
| Ball Measurement | Gross Trailer Weight (Lbs.) | Tongue Weight (Lbs.) |
| 2-5/16” | 6,000 – 12,000 | 600 – 1,200 |
This trunnion bar Trailer Life system is the perfect all-around choice with efficiency, value, and floor clearance in thoughts. The bolt-on body brackets guarantee no drilling is required. Provided in 6K, 8K, 10K, and 12K capacities.
Andersen Hitches Weight Distribution Hitch
| Ball Measurement | Gross Trailer Weight (Lbs.) | Tongue Weight (Lbs.) |
| 2-5/16” | 14,000 | 1,400 |
Andersen Hitches makes a fantastic WDH for bigger journey trailers. The two” shank has a pre-installed hitch ball that doubles as a typical ball mount for towing with out weight distribution.
It additionally options a wide range of bracket sizes (3”, 4”, 5”, and 6”) and works with A-frame, V-frame, and Y-frame journey trailers. As a substitute of conventional sway bars, the system makes use of interconnected chains to dampen movement and scale back trailer sway and bounce.
Honorable Mentions
Now that every part it’s essential to find out about weight distribution hitches, listed below are a couple of extra sources that will help you tow your trailer safely:
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