Weight Distribution hitches ??'s

[mrbb]

Ok I am new to towing larger things
have towed a few larger things over the yrs, but don't do a lot
I recently picked up a older 1987 22 ft enclosed snowmobile trailer, when a family member passed away!, so there not about to ask any questions on it!
Its a , 6k CGVW trailer, so not BIG by most guys standards, but large for me
it has a standard 2-5-16 ball set up
but it has some sort of Weight Distribution system, that was included with the buy, not installed or any info on it
I have a 2016 ram 2500 6.7 crew cab 4x4 auto
do I HAVE to use the system, or can I just hitch up and go?
I know its maybe better to use, but is it a MUST use deal?
I got the trailer and due to buy/deal, I had to remove it from property, so towed it with just the ball from location to a trailer shop, to get inspected(about 4 miles as is)
due to trailer sat for several yrs in a pole barn
trailer shop is doing a full once over to make sure all is safe and in good condition for me and again inspecting it to be a legal PA trailer, I transfer-ed title into my name as well.
from where trailer is at now, to where its going is about a 100 mile trip, of back roads, some hi way and rural roads
I plan to use this winter to haul some snowmobiles to local trails, maybe a few trips over 80 miles or so,
I don't have any pictures of Weight Distribution parts as trailer is again at shop right now, dropped off today


but wondering if anyone has any advice for me, its a 1987 Wells cargo trailer, I don't know if it was standard set up, or was added latter on or??
so ANY info would be helpful at this point to know what I got
here is a picture of it, if that helps at all??

 

[petersonj]

Its a , 6k CGVW trailer,

I am not sure what the letter C in CGVW regarding your trailer. If the trailer gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is 6000 lbs, I would use a weight distribution hitch. Loaded to capacity would mean that 600 - 900 lbs of weight will be placed on the tongue (tongue weight equals 10 to 15 percent of trailer weight). Although your truck could "handle it" without the weight distribution hitch (WDH), the truck probably would not do well in an emergency maneuver. This is primarily because even with proper tongue weight, but without a WDH, the rear axle on your truck will receive all of the tongue weight and furthermore, the front axle will be unweighted some causing poor steering and braking in an emergency situation.

I have a 6000 lbs GVWR 20 ft equipment trailer that I towed for years without a WDH. I put one on about five years ago - and what a difference, even when it is empty. I am now set up with a WDH on all my trailers (5200 lb GVWR travel trailer and a 10,000 lb dump trailer).

Don't take my word on this subject as you will probably hear from others who may not agree. Go on-line and search for how weight distribution hitches work and then make an informed decision that you will be comfortable with.

- John.

 

[mrbb]

thank you for the info and sorry yes its GVWR,
So, not sure what I was thinking when I typed that!
and its 5950 lbs, I rounded up to 6 k
not much a difference I gather in 50 lbs!

I can see how the WDH. would only help things, but I doubt when I have two sleds in trailer I am at even half the weight rating of the trailer
and my bigger concern was actually just getting it from where its at to where its going to be used at without using the WDH. that is on this trailer
as from what I can tell you need a part on your receiver/ball to mount them to!and then back on trailer splitting the weight of trailer/tongue when weight is applied to truck as in a noise dive panic stop and or sway?

I am not 100% sure I plan to keep this trailer either as its much larger than what I need, I was just giving first chance at it and at a rather fair price, so I grabbed it spur of the moment like deal
Much rather a smaller sled trailer in the 12-14 ft range as I only have 2 sleds, so a this is way more than I need to be honest!

 

[petersonj]

If you are only hauling a couple of sleds and you aren't intending on keeping the trailer, you will be fine towing without the WDH. If you decide to keep the trailer and start hauling more sleds, then you can do your research and figure out what you need.

One thing you should do is weigh your truck without the trailer. Weigh the axles separately and record the weight. Now hook up the trailer and weigh the front and rear axles of the truck separately again. Record the weight. Now weigh the trailer axles (keep the truck axles off of the scale). Record the weight and compare the weights (before and after you hook up the trailer).

Do a little math and you should be able to calculate the tongue weight of the trailer. It should be between 10 to 15 percent of the trailer axle weight (what you just weighed). Later when you load your snowmobiles, weigh the truck and trailer in the same manner to help determine the best way to carry the load in the trailer.

How do you like your 2016 truck?

- John

 

[Killer223]

if you load a trailer correct, you don't need a WDH. they could be useful for a 1/2 tun truck, but not a worry on your 2500. i wouldn't waste my time with it. you want it level after it loaded. so be ready to move weight around. start easy, if you notice some trailer sway, move weight to the tongue by about 100 pounds. if this still doesn't fix then maybe to much tongue weight.
go good set of scales wound be ideal. spend an hour messing with the load of the trailer to where you have 10-15% tongue weight.
if you're off road you really don't want one. just take your time and load the trailer correctly. you want most the weight over the axles.

