Why are WDH's so noisy?

[Volvodriver]

Camp hosting this summer and I have questions for travelers with WDH's on their tow behind. Full disclosure - I have never had a tow behind nor have used a WDH. Noticed that a majority of the units I have helped park or guide into their sites make severe groaning and squeaking noises when making turns or stopping quickly when approaching a site. Why is this and is this an inherited trait of WDH's. Some of this noise is really alarming IMO.

Dave

[cboss]

A little grease where the bars attach to the hitch solves that problem.

[jrollf]

WDH hitches prevent sway by using friction between the bars and pads (not sure about chain types)

Many say to grease the bars... ironically doing so reduces the anti-sway capability of the WDH. Your supposed to grease the pivot points in the head of the hitch, but not the bars. The picture below shows the instructions for my hitch, notice the manufacturer does not say to grease the bars.

TLDR: Bar type WDH, like the Equalizer, use friction between the bars and the pad/bracket and can be noisy as the bars are not supposed to be greased.

[cboss]

Originally Posted by jrollf

WDH hitches prevent sway by using friction between the bars and pads (not sure about chain types)

Many say to grease the bars... ironically doing so reduces the anti-sway capability of the WDH. Your supposed to grease the pivot points in the head of the hitch, but not the bars. The picture below shows the instructions for my hitch, notice the manufacturer does not say to grease the bars.

TLDR: Bar type WDH, like the Equalizer, use friction between the bars and the pad/bracket and can be noisy as the bars are not supposed to be greased.Attachment 259320

Exactly. You just said it better than me. I also have an Equalizer.

[jboczek]

Andersen hitches are quiet. No moaning and groaning on turns or backing up.

[Steve Nielsen]

The Blue Ox hitches do not make any sounds and you don't have to disconnect them when backing up.

[Palinduff]

Originally Posted by jrollf

WDH hitches prevent sway by using friction between the bars and pads (not sure about chain types)

Many say to grease the bars... ironically doing so reduces the anti-sway capability of the WDH. Your supposed to grease the pivot points in the head of the hitch, but not the bars. The picture below shows the instructions for my hitch, notice the manufacturer does not say to grease the bars.

TLDR: Bar type WDH, like the Equalizer, use friction between the bars and the pad/bracket and can be noisy as the bars are not supposed to be greased.Attachment 259320

Actually, a WDH is for distributing the weight; which can sometimes help with sway. There are some with sway control built in, but not all of them. A basic WDH can have one or two ears on it for attaching friction sway bars.


In regards to the noise, my previous WDH sounded like an out of tune banjo until I put a little grease on the bars.

[Wilco]

Older weight distribution hitch design has metal rubbing on metal under torsion pressure where the bars are installed in the hitch that is hard to keep lubricated. The noise may be disconcerting but it causes no harm. Newer designs such as Blue Ox and others have this area enclosed in a tube that can be greased to eliminate the noise.

I find the groaning to be helpful because people give you a wide berth while you are backing up (more so than even a backup alarm on you vehicle).

[stsimmer]

Yes.

[Sarahcat]

We use a hitch and ball lube on the hitch ball and the trailer coupling that hooks over it. We bought the optional plastic covers for the points where the hitch torsion bars slide over the friction points on the trailer. The other place we lubricate is the bearing surfaces near the hitch, that allow the torsion bars to swing/rotate. Friction on those latter points is not desirable, but does create most of the noise.

Our tow vehicle has built-in sway control that uses selective wheel braking if it detects trailer sway. I assume that the e2 provides some measure of sway control as well.

I don't know what type of WDH does not allow reversing, but the Fastway e2 does not interfere with reversing or backing up. Is that the case with the WDHs that use chains?

[D W]

Originally Posted by Volvodriver

Camp hosting this summer and I have questions for travelers with WDH's on their tow behind. Full disclosure - I have never had a tow behind nor have used a WDH. Noticed that a majority of the units I have helped park or guide into their sites make severe groaning and squeaking noises when making turns or stopping quickly when approaching a site. Why is this and is this an inherited trait of WDH's. Some of this noise is really alarming IMO.

Dave

Simply put, when loaded, a WDH is a "mechanical lever" constantly at work.

[Bob43]

These don't hurt the sway control and stop the noise
Sway Bracket Jackets for Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution Systems ... $19.73 From etrailer

[lesptr]

Originally Posted by jrollf

WDH hitches prevent sway by using friction between the bars and pads (not sure about chain types)

Many say to grease the bars... ironically doing so reduces the anti-sway capability of the WDH. Your supposed to grease the pivot points in the head of the hitch, but not the bars. The picture below shows the instructions for my hitch, notice the manufacturer does not say to grease the bars.

TLDR: Bar type WDH, like the Equalizer, use friction between the bars and the pad/bracket and can be noisy as the bars are not supposed to be greased.Attachment 259320

The eqilizer brand has instructions on lubing the bars. When I had a bumper pull, I lubed the L brackets. The noise level was reduced and I experienced zero increase in sway.
However, greasing the ball was more effective in reducing the noise.

[clintbonnie73]

I added a Hitch Clamp and it eliminates all the movement and noise.. works great.. (works on all hitches)... see:
https://www.amazon.com/CZC-AUTO-Tigh...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

[elchilero53]

I lube my spring bar heads where they insert into the WDH head. No moaning, groaning or creaking. The only thing that moans is the anti-sway friction bar. However, I discovered that it was dirt and dust in the assembly that caused the problem. Add a little rain and when we turned, it sounded like a giant door on a haunted house loudly creaking open. All that was missing was the ominous "Heh, heh, heh" in a baritone voice and a woman shrieking in terror!
I disassembled the anti-sway bar and cleaned it up with a soft bristle brush and some water. Once dry, I reassembled it and the "haunted house" sounds went away, and the anti-sway bar worked just fine!

[mac1_131]

Because there are large forces at work there. That's how they do what they are supposed to do.

I usually drop my bars real quick before backing in and leave them off when leaving until I get to straight area near exit.

Problem solved.

[jrollf]

Originally Posted by Palinduff

Actually, a WDH is for distributing the weight; which can sometimes help with sway. There are some with sway control built in, but not all of them. A basic WDH can have one or two ears on it for attaching friction sway bars.


In regards to the noise, my previous WDH sounded like an out of tune banjo until I put a little grease on the bars.

Correct, not all WDH have sway control.

The Equalizer WDH I have is advertises as having "4 point sway control". I know the trailer stays planted behind my truck... however my truck is dually, so I can't say how much work the Equalizer is doing versus my truck just keeping it planted in place.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Properly adjusting the hitch minimizes noise. FYI, equalizer says to NOT lube the L brackets, only lube the bar pivot points on the hitch head.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody

Properly adjusting the hitch minimizes noise. FYI, equalizer says to NOT lube the L brackets, only lube the bar pivot points on the hitch head.

Yep!

[MCTroy]

We tow with an old WDH. Maybe a Reese or Anderson as we really don't remember. It will groan occasionally but not that much. We found if the truck and trailer are level the hitch is quite. No need to over tighten anything but raising the WDH higher. We have the old chains and know just how many to count up. We added a sway bar just for added security while in high winds or bad weather. That is the only piece that has to be loosened when backing.
Our WDH doesn't make as much noise as a diesel pusher pulling in or a 5er getting dropped in the bed of a truck. Ouch!