WDH or not???

twalk225 · 02-10-2015, 10:11 PM

My family and I are new to the travel trailer world and in the process of buying a new Passport 2810bh. Everywhere I've read and everyone I have talked to has informed me that I will need a WDH to tow my camper but the salesman that I am dealing with is telling me that my 2014 Ford F-150 FX4 w/ 5.0L & tow package would pull this camper better without the WDH due to the wider distance between the axle design. I really think I'm going to get the WDH no matter what, but does anyone have any thoughts around this topic?

michael_h · 02-10-2015, 11:35 PM

I've towed my 19 foot Premier without the WDH on long trips and with it . . . honestly I prefer using it as I do believe it helps to keep my trailer more level with my truck, and though it's not a sway control unit (husky) I think it still helps a little keeping it tracking.

14george · 02-11-2015, 02:38 AM

Got a24 foot TT Ouse on all the time I believe it safer to use it

Hercules1978 · 02-11-2015, 02:57 AM

"The salesman says"
First clue that you should do some homework.
What is the receiver rated for with and without wdh?
What is the tongue weight of the trailer?
What are your payload rating numbers?

I have a sway control wdh (BlueOx SwayPro) and wouldn't tow without it.

notanlines · 02-11-2015, 03:08 AM

I would venture a guess that your tongue weight with a little gear would be in the 700 pound range. (Not sure mind you) A relatively inexpensive WDH is in the 3-$400 range. It isn't necessary for you to "trip the light fantastic" and go whole hog for the $1200 unit. Your unit will tow better, safer, and handle better over all, and all you have is a lousy $400 invested. How can you go wrong?

**JRTJH** · 02-11-2015, 03:46 AM

Your truck's receiver has a maximum tongue weight rating of 500 pounds and maximum trailer weight of 5,000 WITHOUT WDH. It is rated for a maximum tongue weight of 1130 and a maximum trailer weight of 11300 WITH WDH. Those ratings are for the receiver mounted on your truck, they are NOT the maximum ratings for the actual truck (drivetrain/suspension).

Specs for the EMPTY Passport 2810BH are:
Shipping Weight 5145
Carrying Capacity 2055
Hitch 565
Length 31' 10"
Height 10' 9"
Fresh Water 30
Waste Water 30
Gray Water 30
LPG 40

The EMPTY hitch weight is 565. Add one battery (50) and propane (40) and your EMPTY hitch weight will be 655. That's 155 pounds OVER the maximum "NON WDH" rating on your receiver. Not a good idea.

If you consider that the hitch weight will go up with your cargo in the trailer, you'll likely be closer to 900 pounds when loaded for a trip. That's almost double the receiver rating without a WDH. You stand the "risk" of damaging the receiver, attaching points and/or the truck frame by overloading the receiver.

Could you have possibly misunderstood the salesman? He may have said that with the wide spread axles, you wouldn't need an additional sway control to add to the required WDH? But if he told you that you won't need a WDH, he's mistaken.

Terrydactile · 02-11-2015, 05:49 AM

What JRTJH said!

GmaPaTime · 02-11-2015, 05:57 AM

Listen to "JRTJH" for the safety and you and your family. His numbers are spot on. I had that exact truck setup, 2010 though, and those are number I had to work with.

Towing that trailer without a WDH would be an accident waiting to happen.

{tpc} · 02-11-2015, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terrydactile

What JRTJH said!

x2.

I will also add that depending on your situation, "tripping the light fantastic" might be in order. For me, I am making due right now with my $400 wdh unit. As it were, dropping $1200 on a better unit would not be in order for me. Since I financed my trailer, had I to do it all over again, I would get the better wdh right then and there since it could be added to the cost of everything and spread out over my payments.

Just something to think about. If I wanted to, I could have upgraded the wdh last year. But I spent the rest of my disposable cash on gear for the trailer (since we had none). I may upgrade it this year if I can find what I want for a decent price. Or I may go the cheap route and add an additional sway control on the other side.

Just wanted to give my personal experience on the issue.

kguess · 02-11-2015, 07:07 AM

JRTJH seems to know his stuff......listen well.

GaryWT · 02-11-2015, 07:29 AM

If you were driving a 350 I could almost understand his thinking but a 150, your front wheels will be off the ground (not really) without it. The front end of the truck will float going down the road if you do not get weight back to the front of the truck. Any trailer that requires brakes (over 3,000 pounds) should have a WDH in most cases.

