What brands are recommended or which ones to avoid?
How is tight cornering or backing up with one attached?
All pictures show WDH's hooked up to open tongue frames, while most horse trailers I see, including mine, have a metal plate attached to the top of the tongue frame. How are you supposed to hook these WDH's up? Do you have to modify?
Posted 2005-10-18 6:17 AM (#31896 - in reply to #31892) Subject: RE: Weight Dist. Hitches???
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
welcome.
possible answers
most likley. usaully on anything not a dually a WDH is recommend for a trailer with a tongue weight over 500#.
i believe that draw tite makes most of the new ones, or was it reese, somebody bought out somebody. i use an "equal-i-zer" brand. it works outstanding for me.
no problems cornering or backing up.
youll have to cut a slot in the "trim cover" over the tongue.
i would call mine a sucess as i pull the same type/weight trailer you have with a smaller to vechicle(see my sig). my wife, with no previous towing experiance, had no problems learning with this rig.
typically a WDH would be more useful/effective than just a friction sway alone.
Posted 2005-10-18 7:59 AM (#31901 - in reply to #31892) Subject: RE: Weight Dist. Hitches???
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
I haven't looked at the 2003 GM tow guide. In their 2001 edition any BP trailer 5000 pounds+ REQUIRES a WDH. Not a suggestion from GM's lawyers and engineers.
Posted 2005-10-18 3:44 PM (#31944 - in reply to #31892) Subject: RE: Weight Dist. Hitches???
Member
Posts: 37 Location: Colorado Springs
OK, here's my $.02;
Should you get one? YES Your loaded trailer can have a 700 lb tongue weight, and the truck's receiver needs a weight dist. hitch over 500 lbs tongue wt.
How tight is cornering? No problem. the hitch above will let you corner as tight as you want, with no adjustments needed.
Hookup with a closed tongue? Just locate and drill holes where the U bolts have to pass thru the plate.
Success/failure stories? I pulled a 5000 lb trailer with a Ford Ranger with one of these hitches no problems at all. Before I got the hitch, the front disc brakes on the truck would lock up and slide because the front end was so light.
Friction sway bar? Not needed. Equalizing bars have built in sway control.
Posted 2005-10-20 10:38 AM (#32054 - in reply to #31892) Subject: RE: Weight Dist. Hitches???
Member
Posts: 27 Location: Tennesse
Weight Dist. hitches are a nice thing to have when your highway or interstate traveling a lot. If your traveling short distances at slower speeds you wont see that big a difference. Its up to you wether one is needed or not. If your truck is squatting badly or sways when your traveling and makes you feel uncomfortable driving I highly recommend one. Most brands are similar in design and work well just make sure you get one that fits your style trailer and tongue weight.
Posted 2005-10-20 1:45 PM (#32067 - in reply to #31892) Subject: RE: Weight Dist. Hitches???
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
Tucson, Is the 2003 1/2 ton Chevy Avalanche Truck a short wheelbase? I think it is?! I would try it without one. Lots of 1/2 tons don't use them. If it behaves poorly then I would get one. They work great if you need them and they are setup right. Watch your tounge weight that will be the cause of most handling problems. It appears you have done most of your homework. Like the other post said you will need to have the tounge plate notched for the WDH brackets. A steady hand with a plasma torch or sabre saw (if aluminum) can make it look factory....Good luck!
Posted 2005-10-21 6:58 AM (#32095 - in reply to #32092) Subject: RE: Weight Dist. Hitches???
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by pasogirl1 on 2005-10-21 2:28 AM
Just wondering if the tongue lb rating is listed on the coupler. If not does the trailer dealer tell you or how do you find out? Thanks Mary
it should be on the coupler, however its tends to get painted over, scratched off etc. other than that there are some general guidelines, why do you ask about the coupler? its a very rare ocasion a manuf. does not use a large enough piece, although not unheard of.
Posted 2005-10-21 8:19 AM (#32102 - in reply to #31892) Subject: RE: Weight Dist. Hitches???
Veteran
Posts: 143 Location: southeast U.S.A.
Tucsonaz,
Just an added thought .
A previous poster said that you may not need one according to your type of towing (lenth of tow,travelling speed ect.)
This is very true but keep in mind that it's not uncommon to find out that you need one in the very worst situation. If you take it slow and gradual then you should be able to make that determination over a period of time. If you have trouble with your truck squating over a reasonable amount or any trouble with sway or overall controll then I'd say it's time for the WDH.
Posted 2005-10-21 11:43 AM (#32120 - in reply to #32102) Subject: RE: Weight Dist. Hitches???
New User
Posts: 2
Location: Tucson, AZ
First of all, thanks to all those that have responded.
One thing that I did not make clear, is the fact that I have a cross country trip coming up -- lots of interstate driving. We are moving from Tucson to New York. Since I made the original post I have done some more research, and coupled with all the replys, I am going to settle for an Equal-i-zer. As a matter of fact, the video they show on-line ... rather overstated in part of it ... helped explain how their device hooks up, and of course why. The Equal-i-zer is both WD and sway control, and easy to hook up.
Weight Dist. Hitches???
