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Old 05-10-2016, 03:03 PM   #1
tommy_z
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towing without WD hitch

I'm on the hunt for a TV because I think my trailer is a tad too much for my TV. Been leaning toward a Ram 3500 SRW.

With the stupid payload and receiver capacity of this thing, do I even need a weight distribution hitch? It seems the most I might miss is sway control.
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Old 05-10-2016, 04:55 PM   #2
Mike484
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WD and sway control is a cheap investment for the return. Even if you don't need it, why would you not use it?
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Old 05-10-2016, 05:09 PM   #3
slow
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towing without WD hitch

The TV receiver has two ratings, one without use of WD (weight carrying) and the second with WD. The tongue weight of most large TT probably exceed the weight carrying (no WD) rating of the receiver. The TVs receiver max rating is only applicable when used with WD.

It is common for the receiver's max tongue weight rating without WD to be less than half of what it is with WD. As an example, my 2015 F250 gasser is only 600 lbs as weight carrying (without WD) vs. 1,250 with WD.

Check the receiver specs and as others have said, WD and sway control is cheap insurance.

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Old 05-10-2016, 07:01 PM   #4
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Just my observations: every customer that has declined W/D and sway, has driven off and returned 15 minutes later asking us to install it. As others have said, cheap insurance.
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Old 05-10-2016, 07:32 PM   #5
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It is the best insurance that you can have.....
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Old 05-11-2016, 03:54 AM   #6
SLIMSHADIE
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Tommy what TT do you have?
On my 2006 3500 srw factory class iv reciever, its rated like 500-600# tongue weight then 1200# with a weight distribution device. Then any TT over 25' long should have sway control.
Being negligent and narrow minded, I didnt use any wd hitch the first year. Found out my 35' loaded 8600# TT put me in the wd hitch category. Researched and bought the Reese Dual Cam, wd and sway, all in one. Glad I did, 5 years later, Ive drove home thru some pretty bad storms and I know it kept me on the road. Its not worth putting my family and others at risk. Hooking up the wd hitch is a snap.
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Old 05-11-2016, 04:52 AM   #7
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Thanks all, solid advice once again.
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Old 05-11-2016, 05:02 AM   #8
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Don't know what trailer you have, but assume it's fairly large since you're shopping for a new truck and considering a 3500. When I transported, I didn't use my WDH on smaller trailers (25' or less) and can say I didn't really miss it with a 3500 dually. As already mentioned, it does change the rating of your trucks receiver and is cheap insurance for an added bit of safety. On another note, some states require a WDH for larger size trailers. I believe Ohio is one and requires a WDH for any trailer with a GVWR over 5k lbs. Personally, if you feel you don't need a hitch, I wouldn't spend a lot on the top of the line. My Eaz-Lift 1,000 hitch was only $200 from Amazon and works just fine. Just remember that the rating of the bars is not how much weight they can carry, it's how much weight they can transfer, but the hitch itself will also have a rating for how much weight it can safely tow.
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Old 05-11-2016, 05:39 AM   #9
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The thing to remember is a WDH is doing several things. The most important thing is putting weight back on the front axle that was removed by the heavy trailer tongue. Even if you have a killer DRW, your front axle will be lighter without a WDH. Your rear axle may not sag much and be stable, but your raised front will still contribute greatly to sway.

Also, without measuring front end height before and after hitching up, it can be hard to tell how high your front end is. This is especially true for trucks that sit high in the rear naturally.

The "built in" anti-sway components of most modern WDHs are nice, but the good old sway bars are amazing. I use one in conjunction with my Reese SC WDH. If you have never used one, you don't know what you are missing.


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Old 05-11-2016, 05:47 AM   #10
Mike484
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outback 325BH View Post
The "built in" anti-sway components of most modern WDHs are nice, but the good old sway bars are amazing. I use one in conjunction with my Reese SC WDH. If you have never used one, you don't know what you are missing.


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I am using my Reese cam style sway control I bought in 1987. Nearly 30 years old but very well built and does an outstanding job. It does have a lot of "popping" going on when making sharp turns (normally while driving slow) but I love it and would never trade it for a more modern "Built in sway control" model.
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Old 05-11-2016, 09:14 AM   #11
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You can benefit from a good integrated WD/SC hitch. The Rese Dual Cam mentioned previously is a well engineered design. I would not tow with anything less.
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