Towing with and without a weight distribution hitch

Good morning everyone,

I am wondering if using a weight distribution hitch for a travel trailer makes any difference in stability, safety and towing capacity?

Thank you

 

How big is this trailer?

 

Absolutely

 

Don't have one yet but planning on a travel trailer around 5000-6000 lbs fully loaded

 

HUGE DIFFERENCE! I tow a Grand Design 17MKE at about 5,100 lbs.

 

for sure!

 

Stability and safety - Yes

Towing Capacity - Hard No.

 

^^- Agree with this.

 

I use my WDH with a sway bar every time I tow my travel trailer. Its only 3200ish dry and 23 feet, but they make a huge difference. I don't think I'd tow it without them. Doesn't add any towing capacity but diffidently adds alot of safety and stability.

 

Good point!
I glossed over the capacity part

 

Don't remember where exactly I read this, but I distinctly remember reading a couple of articles that stated if you are towing anything above 3,000 lbs loaded you should be using a WDH. I'm sure others can verify whether this is actually true or I was having a senior moment.

 

Rule of thumb I always heard was anything above 60% of capacity it's strongly recommended to run a WDH. For the Tacoma, that's a gross trailer weight of 4000 lbs. So essentially, any camper that has a dry weight of 3000-ish or greater should have one.

I would go one step further and say that any (non-folding) camper, due to their low density and high wind profile, needs sway control. And if you're going through the extra steps of hooking up a sway bar, you might as well just get a WDH.

 

Please do not forget the weight of the WDH will be part of the cargo weight on the truck.

 

When I was towing a 32 footer with a 3/4 ton Suburban, I used a dual cam Draw-Tite. It provide weight distribution as well as anti-sway control and a plus was you could backup with it fully connected. Some anti-sway device require you to disconnect them when backing.

 

Get an Andersen - they are super light (relative to the other options).

 

Believe it or not, the Tacoma's owners manual has a section on towing and explains VERY clearly the requirements (even gives math examples) of how to setup your Tacoma for towing ;-)

 

Is the WDH required for trucks with airbags?

 

What is this "Owners' Manual" you speak of?

 

Yes. I wouldn't even think of going over 4500lbs without one.

 

yep. a WDH is much more effective at distributing the load than bags. bags dont negate the need for a WDH when youre towing "heavy" (heavy being relative to the trucks tow capacity)