Load balancing hitch.

[Mr.N]

Any suggestions on who make a good one?

Why is one brand better than another?

[FYRMAN]

I'm afraid that we would need to see a picture of a "load balancing hitch" to be able to recommend a good one.


If you are refering to a weight distribution hitch, I like the Hidden Hitch 1000# unit. No one really makes a better hitch, they are all just steel and chain. Someone here may have a different story, but I'll stick with that one.

[smurfsdad]

My take on this is if the trailer is loaded correctly you dont need one.

[FYRMAN]

Not neccessarily smurfsdad.

If you look on any bumper hitch, or bumper for that matter, there will be two sets of numbers. Most fullsize trucks have a rating of 500/5000 hitch rating, 1000/10,000 with a load distribution hitch.

First numbers 500/5000. 500 is the max tongue weight the hitch is rated for, with a gross trailer weight of 5000.

Second numbers 1000/10,000. Just like the first set, only when used in conjunction with weight distribution bars.

So, technically, if you are pulling a trailer that grosses at 7000 lbs, the rating of your brand new trailer, you should be using a set of distribution bars.


EDIT: smrfsdad is right. If you load your trailer correctly, you don't need bars. Look at how many trailers actually use them the next time you see several of them lined up at the trail head. Legally, yes, you do need them to carry the load correctly. In real life, you can get away with not using them, just be prepared to play dumb if the State Patrolman asks you about it.

[smurfsdad]

I dont even see the legal issue because the ratings you posted are maximums only, so if you are towing a 10,000 lb rated trailer you dont have to have 1000 lbs of tongue weight. I tow on almost a daily basis with a bumper pull and a gooseneck and correct loading is the key to safe and happy trailering. The rating of the actual hitch assembly on the tow vehicle has to be accounted for also. I would not put a 10,000 lb load on a ball on a bumper.

[FYRMAN]

I wouldn't put 10,000 lbs on a bumper either!

By the numbers, if you have a 10,000 lb trailer, 10% going to the tongue to prevent sway, you have 1000 lbs on the tongue. You are correct, that is max numbers. However, if you have a trailer that is rated for 10,000 lbs, a hitch rated for 5000 lbs without the equalizer bars, a ball and ball mount rated for 6000 lbs, legally the most you can carry is the lowest number in the equation = 5000 lbs.

I'm not saying that you are wrong. I agree completely with what you say, but it becomes a legal issue if you are involved in an accident. Whatever insurance company is involved is going to look directly at every peice of anything that was attached to your rig, trying to pin the blame on you. If the ball mount brakes in half or the ball itself snaps off of the ball mount, then they are going to try and say that it was that that caused it. You may be in the clear, you know it, thew witnesses know it, and eventually the insurance is going to see that your towing set-up didn't cause it, but why cause yourself the aggravation?

They wouldn't put the numbers on there for decoration, so they must be there for a reason. Spend the bucks, keep the numbers straight, and you won't have to worry about being held liable in the case of an accident. That and the fact that it is the correct way to tow.

[smurfsdad]

FYRMAN, i dont disagree with you either. Its just that the equilizer is in my mind being used for the lack of something somewhere else in the equation, such as the rear springs being to soft to carry the load in which case i would reposition the load or use the right tow vehicle to begin with.

[Mr.N]

I'm helping a friend with a new camper trailer. It's 35" long and wieght is 8300 Lbs. He is towing it with a half ton 99 4x4 Sub, ( a 2003 3/4 ton is coming shortly).
Without the "weight distribution hitch" the thing is not safe over 50 MPH (Just moving it from dealer to home, don't jump as a weight distribution hitch will be on next move)
So whats an average price for the Hidden Hitch 1000#?
Any others?

What about teh Sway bar option? From the ride I had in it this seems like a must option!

Thanks for the help

[smurfsdad]

If the trailer is level or a little high in the tongue and it has some tongue weight it wont sway. The sway comes from the weight of the trailer being mostly on the front axle of the trailer. So in theory even with the equilizer it might not tow correctly, although i guess it is an effective crutch. There are just to many variables to make calls on all this. I beleive in my own mind that there are some people that shouldnt tow a trailer, but you cant stop them. Unfortunetly they will come to a stop on their own some day. To each his own, Good luck

[70~K5]

The equilizer is there to shift some of the weight off the drive axle and onto the steering axle. Just like the sliding 5th wheel on a big rig truck. If you have too much weight on the hitch and don't transfer some of it to the front axle you're gonna have trouble. And if you move the weight back on the trailer and don't have enough tonque weight it won't pull straight either.

[TODDK]

ddistubution hitch the way to go plus for noy much more you can have the sway away that is way cool for highway speeds when passing the rigs...

[FYRMAN]

The hidden Hitch 1000# set-up retails for $246 or $276... I can't remember exactly. Then, if you want us to do the initial set-up, it's another $49.50... Just so you have some numbers to compare to. Some places will charge you over $300, and then say "Sure! We would love to put those on for you, and we will even do it for free!" They are getting their install charge either way doing that.

[Mr.N]

Originally posted by smurfsdad
If the trailer is level or a little high in the tongue and it has some tongue weight it wont sway. The sway comes from the weight of the trailer being mostly on the front axle of the trailer. So in theory even with the equilizer it might not tow correctly, although i guess it is an effective crutch. There are just to many variables to make calls on all this. I beleive in my own mind that there are some people that shouldnt tow a trailer, but you cant stop them. Unfortunetly they will come to a stop on their own some day. To each his own, Good luck

Well, the camper "empty" (with out gear) is 8,300 lbs. So there is no way to adjust the load.
The sway mainly comes when making a left turns at 55+ MPH, no or very little wind. It was not fun to say the least.

About towing, I've done my fair share, that's why I was asked to come along. I just never towed anything larger than a car trailer and a Jeep on it. I have towed and pushed back commercial aircraft, that’s with two hinged points!! But then the "tow rig" was a 50 ton tug with a V8 Cat diesel

[Mr.N]

A quick side story, hopefully someone from MSP airport can confirm this and finish the story.

This happened between 2 weeks and 2 months after I quit UPS as the main aircraft pusher, around summer 97. I heard this from an old co-worker at UPS. Seems the forklift was 50 yards off the tarmac and got stuck. (This had happened in the past, when we had a 25 ton tow rig. I hooked up a long rope to the forklift and could never even feel pulling it out. I was always on solid ground) However this time the location was different. Seems a supervisor asked the guy to drive the 50 ton tow rig over to the forklift sitting in the grass. Well travel around 15MPH the 50 ton rig made it as far as 2” from the edge of the 2 foot thick concrete before it sunk into the ground. If you know anything about Aircraft tow rigs they are low to the ground, didn’t take much to get this stuck. Guess they grabbed the largest jack they could find, dug a hole and it didn’t even move it a hair. Last I heard they were getting quotes at over 100,000.00 dollars to move it! They had to move it because MAC (local airport) said they had to. They would not allow a crane as it was too close to the runway!
The last I ever heard, forth hand, was they were getting the Military to lift it with a dual prop helicopter.