3/4 Ton Pickup: WDH?

[Big1]

If it over the weight of 5000 lbs I would still use a WDH but that's me.

[EdnKat]

Originally Posted by cmac7203

I have a 3/4 ton pickup that drops 1/4" when hooked up to my TT (weighs 5,600 lb loaded with full water tank). Is WDH really necessary?

It doesn't matter what you drive / pull with, a WDH, and sway control, will not do you wrong.

[Hugeez]

Originally Posted by ronheater70

I just went from a 1/2 ton to a new 3/4 ton..I kept everything from the 1/2 ton setup and moved it to my 3/4 ton, including the anti-sway.. Maybe it wasn't needed But I had it, so I used it..

My squat was a little more than yours, about 3/4 of an inch.

X2

[hankpac]

How does that saying go: "Better to have 'em and not need 'em, than to need 'em and not have 'em"

[vp22er]

Don't even what to think about a blow out, without my " Equalizer"

[JohnNJean]

I have a 2016 F250 with the camper package, 3209 payload. No problem to pull a 16' TT, right? I measured the height of the body, front and back, the first time I hooked up the TT and there was less then .5 inch change front or back so who needs to tension the WDH bars. That thing worked me to death trying to keep it on the road. Even a passing car blew me around. I ran it across the CAT scale and it had unloaded the front axle nearly the full amount of the hitch weight. I set up the hitch to put some weight back on the front axle and it made all the difference in the world.
The CAT scales are a much better way to set up your hitch than measuring the body height.

[BigLou80]

Originally Posted by cmac7203

I have a 3/4 ton pickup that drops 1/4" when hooked up to my TT (weighs 5,600 lb loaded with full water tank). Is WDH really necessary?

IMO not at all. I've never had one and probably never will, I know I stand alone when saying this.

I've had two 2500HD( still have one actually) and a 3500HD ( also have) and have towed upwards of 14,000 LBS on a bumper draw that had so much tongue weight it twisted the factory hitch off my 2500HD (so lets assume over 1,000 lbs) with no issue. Yes the truck squats ( but not a lot) yes it's made to do that, no it's not a safety concern unless you don't know how to tow and want to run like it's a sports car when loaded.

IF you have to fight the sway or bumps ( bucking) that hard you either need new shocks on the TV, need to adjust your coupler height for a more level riding trailer or you need to adjust the loads in your trailer.

[cmac7203]

Originally Posted by ronheater70

A longer shank would drop the trailer an inch easy enough?

Great suggestion. I may run that down. I've now spent $200 on 2 different shanks trying to get one that works well for my truck. This last one is the closest I can get to level (my ball is higher than coupler)

[cmac7203]

Originally Posted by JohnNJean

I have a 2016 F250 with the camper package, 3209 payload. No problem to pull a 16' TT, right? I measured the height of the body, front and back, the first time I hooked up the TT and there was less then .5 inch change front or back so who needs to tension the WDH bars. That thing worked me to death trying to keep it on the road. Even a passing car blew me around. I ran it across the CAT scale and it had unloaded the front axle nearly the full amount of the hitch weight. I set up the hitch to put some weight back on the front axle and it made all the difference in the world.
The CAT scales are a much better way to set up your hitch than measuring the body height.

Good point. Thanks for the great counsel.

[Jakieboy]

I have a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. I have been towing RV's for more than 40 years, everything from pop-up trailers to hard-sided travel trailers to 18,500 pound fifth wheels. I would never tow an RV weighing more than about 2000 pounds without a weight distributing hitch. For the life of me, I cannot understand why anyone would not use a WDH when the manufacturer of the trailer and/or tow vehicle recommends it. The risks of having an accident as a result of not having WDH and anti-sway capability are too great to ignore. I hope I am not on the road when this happens.