Tongue Weight / WDH

[LCrabtree]

When using a weight distributing hitch, is 'tongue weight' as critical as without a WDH? It seems to me that with a WDH the combo is okay so long as none of the weight ratings are exceeded: Front Axle GAWR, Rear Axle GAWR, TV GVWR, TT GVWR ...

(and the total towed weight is within specs for the WDH).

Larry

[Logan X]

I think tongue weight is important in the sense that your weight distribution hitch should be set up properly with an appropriate amount of tongue weight. If you are over distributed with not enough weight on the tongue, you will most likely have problems with sway.

Also, whatever actual weight is on the tongue counts against your trucks payload capacity.

[JRTJH]

A weight distribution hitch is designed to "attempt to return the weight ratio to the front axle (steering axle) while not transferring "too much weight" from the rear axle (loss of traction).

Not exceeding the ratings of the front and rear axle, the payload and the GVWR of the truck are important, but you must also be careful that you don't "unload" the front axle by "loosening the WD bars" AND that you don't "unload the rear axle" by "tightening the WD bars".....

In other words, yes, it's important not to exceed any ratings, but you ALSO must properly adjust the WD bars so you maintain an appropriate weight transfer. Just because the rear axle weight rating is not exceeded does not, in itself, mean that the front axle is not "unloaded". The reason this is important is for that moment when you cross a railroad track and on the way down, you realize that your front tires aren't touching the ground and you have ZERO steering control. Just as important is the issue of when the rear tires cross that same railroad track and you find that the engine is "over-revving" and you have no traction....
The railroad crossing is only one example of how a WD hitch can cause loss of tow vehicle control. It also occurs with undulations in the road surface, expansion joints on concrete highways and many other "road surface conditions.

Essentially, a properly adjusted WD hitch does not exceed any vehicle/trailer ratings (about 10-15% of the hitch weight is transferred BACK to the trailer axles). When properly adjusted, the amount of weight transferred forward will position the height of the front of the tow vehicle at (or very near) the unhitched height.

So, you should not only stay under all ratings, but you should also make adjustments to the hitch to obtain the "optimum towing weight transfer" by adjusting the hitch per the manufacturer's instructions.

[MarkEHansen]

I think the OP was asking if tongue weight is an important factor when using a WD hitch. If you look at some vehicles, they will show the max tongue weight each for with and without a WD hitch.

Keep in mind, too, that some of the tongue weight is distributed to the front of the vehicle and some is distributed back to the trailer axles. As most of the weight is still "on the tow vehicle", I've always ignored the weight distributed to the trailer (for weight calculation purposes). YMMV.