From safely loading your trailer to selecting the best hitch and tow tools, there’s a lot to be taught while you’re new to towing an RV. However no alternative is extra necessary than figuring out if you happen to 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 be taught the reply and discover out extra crucial details about this necessary towing security accent.
Let’s dive in with a normal clarification of those hitches and their function.
What Is a Weight Distribution Hitch?
The objective 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 could have on the entrance axle, the much less steering and braking response you’ll encounter. That is as a result of 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 principle components of a weight distribution hitch, and their features, are as follows:
- The shank inserts into your tow automobile’s hitch receiver. It provides you a mounting level that may be adjusted up or right down to match your trailer’s top. Shanks are usually accessible in 2”, 2.5”, and three” sizes.
- The top offers 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 can help you connect the spring bars.
Do You Actually Want a Weight Distribution Hitch?
A weight distribution hitch provides you extra stage towing, will increase management, reduces trailer sway, and improves your tow automobile’s effectivity. The spring bars in a weight distribution hitch primarily function a lever. They create upward stress on the automobile, which transfers the load from the rear to the entrance axle.
The necessity for a weight distribution hitch will depend on 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, if you happen to take that very same pop up camper and fix it to a minivan, you may very nicely want one.
The automobile producer will usually specify if or when a weight distribution system needs to be used. It normally comes right down to the burden of the trailer. You’ll additionally want to make sure you need to use a weight distribution system, as some producers don’t permit them as a result of extra stress it has on the body. Virtually all vans can use one, however you’ll must analysis when towing with a van or SUV as a result of unibody building.
You need to use this easy rule if you happen to’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 consequences simply gained’t be as noticeable.
Study find out how to alter a weight distribution hitch for stage, environment friendly towing.
How To Select a Weight Distribution Hitch
Weight distribution hitches aren’t appropriate with all tow automobiles and trailers. Right here’s find out how to discover the appropriate hitch for you:
Trailer Tongue Weight
A very powerful consideration when choosing a weight distribution system is trailer tongue weight, often known as “hitch weight.” That is the precise weight the system is liable for transferring, so it’s necessary to decide on one rated appropriately in your trailer.
Opposite to standard perception, the precise gross weight of the trailer has little to do with choosing a weight distribution system. You have to discover your loaded tongue weight to get the proper 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 search out this, or you possibly can go to a business truck scale.
Please word that producers’ hitch weight rankings assume the trailer is empty, so that they alone can’t be used to search 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 ranking (GVWR) and no decrease than 10%.
Hitch Sorts
There are lots of totally different sorts of hitches. Many 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 range 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 supply much less floor clearance. Attributable to this, they’re extra reserved for vans, which sit greater off the bottom. Some SUVs can use spherical spring bars, however van house owners will need to keep away from this model.
Trunnion bar hitches are a extra premium choice, providing higher floor clearance. They can be utilized with nearly 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 an extra level of sway management. Due to this fact, they’ll do a significantly better job of serving to hold the trailer in line. They’re additionally thought-about simpler to make use of because you’ll use the tongue jack to set the spring bar pressure, whereas most chain-style methods use snap-up brackets, which might be harmful and onerous to make use of.
Hitch Ranking
The hitch receiver in your tow automobile is rated for a particular towing capability. Right here’s a normal 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 really supply two distinct rankings – one for towing with a weight distribution hitch and one for towing with out. Generally, the ranking for towing with a weight distribution hitch is barely greater – normally by a couple of hundred kilos.
Nonetheless, putting in a weight distribution hitch is not going to change the towing capacities of any inventory element put in in your truck, together with the truck itself.
Technician Tip: When selecting a weight distribution hitch, guarantee it’s appropriate along with your automobile producer’s advice. It’s best to by no means exceed the burden capability of your tow system’s lowest-rated element.
Picks for The Finest Weight Distribution Hitch Fashions
Now that you recognize you actually do want a weight distribution hitch, listed below are a couple of of our favourite fashions:
Trailer Life Chain-Model Weight Distribution Hitch
| Ball Dimension | Gross Trailer Weight (Lbs.) | Tongue Weight (Lbs.) |
| 2-5/16” | 10,000 | 1,000 |
The final word cost-effective choice for these on a finances, this Trailer Life system options bolt-on snap-up body brackets for simple 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 Dimension | Gross Trailer Weight (Lbs.) | Tongue Weight (Lbs.) |
| 2-5/16” | 8,000 – 10,000 | 800 – 1,000 |
Try this round-bar system if you’d like the right compromise between sway management and value. Provided in 8,000 and 10,000 lb capacities, there’s certain to be a Trailer Life weight distribution for you. It’s designed for vans and SUVs.
Trailer Life Trunnion Bar Weight Distribution Trailer Hitch
| Ball Dimension | 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 very best all-around choice with efficiency, price, 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 Dimension | Gross Trailer Weight (Lbs.) | Tongue Weight (Lbs.) |
| 2-5/16” | 14,000 | 1,400 |
Andersen Hitches makes an ideal WDH for bigger journey trailers. The two” shank has a pre-installed hitch ball that doubles as an ordinary ball mount for towing with out weight distribution.
It additionally options quite a lot of bracket sizes (3”, 4”, 5”, and 6”) and works with A-frame, V-frame, and Y-frame journey trailers. As an alternative of conventional sway bars, the system makes use of interconnected chains to dampen movement and cut back trailer sway and bounce.
Honorable Mentions
Now that you recognize every little thing it’s worthwhile to learn about weight distribution hitches, listed below are a couple of extra assets that will help you tow your trailer safely:
What else do you need to learn about weight distribution hitches? Tell us within the feedback beneath.
