Do I need a weight distribution hitch?

[bigevilcat]

Hello. Newbie here. I just bought a Geo Pro 19BH. It has a dry weight of just over 3000lbs with a hitch weight of 360. The CCC is 772lbs. My truck is a 2020 Sierra 1500 AT4 with a towing capacity of 9200lbs. The truck manual says I don’t need a WDH below 7000lbs. Any thoughts on if I actually need one.

[007matman]

Some will say no. I would say yes.

I used one with a pop-up and it made a big difference. Is it required? Probably not. Will you have a better (and safer). towing experience if you use one.. yes.

[Chris Pastuzyn]

Welcome from New Jersey, I would agree with 007Matman 100% Definitely will be a better towing experience especially on longer drives, You don't need a crazy expensive one ,I saw on another post Harbor freight had one.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by bigevilcat

Hello. Newbie here. I just bought a Geo Pro 19BH. It has a dry weight of just over 3000lbs with a hitch weight of 360. The CCC is 772lbs. My truck is a 2020 Sierra 1500 AT4 with a towing capacity of 9200lbs. The truck manual says I don’t need a WDH below 7000lbs. Any thoughts on if I actually need one.

Please don't use fictional brochure/website dry weight numbers, they are fantasy numbers.
Use 13% of the trailer's GVWR for a ballpark loaded tongue weight, puts you at 500lbs. Add the fact it's a single axle trailer and over 20ft long, YES you should get a WDH.
I suggest a Fastway E2 WDH.
And you need to look at your truck's payload capacity, not its towing capacity.

[BigH]

Folks around here have an unnatural attraction to a wdh...I'll post the unpopular truth.

A wdh becomes necessary when it removes enough weight off of the steering axle that it effects handling. Your truck was tested using SAE J2807. If your manual says you don't need one it is a complete waste of time and money provided you properly load the trailer...keeping weight forward of the rear trailer axle and keeping your tongue weight high enough should be a perfectly stable tow. -There is no chance I would buy a wdh before properly hooking up and loading up the trailer to test it out...

[Scrapper]

Those dry weights are for an unloaded trailer, without battery(ies), no water in the fresh water holding tank, and empty LP tanks. Batteries can weigh 60 to 110# each depending on the size and type. Water weighs 8.3 lbs per gallon. A 20# LP tank weighs about 18 lbs empty and holds 4.6 gal of liquid propane, when full the 20# tank becomes around 35 lbs, if you have two that will be 70# on the hitch. Add to those any clothing, dishes & utensils, blankets, bikes, games and toys for the kids, chairs, outdoor rug and anything else you want to carry with you.

Once loaded your hitch weight can be over 500 lbs. There is a sticker on your trucks receiver and also listed in your Silverado 1500 owners manual that says if your gross hitch weight is over 500# a WDH is required even if the rear of the truck doesn't sag. When reading the owners manual be sure you are understanding that all the builds from 1500 to 3500 are included. Be sure you have the right model and drive train when referencing the charts.

On top of that single axle trailers are prone to sway, especially when going down grade or being passed by big rigs. Meeting a big rig at highway speeds on 2-way highways will also induce sway.

Take a look on https://www.etrailer.com/faq-how-to-...ue-weight.aspx. A low cost WDH with built-in sway control can be found at Harbor Freight for around $200.

[BigH]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

... your Silverado owners manual that says if your gross hitch weight is over 500# a WDH is required even if the rear of the truck doesn't sag.
..

I think your 500lbs is off unless something changed...

If his manual says its not needed below 7000lbs that would be a minimum of 700lbs without a wdh not 500lbs

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by BigH

I think your 500lbs is off unless something changed...

If his manual says its not needed below 7000lbs that would be a minimum of 700lbs without a wdh not 500lbs

You are correct the manual says in the chart that the limit is 700#. The sticker on the receiver hitch says Weight Carrying 500#, Weight Distribution 1200#. You may have to drop the spare tire to see the sticker.

[bigevilcat]

My door sticker says ...
GVWR=7100
GCWR=15,000
RGAWR=3800
Curb Weight=5750
Max Payload=1350
SAE J2807 conventional TWR=9000
Max Tonge Weight =900 lbs.

