Why you should NOT use a WDH

[bobbin]

So you think a WDH is a good idea?


What the average Joe calls weight is really the combination of mass and gravity. What you weigh on Earth is different from what you will weigh on the moon. But, your mass is the same.


Facts...

* A WDH does not distribute weight. To distribute weight, you need to take an array of 2x2 blocks and place them into a 1x4 array. A WDH does not do this.

* A WDH uses torque to alter the force vectors, without changing mass or position. But for every force applied, an equal opposing force results. So where is this opposing force, and how much? What occurs when that force must increase to oppose additional force when towing?


The person in the vid is a bona fide mechanical engineer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK1Ozo9f_KQ

[MCCOHENS]

Great example of ignoring certain facts to prove your point. First off, while you are not changing weight distribution you are changing EFFECTIVE weight distribution. FACT- I put my truck on a scale with the bars on, drove off the scale and unhooked the bars. Went back on the scale and parked within an inch of the same position. Weight of the truck changed. I didn't change mass of anything but the EFFECTIVE mass changed.

The other problem with the video is the size of the dip in the picture. A normal road imperfection on the highway is probably less than an inch, based on what I have seen bicycling on roads for a few decades. The energy imparted to the WHD hitting that is relatively minor, considering the force and time of exposure. If you try to drive over a dip as big as the picture at highway speeds you will break something, bars on or off. Our truck had 15 year old 130K mile rear springs for the first 2 years. I had to crank the WDH bars down way too hard to get things closer to level and avoid a lot of pogo stick action. Now we have 3/4 ton leaf springs on a half ton truck. The bars are set very light and used on the highway only. I don't need them to keep the rig more level but it does feel like there is less pogo stick action with the bars on at 60 MPH. Our trailer is single axle so it is more sensitive to road surface and every little bit helps it bounce less.

Bottom line, in my IMHO, WDH will not cure problems with your TV and setting up the bars properly is no trivial task. But when done right they make the ride more stable. And don't drive at 60 MPH over road imperfections as big as his picture, unless you want to break your trailer, TV and the dishes in the camper.

[TXiceman]

If the fellow in the video is a Bonafide engineer, he must not be a very good one. Just present a few misconstrued facts to make a point in your favor and ignore the reality.

As a graduate engineer and a registered engineer, I resent this fellow being called an engineer.

Ken

[jaydee325]

Originally Posted by MCCOHENS

Great example of ignoring certain facts to prove your point.

This pretty much describes over 90% of the YouTube cowboys (or so called experts)!

[Onyrlef]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

If the fellow in the video is a Bonafide engineer, he must not be a very good one. Just present a few misconstrued facts to make a point in your favor and ignore the reality.

As a graduate engineer and a registered engineer, I resent this fellow being called an engineer.

Ken

Problem is like the labels "Veteran" and "Doctor", most people connote them with something they likely weren't/aren't. Most veterans wouldn't know which end of a mortar tube goes up and both a neurosurgeon and a chiropractor are doctors.

[tuffr2]

I liked the Drawtite WD I used to tow a 5,500lb travel trailer with my F-150. If did a few things I really liked.

1. It is a good idea to use a WD hitch.
2. I mutes imperfections in the road making for a smoother more controlled towing experience.
3. It ties the truck to the trailer better so they act more as 1 unit.


At least that was my experience.

[jimcumminsw]

Do you believe everything on youtube?????? Oh, that right if it is on the internet than it must be true!!!!!
I don't even watch anything on youtube because of all of the misinformation that is on that platform.

[Alpine36]

There are lots of useful things to be found on YouTube.
This ain’t one of them…

[tuffr2]

jimcumminsw - dude, that is completely a bad attitude. YouTube has a lot of informational stuff. I wanted to change oil for the 1st time in my car. I go to YouTube and they tell me what mm socket I need. That was accurate information.

By not using YouTube you are missing out on a lot of cool videos.

[CharlesinGA]

Whats the big deal with the video? He is simply explaining how a WDH works (and he did that reasonably well) and then he states that many vehicle manufacturers will say to not use a WDH (structural issues), and that you probably should heed their warning.

I'm not seeing any issue with that. You need to remember, the video is done in Oz and aimed at other Aussies. If you have never watched any videos of caravanning or off roading in Australia, you probably should. The scenery is outstanding and the country is as rugged as it gets, and they don't have huge pickups like we have in the US.

By law, in Australia you cannot import a LH drive vehicle. Period, no classic cars, no new production vehicles, nothing unless it is RH drive. Guess what, Ford, GM and RAM do not build RH drive models of their trucks. Ford pickups are found there because someone has gone to the trouble to engineer and obtain approval for a complete RH drive conversion for certain Super Duty models.

What he says is still applies to vehicles here in the US that do not recommend the use of WDH. You can easily destroy structure in one good bump with a WDH if the vehicle is not designed to handle it.

Charles

[radar]

It’s another one of those “it depends” situations. WDH can be great problem solvers but are not required or even desired in all situations. We have towed with and without over the years and each situation was different.

Nowadays with lighter SIUV’s and trailers one needs to check to see if the tow vehicle manufacturer even recommends them. That is usually a result of the kind of frame under the tow vehicle etc.

With our present combo both the trailer and SUV manufacturer recommend against them. And the reality is with a 335 pound hitch weight and well balanced trailer it wouldn’t solve any problems anyway.

Bottom line wether they provide any benefit depends on the towing situation, and in some situations they can cause problems.

[Spdracr39]

Just a friendly reminder. These types of threads can get ugly quickly so make sure your posts stay cordial. Express your opinion of the topic and then move along with no bickering please.

Thanks

[Rob_M]

Originally Posted by MCCOHENS

Great example of ignoring certain facts to prove your point. First off, while you are not changing weight distribution you are changing EFFECTIVE weight distribution. FACT- I put my truck on a scale with the bars on, drove off the scale and unhooked the bars. Went back on the scale and parked within an inch of the same position. Weight of the truck changed. I didn't change mass of anything but the EFFECTIVE mass changed.
.

Did you weigh the TT before and after? I always wanted to do that out of curiosity.

[Dave Pelletier]

I'm not anti-WD hitch and I own 2 of them but I don't use them with my current TV/TT setup because I don't want or need to redistribute any weight...
.there are negatives to WD hitches and most of the time the pros outweigh the cons.....but not always. If you have a small enough trailer or a big enough tow vehicle, you may find you don't need one or, in the case of some unibody TV's you absolutely shouldn't use one. They also shouldn't be used offroad, anytime where there are abrupt changes in pitch and sometimes where traction is limited. Generally, most people benefit from using them, most of the time.