weight dist. hitch questions..........

[V6power87]

I am looking into getting one and the sales guy said that I would have to disconnect it on sharp turns. (like backing it into my driveway) Does that mean that out on the road I would have to take the bars off every time I stop to eat or fuel up and have to cut a tight corner? He also said it would bend the bars on uneven surfaces, like driveway approaches, etc.



Is this true? are weight dist. hitches a PITA and only meant for the open road?



Thanks.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Hitch

Don't know what type the salesperson was talking about. I have the plain jane type that I use to pull a 31 trailer some, mostly from lake to deer lease, have never had to disconnect enroute for any reason. The bars are spring steel and I don't think thay will bend and you can turn almost 90 degrees without anything getting in a bind. bg

 

[ata]

You better find a different salesperson he dosn`t have a clue what he`s selling or he`s selling something nobody would buy.

 

[terrywerm]

Dan,



I've never had to disconnect mine for tight manuevering, and can't think of a reason that I would need to. It might be a good idea to check with the salesman and verify that you were both talking about the same thing. Brand might make a difference, but I doubt it.

 

[V6power87]

It is the Drawtite system, and the guy seemed to know what he was talking about. What gives when you turn or hit a bump, the chain links that connect the springs to the trailer?

 

[B.G. Smith]

Equalizer

The torsion bars take the punishment, they don't give much but they will spring enough to keep the rear wheels on the ground. bg

 

[klenger]

When I had a TT, I had WD bars and never had to remove them for tight turns. But, I did loosen the anti-sway bar to keep from braking it when backing into a camping spot. Maybe that's what he was thinking about and got confused.

 

[CKruse]

I believe he is referring to the friction sway control if the system you are looking at uses one. I am running a Reese weight dist. hitch with friction sway. I disconnect it when backing the TT into a tight spot. The danger being in binding it on the side it hooks up. This could possibly bend it or damage the mounting balls where it hooks between the hitch and the trailer during a "jacknife" situation . Not much danger of actually involving the spring bars or hitch.

 

[Chucknav]

I agree that the dealer was probably referring to the anti-sway bar that is on one side of the WD hitch. I bought by TT used including the WD hitch. The previous owner told me he broke the anti-sway bar once during tight backing. I towed this trailer with a Jeep Cherokee at the time, so I needed the anti-sway bar for stability, I was just careful during backing. Since I bought the Cummins, I never use the anti-sway bar anymore, just the WD system and it works great. The truck/trailer combo is plenty stable without the anti-sway bar. My trailer is only 20' and about 5000# wet, though. Maybe a much larger trailer would require the anti-sway bar being added/used. IMHO the anti-sway bar isn't necessary, with my setup anyway.



Happy trailering,

chuck

 

[TboneMan]

I have the Reese Dual Cam anti-sway set up on my rig.



I DO have to have the wight dist bars off to back into the driveway. What happens is the bar on the outside of the turn slide off the cam.



I have never had to take them off on the road to make turns in or out of parking lots.

 

[Deezul1]

Anti sway controls have to be un hooked to prevent damage on tight turns. Weight bars do not unless they are the brand mentioned above which I have never used, I have used the other types and they are fine backing up while still connected.

 

[V6power87]

Thanks for the help guy's. Maybe he was getting them confused. I will probably get the WD system and use my OEM hitch, My trailer is a 24' enclosed car hauler that will weight about 8500 # loaded.

 

[EricBu12]

Get this. It is a Hensley Arrow that eliminates sway and has the WD bars built in. It has a lower head and it can do tight turns. The head unit is what eliminates the sway. I bought this and I am going to put it on the trailer I am going to buy. This company has a free video to show you how it works



<img src=https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=5775&width=2/src img>



www.hensleymfg.com

 

[Deezul1]

The Hensley Arrow is a wonderful piece of equipment but veeerrrry expensive, like $2800. 00 . I found mine used for a 10th of that and love it.