 

[mrbb]

thanks for all the info, I just ordered a ball holder with a built in scale, and adjustable drop/rise
I also do have the correct set up now, its a hair tongue side high maybe a inch or less, so figure with some weight on thing that should level out! BUT
but this new one has both balls(2- and 2-5/16) as I have a few trailers with 2 inch balls, so not having to keep removing seems like a better idea, will see how it works out once I get it!

as for loading weight on the trailer, that should be rather easy as can just drive sleds forward or back if needed, both sled fully loaded up will add maybe 1100 lbs at max to trailer, so like I said, I am not actually adding a bunch of weight to it at all, its just a rather larger trailer for what I need, just the price was right so? and think extra room is never bad LOL
I have towed a few trailers 18 ft with skid steers and tractors on with pintle hitch set up and NO stabilizer bars or WDH, so, that's kind of why I wondered is there needed, unless the pintle set up allows for wiggle room on things and that helps control it that way??

again my concern was with the age of this trailer and didn't know if it HAD to be used for some reason I didn't know about, as a design feature or not, the little I towed it I didn't see or feel anything different with just the ball attached to tow it, so I also do think I should be OK for the use I have without,
if I plan to keep it after this winter, maybe will get the set up for it with the WDH it has with it, will see first, after it gets home from the shop its at now getting inspected and checked over, as that will be a 80 mile tow with it, should have a feel better after that on towing it, between hi way and back roads and all

what would your thoughts be on some of them so called electronic sway control devices? I see some sell for like 400-600 bucks and designed to control sway that way by adding brakes to left or right wheel when they sense sway??
do they work better than a WDH, as seem like less hassle , no worrys about dragging things in off road like ,as parking trailers in snowmobile lots can be dirt parking lots and not very level in and outs!

 

[mrbb]

I

How do you like your 2016 truck?

- John

as for how do I like the truck, hate top say it this way but its a truck, its a big horn fairly loaded up truck, and IMO, its WAY over priced for what it is, I honestly don't think any truck made today is worth HALF what they costs, a pure shame a truck cost this much money,50-60-70 k for a truck is insane, but what other choice do you really have
and that is why the prices keep climbing , way too many electronic gadgets too!
That said, it drives nice(my 06 didn't wander as much, so a little disappointed on steering,would have expected an improvement and not backwards there for sure)
I have had a few CEL"S and a local dealer that was anything but helpful, one CEL was do NOT continue driving, and was at the dealer and he suggested I have it towed to another dealer, as he didn't want to take care of me cause I didn';t buy truck off them??! so that sucked>
and Dodge/ram was NO help there>

overall very happy with fuel mileage, average about 17 mpg empty, towing a little less even with light trailers,
but its very hilly here, so, not like flat ground, where better I think is possible

OEM tires SUCK, at 16k and change and there 70+% gone! and I don't drive hard

the first big issue I had when buying a 50+k truck was NO darn fuel cap, some cheap plastic throw away like propane cap, YET Mopar sells better one's
so right off had to buy a fuel cap and DEF cap, and I think the DEF fill spout shouldn;t be so close to the diesel cap, **** poor design, asking for someone to have a brain fart and or?? just splash worry's with the cheesy OEM caps?

having to change oil every 6 months sucks too, don't see why thats a MUST do , other than a way out of a warranty claim if you DON"T
as if it has a 15 oil change design, I think it should be at least a 1 yr or that miles NOT every 6 months
oil doesn't go bad in 6 months, just a way to make you spend more money!

add in fuel filters, if you do all at same time(I do, to keep things simple), thats 350+ a twice a yr at the dealer, as my health doesn't allow me to do them myself anymore!
so, at tires and oil changes thats like 2 k in basic's the first yr! as tires are about 1200 a set ??

SO< do I like it, yeah its OK< expensive JUNK I think all vehicles are however any more, made to self destruct, as we live in an disposable world anymore, and too many people don't seem bothered about owning a ton of money on things! and 500+ a month payemnts don't scare many any more either for a vehicle?/
CRAZY and only going to get worse!

 

[Killer223]

i have to whole heartedly agree with your assessment. mrbb, i'm sticking with the older trucks. simpler. call me old fashioned.

 

[kthaxton]

the first big issue I had when buying a 50+k truck was NO darn fuel cap, some cheap plastic throw away like propane cap, YET Mopar sells better one's
so right off had to buy a fuel cap and DEF cap, and I think the DEF fill spout shouldn;t be so close to the diesel cap, **** poor design, asking for someone to have a brain fart and or?? just splash worry's with the cheesy OEM caps?

Why did you need to buy a DEF cap? Didn't yours come with one?

...you don't have to buy a fuel cap, it is designed to work without a fuel cap with it's inner flapper as the real "seal" to keep debris out....but I can understand the concern, before I understood the design I bought a cap as well. I still use it because I've already got it, but I now understand it is not needed.

 

[DaveHess]

I would love a new truck but there is no way on this Earth I can afford a $50,000+ truck!!! I was actually considering a 2017 Ram Tradesman with the big Hemi but then I am getting this strippy gasser for high $30K/low $40k. I finally just stopped driving through the local Ram dealer. My 03 has 94K on the clock and has been a beautiful truck to own and operate. She will need work soon I know but not $50K worth of work!

As for the WDH. I have two. I use one with my Jayco TT (17,090 GCWR) and one for my 22' car hauler (10K capable). I had two WDH setups so I customized each for the trailers. If I pull the car hauler empty, I don't use the bars and tow weight carrying. If the race car is on board then I use the bars. The TT always gets the bars. That has about 800# tongue weight. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Buffalo]

I know that this is a bit off-topic but, in 1976, when I moved from Detroit to Phoenix, I bought a new Ford E-150 van and a 12' Wells Cargo enclosed trailer. The trailer had what looked like golf cart tires on it and worried me a bit but, even though it was loaded heavily, it made the trip beautifully. I loved that trailer!!! I had my business equipment in it and when I found a building for my business, I painted the inside of the trailer the same light green that the factory had put in it and sold it to a Country Music Band in Phoenix. I got more than what I paid for it back in Detroit!!!! Sold the Ford and got close to what I had paid for it, also. So, my move to Phoenix was pretty cheap!!! Especially, when money was at a premium for me. Just thought I'd let you know of my very good experience with my Wells Cargo trailer.
Joe