Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-07-2018, 09:22 AM   #41
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,223
Quote:
Originally Posted by KFX450RXC View Post
Here's my thoughts on using air bags with a WD hitch.

When air bags are used to level a load, it really doesn't help with weight distribution. The weights are still almost the same as if without inflating the bags. No outside force is being used to lift the trailer connection; only an inside force being used to lift the truck. So your tongue weight on the hitch and the rear axle weight will remain almost the same.

When a WD hitch is used, picture a forklift being used at the ball connection. That's what the bars are doing. They are trying their best to stay straight; therefore they lift on both the hitch and the trailer tongue. This force comes from the hitch connection and not from either the truck or the trailer. Again, its as if a forklift is helping pick up the connection so now the truck thinks the weight of the trailer tongue is lighter than it really is. Weight is lifted off the rear axle and since the front axle comes back down, front weight is increased back toward its original number.

So let's say you have your set-up with WD but it still sags in the back and the front height is still too high. What do you do? Do you increase the tension on the WD bars which is basically making that forklift pick up even stronger? Or do you increase pressure in your air bags, thus bringing the rear end of the truck higher? If you inflate the bags, the hitch connection rises. But the forklift is not moved. So every millimeter you raise that truck and hitch connection, the assistance from the forklift is reduced. You're leaving the forklift so even though you're increasing the rear height, your rear axle and your truck's hitch are now having the load put right back down on them. In essence, you're taking the WD out of the picture. If you raise the truck height so much that you eliminate the pressure on the WD bars, its the same as if you lifted the truck so high, the forklift is no longer touching the hitch connection.

Long story short, if your WD hitch set-up is not working correctly, you either have it set-up incorrectly or they aren't strong enough.
Very good explanation which should be easy to understand by all. When I was researching a new hitch a couple of years ago both Equal-I-Zer and Blue Ox factory reps told me to set the air bag pressure before settling up the hitch. Gooseneck...set pressure after hooking up the trailer.

FWIW, the Airlift 1000 series installed inside coil springs can only lift the truck about one inch. The 5000 series installed on the frame can lift a lot higher so one can see how that would be a factor based on your explanation. It only takes about 25-30 psi to feel the stability improvement. With a WD hitch that’s all they’re good for unless the springs have weakened and need a little help.
__________________
BIRDS AREN’T REAL
emm-dee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2018, 09:33 AM   #42
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 820
I love air bags. I've had them on two former trucks and when using them for my fifth wheels, they were awesome. But when we had our Work & Play TT, the tongue was about 1500 lbs.

It took me about an hour to fix what the dealer had done setting up my Equalizer and when I was finished, it took the max of eight washers to tilt the head which maxed out the bars. But the tension was so strong, it rode like a Cadillac and no matter how fast any tractor-trailers were driving by, I had zero sway, even at 70 mph.

No air bags at all. I think the biggest problem with WD hitches is dealers in too much of a hurry to set them up properly or just knowing exactly how to do it.
KFX450RXC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2018, 10:27 AM   #43
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnD10 View Post
It must really suck to be the only person here that knows everything about everything...huh?
LOL...Pot meet kettle.
babock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2018, 11:29 AM   #44
Denver To Yuma In 90 Days
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 3,882
Quote:
Originally Posted by KFX450RXC View Post
I think the biggest problem with WD hitches is dealers (are) in too much of a hurry to set them up properly or just (not) knowing exactly how to do it.
That is the fact that I've noticed in my travels.

One of my neighbors where I'm at now are newbies and when they pulled in I saw that they were riding low on the rear end of the truck...even with a WD setup!

We are about 1500 miles from where they are from and this is their first RV adventure and have been on the road for almost two months!

They told me their dealer installed this stuff and told them all they needed to do was hitch-up and go!

And then they proceeded to tell me that it took the both of them to use the pipe/pry bar to attach the WD bars!

Before they unhitched I showed them the proper procedure of cranking up the tongue to take the weight off of the hitch, then use the pipe to undo the chains and remove the WD bars, then lower the tongue enough to undo the ball latch, then raise it up again so they could pull the truck away.

Then I advised them that the same procedure (only backwards) needs to be used when hitching back up!

They were amazed at how easy it was and that their dealer never told them any of this!

JohnD10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2018, 11:36 AM   #45
Denver To Yuma In 90 Days
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 3,882
Quote:
Originally Posted by babock View Post
LOL...Pot meet kettle.
Not really...

At least I don't keep posting the same jab in every single response to everyone I have a differing opinion and/or experiences with.
JohnD10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
airbags

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:03 AM.