Weight Distribution Hitches

Colin · Member

Weight Distribution Hitches

first timer · Senior Member

Hi Colin

I tow without a wdh,but having said that I must say I tow a 15 ft pop top of approx 2000kg with a 100 series landcruiser, I have to date not experienced any problems with this combination. I must also say that I have over 30 years experience in driving semi trailers,truck and dogs, heavy rigids, and most recently 14.5 meter coaches, which I believe gives me the correct skills required for towing caravans minus wdh's. I must admit though that I am not entirely convinced about the so called merits of wdh's.

Regards

Ashley

spida · Guru

I tow an 18' Jayco expanda with Navara D40 - no problems - no WDH. I think Nissan also does not recommend using them.

Colin · Member

Thanks for the replies. I understand that with a Navara, Nissan actually prohibit the use of a WDH whilst with the Isuzu, the manufacturers "do not endorse or recommend".

ozjohn · Guru

I tow with a new Colorado which has the same chassis as the Dmax and Holden recommend the use of a WDH if the 'vehicle attitude is compromised'.
Personally I wouldn't tow without a WDH.
Laden van 2480Kg with 270 on ball.
Ozjohn.

Jonathan · Senior Member

Hi Colin ..

I have a new Dmax and tow a NewAge Classical 18 Caravan using a WDH .. Have only travelled with the new combination since December, but couldn't be happier.

WDH was fitted and set to the DMax towbar arrangement when the van was purchased .. the Van does have an Alko base, but I chose not to use the ALKO ESC as the Dmax has an excellent ESC system itself which integrates well with the combination.

Absolutely no problems whatsoever to this point in time .. achieving an average fuel consumption of 12.9 lts per 100 km's isn't too bad either ..

Colin · Member

Thanks for all those replies, much appreciated that you took the time to help me. One question Jonathan. Is your tow bar a factory tow bar or did you have another type fitted. I have a factory tow bar rated to 3.5 tonnes and was planning on using that. Thanks in anticipation of your reply. Cheers Colin

Jonathan · Senior Member

Colin wrote:
One question .. Is your tow bar a factory tow bar or did you have another type fitted. I have a factory tow bar rated to 3.5 tonnes and was planning on using that.

I have a haymen Reese WDH fitted to the factory towbar .. but my Dmax can only tow to 3 tonne and that suits me .. I think the latest can tow to 3.5 tonne . (not sure though) ..

cheers !

Diggings · Senior Member

There have quite a few chassis bending in front of the rear wheels due to WDH, that's why vehicle manufacturers don't like them to be used, I use a WDH on my PK Ranger and wouldn't tow without it.

Baz421 · Guru

Diggings wrote:
There have quite a few chassis bending in front of the rear wheels due to WDH, that's why vehicle manufacturers don't like them to be used, I use a WDH on my PK Ranger and wouldn't tow without it.

I think you are a bit confused here diggings. WDH's help AVOID overloading and bending chassis as you describe,,, excessive ball weight and driving techniques bend the chassis,

Heaps been written about it.

D and D · Guru

Diggings wrote:
There have quite a few chassis bending in front of the rear wheels due to WDH, that's why vehicle manufacturers don't like them to be used, I use a WDH on my PK Ranger and wouldn't tow without it.

I haven't heard of WDH's being involved in broken backs of dual cab 4WD utilities. The stories I've heard of these events its been the over inflation of air bag suspension fitted to the rear that has been identified as the likely suspect.

PeterD · Guru

Colin wrote:
Thanks for the replies. I understand that with a Navara, Nissan actually prohibit the use of a WDH whilst with the Isuzu, the manufacturers "do not endorse or recommend".

This is the problem with listening to scuttlebutt. Nissan do not prohibit the use of WDH. They just say they do not recommend the use of WDH on their bars. Get yourself a Hayman Reese bar in every case, they warrant the use of the bar and any damage it may do (overloading and abuse not excepted of course.)

PeterD · Guru

Diggings wrote:
There have quite a few chassis bending in front of the rear wheels due to WDH, that's why vehicle manufacturers don't like them to be used, I use a WDH on my PK Ranger and wouldn't tow without it.

Another bit of scuttlebutt. All the reports are of chassis bending downwards, not upwards. They don't bend for one reason only. Most of the reports have been for a combination of air bags and heavy loads on the rear end (and more than likely excessive speed over rough stuff.)

The popular picture around the net was of a ute with two tyres hanging off the gack of the tray and towing a camper trailer with a lot of stuff on the draw-bar. Another was of a slide-on camper that overhung the rear axle by a long way and little over the cab.

Brenda and Alan · Guru

A WDH is designed to reduce weight on the rear axle and transfer it to the front axle. A simple look at the forces involved would show that any bending would be downwards and most probably forward of the front hanger of the rear spring if leaf type or coil top mount if coil type (air bag suspension would behave as for coils).

Air bags used as boosters on leaf springs impose an upward force between the spring hangers to a part of the chassis not designed for these forces.

To my mind a wiser approach would be to stay within the designed loadings of the tug and not use a WDH.

PeterD · Guru

Brenda and Alan wrote:
To my mind a wiser approach would be to stay within the designed loadings of the tug and not use a WDH.

Yes, "stay within the designed loadings of the tug" and you will not have to use air bags.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Common sense all round...

Tim thetruckie · Senior Member

first timer wrote:
Hi Colin
I tow without a wdh,but having said that I must say I tow a 15 ft pop top of approx 2000kg with a 100 series landcruiser, I have to date not experienced any problems with this combination. I must also say that I have over 30 years experience in driving semi trailers,truck and dogs, heavy rigids, and most recently 14.5 meter coaches, which I believe gives me the correct skills required for towing caravans minus wdh's. I must admit though that I am not entirely convinced about the so called merits of wdh's.
Regards
Ashley

Ashley with similar time driving trucks from light rigids to triple road trains and having towed anything from a 6x4 box trailer to a 30' caravan I have learnt that anything such as WDH that makes your set up more stable and therefore safer on the road is a good thing and should be used .

I really dont consider 30 years driving trucks really gives you any skills to tow a caravan behind a 4wd , the dynamics of the 4wd,caravan combination are totally different to semi trailers , comparing a 5th wheeler to a semi , yes you are then talking about the same thing .

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Sheesh heavy machinery is different to light trucks !!

Tim thetruckie · Senior Member

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Sheesh heavy machinery is different to light trucks !!

Where does heavy machinery come into it ???

JayDee · Guru

You know the old saying " If it going to happen it will happen to me." Murphy Law.
Well the Hayman Reece hitch we had on the Rover, well the Shank would not fit into the Toyota Cruiser factory tow bar. My grinder was to small to get rid of the excess thickness, so of to Aranda Tow bar specialist and for $25 we are back in business. Good service from Aranda Tow Bars at Woodridge.????
As far as WDH. we certainly would not travel with out it.
Jay&Dee