Load Equalizing Hitch Problems Maybe

[Bassman349]

Just got a new '08 F250 and hitched up a 28' travel trailer. The tongue weight pulled the back of the truck down 2".

I have 1200 lb. load equalizing spring bars and when all was said and done, the truck rear is back to normal height (within 1/4"), but man those spring bars are really loaded up, slight bow in them, which I'm thinking may be normal, but not sure.

Are there any consequences to having too much load on the spring bars? I'm hoping that I haven't taken too much weight off of the rear end of the truck and causing potential traction problems, won't know I guess until I drive it out of here.

[STurbo90]

Sounds normal, unless you have something like a 1400lb. TW trailer and using 1200lb bars.

The bars should be somewhat parallel to the ground.

[DEllison]

I pull a 34 ft avion and when I use leveling bars I like for my tow vehicle to squat very slightly, like you say 1/4 in. or so, and for my trailer to be level. I uses sway bars when I pull with a suburban and it really slides through the air and handles well. If you put to much load on the bars it will only make the back end of the tow vehicle sit higher and higher to the point you can clear the wheels off the ground. When I weighed the trailer with my pull truck onn private scales it had 1400 lbs of tongue weight the way I had it figured.

[kehale]

The idea is to transfer the load of the hitch weight to the front of the vehicle.
How much does the FRONT settle when you put the bars in tension?

You want about the same amount front AND rear. Having the rear back to normal height (or close to it) may be over doing it on the tension and not necessary. Share the load.

[techkdb]

Under to much tension - then add driving/towing stress you can pull the hitch from the frame. If you tow often enough you might consider gusseting the hitch to the frame and the hitch to itself in areas of weak connections/construction.