[cboss]

Bottom Line: Get a WDH! You will be happier and safer.
I would not even think about towing our camper without a WDH.
Forget all the numbers, just get one!

[jrk341]

That AT4 package really eats into your payload.

[CurtPutnam]

I am in the WDH camp, for sway control if not also for weight distribution. Note that used WDHs are available albeit generally too heavy to ship.

[hobienick]

There is one other option. If you are truly within spec on your truck using real world numbers then try towing without the WDH. If you find it uncomfortable then get the WDH.

[AlaskaErik]

Originally Posted by jrk341

That AT4 package really eats into your payload.

It sure does. My 2019 Silverado 1500 LTZ has a payload capacity of 1910 lbs.

[moose074]

Originally Posted by hobienick

There is one other option. If you are truly within spec on your truck using real world numbers then try towing without the WDH. If you find it uncomfortable then get the WDH.

X2 you are within specs take it out and see how it handles. My TT needed one regardless of the size truck I towed it with 150 thru a 350. For the Tundra and 150 I need the weight distribution or I would have dragged my bumper. For the 2500 and 350 it was for sway control.

[darb]

Originally Posted by BigH

Folks around here have an unnatural attraction to a wdh...I'll post the unpopular truth.

A wdh becomes necessary when it removes enough weight off of the steering axle that it effects handling. Your truck was tested using SAE J2807. If your manual says you don't need one it is a complete waste of time and money provided you properly load the trailer...keeping weight forward of the rear trailer axle and keeping your tongue weight high enough should be a perfectly stable tow. -There is no chance I would buy a wdh before properly hooking up and loading up the trailer to test it out...

Cant deny you should try without and see, but here’s my experience.
I have a 2013 f150 ext cab.
Sold 172t rpod and bought a 2020 geopro 19fbs.
Towing it home (empty)from the dealer with a single group 24 battery - was a nice weight and tow for the truck.
Then for a test... I swapped out to dual 6v GC batteries, loaded my storage (front on this model) with my camp gear and put generator and another 50lbs at the rear of the truck bed.
I then hitched up and the front end of the truck rose 1 1/2”. This is still without water in the fresh tank and a real life load in the box.

Needless to say I picked up a fastway e2 with 800lb bars and now it rides nice loaded to go.

Those of you who should have WDH and don’t, should also aim your headlights lower so others aren’t blinded by your headlights.

[flyflotrtim]

Originally Posted by 007matman

Some will say no. I would say yes.

I used one with a pop-up and it made a big difference. Is it required? Probably not. Will you have a better (and safer). towing experience if you use one.. yes.

X3 You don't absolutely need it, but I would get one.

[BigH]

Originally Posted by darb

Cant deny you should try without and see, but here’s my experience.
I have a 2013 f150 ext cab.
Sold 172t rpod and bought a 2020 geopro 19fbs.
Towing it home (empty)from the dealer with a single group 24 battery - was a nice weight and tow for the truck.
Then for a test... I swapped out to dual 6v GC batteries, loaded my storage (front on this model) with my camp gear and put generator and another 50lbs at the rear of the truck bed.
I then hitched up and the front end of the truck rose 1 1/2”. This is still without water in the fresh tank and a real life load in the box.

Needless to say I picked up a fastway e2 with 800lb bars and now it rides nice loaded to go.

Those of you who should have WDH and don’t, should also aim your headlights lower so others aren’t blinded by your headlights.

You didn't have a choice...your owner's manual says a wdh is required at that tongue weight.

[IchLiebeBier]

My first camper, a popup, weighed about that much. The camper manual specifically stated to NOT use a WDH. I was told at the time it was because the frame couldn't handle the stress. Make sure you check for that warning with the camper.

I'm surprised that your manual says 7K for WDH. My Ram 2500 says above 5K. Weird.

With that being said, if you get a Fastway E2 hitch you'll also get sway control built in. And with that hitch you could back up without having to get out and remove the sway bar (which you would have to do with a friction bar). I bent one once because I forgot to remove it.

[hack522]

X2

Originally Posted by 007matman

Some will say no. I would say yes.

I used one with a pop-up and it made a big difference. Is it required? Probably not. Will you have a better (and safer). towing experience if you use one.. yes.