Did I just get lucky?

[rblack22]

I have a 2000 F350 drw, I bought one of those billet forged adjustable hitches to pick up my new 2014 UL275SBS. I have no WDH or anti sway set ups. First tow was fully loaded including the wheeler and genny in the garage but full water tank. The trip started in decent swirling wind so I had some sway. Just before the second tow I put new tires on the front and only full coolers in additional weight in the back. But it pulled like a dream, 65-70 mph one handed, I was pleasantly surprised. Anyways to the point of my post, I had to take the TH to a dealer (not where I bought it) and the service writer was practically aghast that I had no WDH or sway control and said that when they are this big it's practically mandatory and the selling dealer was negligent by letting me tow it away this way. As a first timer am I missing something?

[TURBS]

You need a wdh and sway control. Period.

[TURBS]

When Is Weight Distribution Needed?

You would likely benefit from a weight-distribution system if:


Your trailer weight (GTW) is more than 50 percent of your vehicle's weight (GVWR)
The rear of your tow vehicle sags when the trailer is hooked up
You experience trailer sway
Your tow vehicle headlights point upward
You find it difficult to steer or stop your rig
You want to tow to the highest capacity allowed by your vehicle's trailer hitch setup

[Kaadk]

Yep, you've been lucky.

Just remember, while you've gotten away without one so far all it takes is that one time you did need it for things to go horribly wrong.

[dcheatwood]

Very lucky indeed.

[TURBS]

Ps in some states it may be illegal to NOT have a wdh or sway control.

[MtnGuy]

That trailer has a listed tongue weight of 1305 lbs. !! I am not sure that even an F350 has a hitch rated to support that weight without using a WDH.

The plus side is that when you load up your toys, the tongue weight should come down a bit.

[rblack22]

I reckon the piece of mind is worth the expense but oddly enough it towed better with hardly any weight in the garage. Oh I forgot to mention I also have air bags, so that eliminates potential sag.

[clutchd]

I hear all this about you must have this and you must have that. I think one it depends on the truck doing the towing, the trailer being towed, and the experience of the driver. The biggest limiting factor other than experience is tonque weight for weight distribution. But sway controls, I don't think its always needed

[B and B]

I see the professional delivery drivers towing with no WDH or even a battery through Ontario from the RV Capital of America doing deliveries. Even dry some of the TT and TH and pretty heavy. Makes me wonder sometimes how the trailers actually make it in one piece. When the local delivery guy moved my park model he installed a full hitch for 38 ft 10,000 trailer.

[BigBaron]

I always wondered how the delivery guys move a big TT. A WDH would leave marks on the tongue.
You had a LOT of tongue weight and a very solid TV. That's probably why no sway or control problems. I never had a WDH on any trailer I owned personally or at my construction company. But I always had about 15%-20% tongue weight, too.
Hensley Arrow time!

[thebrakeman]

OP,
You need to read your owner's manual and keep reading on these chat sites to further educate yourself. You have a great truck for pulling a camper, with a stiff suspension that handles the TW, and a lot of weight in itself to counteract any sway that tries to start.

But....
The fact remains that you have a lot of TW placed very far behind the rear axle. No matter how manly your truck is, that is a LOT of leverage, which WILL remove a LOT of weight from the front wheels of the truck. In an emergency situation, which requires you to do some quick steering around an obstacle (etc), without proper front loading, the truck may not respond as it should. And then once it does respond to your steering input, it will not respond quickly to your correction to get back in your own lane. This could quickly get out of control.

You NEED a WDH, not to level your rig, or help you run down the road 1-handed. You need it so that your truck will handle properly in an emergency situation. Like someone else said, yes, you have been lucky.

[rblack22]

Well said, thank you

[036.6turbo]

Well, I guess I'll stir the pot. I'm not going to get into quoting wieghts and capacities, but I will say it is not as cut a dry as some responses have made it seem.

You have a lot of truck, that truck has a BIG footprint on the rear end, where it comes in contact with the road.

The forces required to unsettle your set up, are much greater than a 1/2 truck, or van or any of the SUVs I see pulling a travel trailer.

If I were in your shoes, I would go back to what you said about how it felt while towing. If you were confident that you were 100% control, with your current set-up, then I would not waste money on a WDH.

I have pulled large equipment trailers, open and enclosed race car trailers, most of which out wieght the average travel travel (when cars are loaded) and have never used a WDH on my truck.

I drove my late father's rig from Georgia to Michigan (2500 Chevy conversion van pulling a 28' TT) it had a WDH hitch, and it was stil a white knuckle ride!

Your call, but in my mind, for your set up a WDH is a waste of money.

Just my 2cents, let the flaming begin.

[thebrakeman]

No flaming required. Just friendly conversation.

7600 lbs dry toy-hauler
1300 lbs dry hitch weight
11,400 lbs GVWR (not sure how much toy they will be hauling...call it 10,400 loaded?)
Toy-Hauler TW is going to vary widely based on loading, but most storage is in back. Let's say it stays at 1300 lbs (balanced weight added).

I don't have a Dodge towing guide from that vintage (2000), but I just looked at Ford's 2002 Towing Guide. F350 with WDH was good for up to 12,500 lbs and 1250lbs TW. F350 w/o WDH was 5,000lbs and 500lbs TW. I'm sure Dodge and GM are the same/similar, even today.

Why?

Like I said, it's more than just how it feels when everything is nice and smooth and sunny. The OP may feel great towing the current rig. But have they found an empty stretch of expressway and yanked hard on the steering wheel to see if they can recover? Probably not (and neither would I). 1300 lbs on the ball could easily mean 400 lbs or more removed from the front axle (about 1700 added to the rear axle).

I trust my engineering background and the recommendation of the OEM engineers, and use the equipment specified, especially if I'm that far over the limit (1300 lbs vs 500 lbs).