WDH or not?

Capstone · 03-27-2012, 09:38 PM

I'm used to pulling a 33' 6575lb dry weight trailer without issue (TV was '08 5.7l Tundra)

Picking up a Swift SLX 184bh (20' 2740lbs dry) this weekend. TV is '04 Suburban (7400lb tow cap).

I have an Equalizer 4-way (10k lb). This is obviously overkill but I was thinking I could go light on the tension without issue. Then read some about small trailer frames flexing with Weight distribution hitches.

Chevrolet manual says WDH needed for trailers over 5000lbs.

Now I'm thinking I'll be okay without WDH.

Thoughts? Experiences?

mcfarmall · 03-28-2012, 03:58 AM

I've towed my 23B for long distances with and without a WDH and in my case the bigger determinant for successful towing was having a drop hitch extension. When we picked it up from the previous owner, I only had an extension with maybe a 2" drop so the trailer towed nose up and was a little squirrely. Next trip I used an extension with a drop of 6-8" which leveled out the trailer and improved the stability dramatically. Later I had the WDH and the ride was maybe a tad less bouncy but not much. Finally I added a friction style sway control (not that it needed one) and couldn't tell the difference with or without it, the sway control that is.

So to make a long story short, you most likely don't need one. If it were me, I'd still tow it without worry and look for a WDH bargain on Craigslist.

Quahog · 03-28-2012, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcfarmall

I've towed my 23B for long distances with and without a WDH and in my case the bigger determinant for successful towing was having a drop hitch extension. When we picked it up from the previous owner, I only had an extension with maybe a 2" drop so the trailer towed nose up and was a little squirrely. Next trip I used an extension with a drop of 6-8" which leveled out the trailer and improved the stability dramatically. Later I had the WDH and the ride was maybe a tad less bouncy but not much. Finally I added a friction style sway control (not that it needed one) and couldn't tell the difference with or without it, the sway control that is.

So to make a long story short, you most likely don't need one. If it were me, I'd still tow it without worry and look for a WDH bargain on Craigslist.

Your EcoBoost has integrated sway control, right? That may be why you didn't notice much of a difference with/without the friction sway bar.

mcfarmall · 03-29-2012, 01:26 AM

Yes the 2011 F-150's with the Integrated Trailer Brake Controller have active sway controls built in to the PCM however when it kicks in there is a light on the dash that comes on (like you really need an idiot light to tell you your trailer is swaying!) like the one that lights up when Traction Control kicks in. This is according to the manual. I've never seen the sway control light up so I'm assuming that it has never kicked in.

TexasA&M · 03-29-2012, 07:07 AM

I'd pull it a few times and then determine if you need a WDH or not. I would suspect that you will be perfectly fine. The suburban you are towing with is much larger than the trailer you are pulling, so I'm thinking that other than a loss of MPG, you will hardly notice that it is there.

Crackshot · 03-29-2012, 07:40 AM

So where is this "frame flexing" thing coming from?

clutch · 03-29-2012, 11:33 PM

Use a hitch that will make the trailer sit level and pull it. If you are not happy then buy some lighter spring bars for your current hitch.

TexasA&M · 03-30-2012, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crackshot

So where is this "frame flexing" thing coming from?

I've read about it a couple of times in regards to folks using heavy spring bars (1k+) on lighter trailers. I can see it happening if your tongue weight is only 400lbs and you put a 1,200lb WDH on it.

Capstone · 03-30-2012, 08:58 PM

Thanks for the input. Picking up tomorrow and taking it for an overnight. I'll see how it goes with the regular hitch.

bayleightucker · 03-31-2012, 08:22 PM

dealer suggested wdh when we bought our 184. we also added sway bar. seemed logical to me but maybe i was oversold by the dealer since im kinda new at all this. at any rate, we towed 100 miles home from dealer, and have had two brief outings since. all seems well. we tow with a 2001 ford f150 6 cyl. auto, and have no trouble pulling this trailer.

Capstone · 04-01-2012, 03:09 PM

All fears have been allayed. Did a quick overnight an hour away to check everything out. The 184bh pulled great with no WDH or sway control. Took regular hitch and the Equalizer to our PDI. Service tech didn't recommend using that large of a hitch. Said it might be okay with the lighter weigh bars.

Actually, he didn't think I would need anything and he was right. Anything smaller than our suburban might need more control. No sway and no bouncing or bucking. Could hardly tell it was back there unless we were on an incline.

Next stop Degray Lake in Arkansas for 4 days next week.

clutch · 04-01-2012, 04:18 PM

One little test run and now you know.

Capstone · 04-02-2012, 06:56 AM

Yea, I'm that good

I'll give you it was a short trip but it included Dallas traffic, mostly interstate, and a bumpy country road.

How long of a trip does it take to make you feel confident in your tow set up?

Capstone · 04-02-2012, 02:48 PM

Clutch - it occurred to me that I may have read into your statement. I took it to mean you felt that wasn't enough time to evaluate the set up. Difficult to decipher tone in a written statement at times. My apologies

Quahog · 04-02-2012, 04:35 PM

I almost said something this morning but I let it pass. The way I interpreted Clutch's statement was: "see, all you needed was a quick test to assure yourself all was good to go".

Inflection is difficult to assess in the written word.

clutch · 04-02-2012, 10:13 PM

You don't have to go very far or long to know if it is right. If it is not correct you will know right away.

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