**sourdough** · 02-11-2015, 07:46 AM

I think this situation calls for a good WDH with the sway built in. There is no way I'd tow a 32' trailer with an F150 without it. I pulled a 26' trailer with a F150, 5L with a cheap WDH and one bolt on friction sway bar. It could be a handfull in cross winds or passing a semi.

Another point: your salesman is out to lunch. As John notes the tongue weight of the trailer is going to be over the limits for your truck without a WDH. Tongue weight is tongue weight no matter what the axle configuration is.

Ken / Claudia · 02-11-2015, 04:30 PM

This reminds me of a salesman told me a f150 would be fine to carry a truck bed camper. I spend several hours looking the truck over, going over price and trade in. 20 miles of test drive. Before I went in to sign I looked thru the owners manual,"Ford does not build the f150 to carry a side in camper". Do your homework. Do not take a salesman's word.

twalk225 · 02-12-2015, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Your truck's receiver has a maximum tongue weight rating of 500 pounds and maximum trailer weight of 5,000 WITHOUT WDH. It is rated for a maximum tongue weight of 1130 and a maximum trailer weight of 11300 WITH WDH. Those ratings are for the receiver mounted on your truck, they are NOT the maximum ratings for the actual truck (drivetrain/suspension).

Specs for the EMPTY Passport 2810BH are:
Shipping Weight 5145
Carrying Capacity 2055
Hitch 565
Length 31' 10"
Height 10' 9"
Fresh Water 30
Waste Water 30
Gray Water 30
LPG 40

The EMPTY hitch weight is 565. Add one battery (50) and propane (40) and your EMPTY hitch weight will be 655. That's 155 pounds OVER the maximum "NON WDH" rating on your receiver. Not a good idea.

If you consider that the hitch weight will go up with your cargo in the trailer, you'll likely be closer to 900 pounds when loaded for a trip. That's almost double the receiver rating without a WDH. You stand the "risk" of damaging the receiver, attaching points and/or the truck frame by overloading the receiver.

Could you have possibly misunderstood the salesman? He may have said that with the wide spread axles, you wouldn't need an additional sway control to add to the required WDH? But if he told you that you won't need a WDH, he's mistaken.

I'm not mistaken about what the salesman is saying because he clearly stated that he pulls a 3250bh with his f150 with just a 2" rise standard hitch with no problem so he didn't see any reason why I would need one. I told him to have me a 4pt. EQUAL-IZER WDH waiting on me when I come pick up my camper. I never was attending to tow without one, I just thought it was odd that he would suggest that I wouldn't need one. Thanks for the input.

**JRTJH** · 02-12-2015, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twalk225

I'm not mistaken about what the salesman is saying because he clearly stated that he pulls a 3250bh with his f150 with just a 2" rise standard hitch with no problem so he didn't see any reason why I would need one. I told him to have me a 4pt. EQUAL-IZER WDH waiting on me when I come pick up my camper. I never was attending to tow without one, I just thought it was odd that he would suggest that I wouldn't need one. Thanks for the input.

Good for you !!!!! You might want to point a finger at his receiver and mention to him that he's overloading his truck receiver significantly if he is just using a plain ball hitch on his receiver to tow that kind of load. The stamped maximum weight is clearly listed as 500 pounds tongue weight/5000 pounds maximum trailer weight (without WD hitch).

It is odd that he would be towing a load that heavy without the proper hitch, especially since he is "supposed to know".....

Junkinduck · 02-12-2015, 03:01 PM

Pulled our mallard to Tennessee last summer without. Pulling behind a long bed 4 door F-250 diesel. Didn't think I needed one. Would have bought one along the way if I could have found one. The big trucks wore me out with sway. It would start at the trailer and end in the driver seat. I came home and bought a fifth wheel.
I would not pull a TT without a WDH any farther than the local state park. No mater what pickup I had.

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**sourdough** · 02-12-2015, 03:11 PM

twalk225

Good. The WDH with sway is the way to go. I have the Equalizer hitch and really like it. I think you will too.

audio1der · 02-16-2015, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twalk225

My family and I are new to the travel trailer world and in the process of buying a new Passport 2810bh. Everywhere I've read and everyone I have talked to has informed me that I will need a WDH to tow my camper but the salesman that I am dealing with is telling me that my 2014 Ford F-150 FX4 w/ 5.0L & tow package would pull this camper better without the WDH due to the wider distance between the axle design. I really think I'm going to get the WDH no matter what, but does anyone have any thoughts around this topic?

RUN AWAY from that dealer. RUN.

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