How much weight before.....? - Diesel Forum

Sorno · 08-22-2006, 01:12 PM

How much weight or, length of trailer before you need a weight distribution hitch and sway controllers?

SmokeyWren · 08-22-2006, 03:19 PM

There is no minimum, but about 5,000 pounds gross trailer weight or 500 pounds hitch weight is the most you'd want to tow with a bumper-pull receiver without a weight-distributing hitch.

On some weight-distributing hitches, sway control is an optional extra. But I wouldn't want to tow any trailer that grosses more than 5,000 pounds without both a weight-distributing hitch and sway control.

FastDEW · 08-22-2006, 06:18 PM

This depends on the trailer.

I have a 28 foot enclosed car hauler. I towed the trailer while loaded at 10,500 lbs on a class V hitch. The hitch was on a E350 Turbo Diesel van. No weight dist or sway control. The van handled the weight absolutley not problem and no sway.

Now I tow the same trailer on my F250 with weight dist, but no sway control, again, no problems at all.

I think that on most camper style trailers though (because the sit higher) I would have sway control.

I guess it depends greatly on the trailer and tow vehicle and the combo of both.

Sorno · 08-23-2006, 10:26 AM

The reason i am asking this question is, I don't want to end up buying 10 different type hitches to go into my reciever for 10 different trailers.

FastDEW:

Why did you need a weight dist. hitch on the F250 but not the van? Didn't the van have a shorter wheel base?

Leader · 08-23-2006, 05:52 PM

His van had a class V hitch, the F250 had a class III or IV.
The rating on most class IV hitches is 1000/10000 pounds Weight carrying/ weight dist. If you have the WD set up, you don't have to use the bars and it becomes just another WC hitch. In all my years pulling all kinds of trailers, I have never used sway control of any kind and never needed it. Problems with sway were handled by redistributing the load or slowing down some. (sometimes both) Short or long wheel base tow vehicle really didn't seem to matter nor did the length of the trailer. Shorter trailers are harder to back up.(for me anyway)
Think my lightest was an empty tow dolly hooked to a Ford Ranger & the biggest was 50,000+ kilo's(had NO idea what a kilo was} in a tandem trailer hooked to a single axle International tractor with a 5 speed transmition and a two speed axle. 220 HP Cummings Pulled that 1000 miles through the Alps thanks to my wonderfully Uncle Sam.

T_Bone · 08-24-2006, 04:07 AM

[ QUOTE ]
The reason i am asking this question is, I don't want to end up buying 10 different type hitches to go into my reciever for 10 different trailers.

FastDEW:

Why did you need a weight dist. hitch on the F250 but not the van? Didn't the van have a shorter wheel base?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Sorno,

Then you need to look at buying custom built hitching. There's a couple receivers built for the agriculture market thats built great and will take any abuse one could throw at it. That dosen't mean you need abuse your equipment but it does say the equipment will last a very long time without failure under normal usage.

Sway comes from load placement as well as axle placement on the trailer. The longer the pivot pin to center line of axle distance, the more stable a trailer will pull, so be very picky on the trailer you buy.

Side x side stability comes from track width and dual wheels.

I too in over 40yrs of pulling load weight have never needed sway control or WD as I've always matched my trailers to my tow vechile and with excellant quality custom hitching.

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larry_minn · 08-25-2006, 12:32 AM

I love (agri) type hitches. I have a DMI and a Brute II. Both will rip the frame out of your truck before they will fail. They are spring (cushened) and for hooking up you can swing hitch (wild guess 30 degrees) and extend it about a foot. Once hooked up back up or tap brakes (before hooking up trailer brakes) and it locks back for towing. I also have never used anti sway/WD.
Bumper pull loads. 20 enclosed car hauler with Taurus and household/canned goods piled in front/inside car/behind and topper of truck loaded to roof. FL to MN only problem was alt burned out and ignition (steering wheel) broke. No towing problems.
Also cattle trailer 7 animals of 1200-1400 lb. Or dump wagon with loader tractor (that was only 20 miles each way maybe 3 trips a year)
Otherwise its been GN work.

FastDEW · 08-25-2006, 12:53 AM

[ QUOTE ]

FastDEW:

Why did you need a weight dist. hitch on the F250 but not the van? Didn't the van have a shorter wheel base?

[/ QUOTE ]

No reason really. I loaned the trailer to a friend and he was pulling it with an Excursion. He purchased the wt dist setup because he had the trailer for a while. When I got the trailer back, he gave me the setup. I figure I might as well use it.

I did notice though, that the E350 rear suspension seemed to settle down much less than the F250, but I don't know why.