I am close.....

[CumminsPuller]

After years of towing the Arctic Fox 25W bumper pull where the previous owner gave us his WDH and never verifying its adequacy for the job. Many years later, recently, I started questioning its applicability. Research found it had 600lb bars with the hitch/ball assembly being rated at 1000lbs. At that point I realized when purchased it was a trust and not verify situation. Our tongue weight dry is roughly 800lbs. Last Sunday, I replaced with a Blue OX WDH and 1500lb bars. After adjustments, etc trying to get trailer/truck level, I arrived at the trailer tongue/ball being .25" high, rear end of the truck 1/4" low and the front end of the truck 1/4" high. These measurements are all so close and I feel that we are good to go. I feel these very small differential measurements are inconsequential? Hoping the TDR herd will advise on their thoughts..

 

[petersonj]

There are a lot of methods used to arrive at a certain weight distribution adjustment. Everyone will probably do it differently.

Personally, I like real numbers, so I use scales - including using a tongue scale for weighing the tongue. I keep a written copy of the front axle scaled weight and rear axle scaled weight of my empty truck for reference. Then I do the same for a truck that is loaded for a camping trip. I weigh the trailer that is loaded for the trip. I then weigh the tongue to ensure that it is between 10-15% of the trailer weight. Once this is established, I roll the truck over the scales to check truck front axle, rear axle, and trailer tandems. If the front axle is lighter than my empty truck front axle weight, I will increase the tension on the WDH bars until I meet that weight, or at least get within 50 lbs of that weight.

Initially, there are a lot steps to prepare for the final weight distribution adjustment, but after doing it once it is very easy to get close. Then you can just pull into a closed truck weigh station on the highway during your trip to check your axle weights and make any necessary adjustments.

- John

 

[Hoefler]

Bars are rated for how much weight you want to transfer to the steer axle, not the tonque weight

 

[GAmes]

I pulled RVs commercially. I had one WD hitch and one set of bars. If the trailer was heavy enough to require a WD hitch they were installed. The heavier ones used fewer chain links connected to the snap up bracket than the lighter ones did. I think you spent your money needlessly.

 

[CumminsPuller]

@petersonj @Hoefler Thank you for your responses.

 

[AH64ID]

Bars are rated for how much weight you want to transfer to the steer axle, not the tonque weight

Nope, the bars are rated for the tongue weight.

I run 1,400lb bars on one of our trailers. They have almost full tension and are nowhere near transferring 1,400lbs. They are also the exact same bars as the 1,200lb hitch, but the head is larger. The weight rating is absolutely the tongue weight rating.

 

[reveldark]

Looks like you're on the right track. Small adjustments can make a big difference.