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06-18-2015, 07:33 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Clermont, FL
Posts: 146
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Towing with only one weight distributing bar
I have a buddy that regularly tows with a single weight distributing bar. Of course he has two bars but choses to use a bar on one side only. The single bar does distribute the weight from the trailer to the truck. Is he doing any harm to the trailer, or is this a dangerous practice? Has anyone heard of anyone doing this before?
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06-18-2015, 07:40 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,486
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Doesn't make much sense; you'd have to put twice as much tension on the single bar to get the same weight transfer.
Hard on the bar, the bar mount bracket, the trailer frame rail..... 
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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06-18-2015, 07:53 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 608
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Why? weight "distribution" is it's name it won't distribute if it's half there.
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06-18-2015, 08:16 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: N E Ohio
Posts: 4,403
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I would guess that it would be dangerous, because of the torque stresses that using one bar would put on the hitch. This could cause a premature failure at any time. The manufacturers put 2 bars on them for a reason, usually an engineering reason, so i would say that using 1 bar is a really BAD idea, and an unsafe one to boot.
Frank
__________________
05 Alfa Gold 40' Motor Home "Goldie",
03 Malibu Toad
in a 24' CargoMate trailer.
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06-18-2015, 08:17 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DFW, Tex-US
Posts: 6,196
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Stunning what some people think are good ideas 
__________________
'11 Monaco Diplomat 43DFT RR10R pushed by a '14 Jeep Wrangler JKU. History.. 5'ers: 13 Redwood 38gk(junk!), 11 MVP Destiny, Open Range TT, Winn LeSharo, C's, popups, vans, tents...
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06-18-2015, 08:23 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 65
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Never heard of anyone doing that. One would think it would want to twist the tongue, draw bar and the receiver.
__________________
2016 Ford F-350 CC PSD SRW PSD 4x4
2018 Jayco Eagle 29.5BHOK
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06-18-2015, 09:05 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 568
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and the ball and hitch aren't twisted????
I would think it would snap or distort...
that is some seriously dangerous stuff.....
I hope I never cross his path on the road.....
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06-18-2015, 09:11 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Bent tongue anyone?
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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06-19-2015, 05:01 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Palm Coast Florida
Posts: 12,995
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Ugh...if one is better than two just think of using none.
I wonder what else goes on in this guy's head. Using 2 quarts of oil is better than full oil. Using 1/2 the torsion bars makes no sense...
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06-19-2015, 05:26 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,441
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He is probably using 1 because he has bars for a much heavier trailer. Don't make it right, but it works for him.
If you had a boat trailer, a single bar would work, with the right hitch head.
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06-19-2015, 05:51 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Jax Fl
Posts: 210
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Can you say "just plain lazy". Not something I would do. I equate that with just running with one dual.
__________________
Jake & Sarah, US Army Retired,
2020 Entegra Reatta 39T2, 360 Cummins, Allision 3000, 2016 F150 4x4, Air Force 1 
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06-19-2015, 08:04 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Auburn, WA
Posts: 427
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Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Not designed for it, will cause torsional stress that it wasn't designed for and just sounds...well, dumb.
__________________
TV: 2012 Ford F350 CC 6.7L 4x4
TT: 2014 Wind River 250RDSW [Dual Crown 6v, Trimetric, Iota 15.4v 55A charger]
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06-19-2015, 08:23 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,368
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If he's using one bar and that works for him, maybe he really doesn't need the bars at all.
It's not a doomsday event that he's doing this, it's not going to hurt anything, these spring bars can't bend a frame. But with only half the transfer capacity being used, why bother, it can't be helping much, looks crazy and makes people wonder.
__________________
Dan & Loretta, US Army Retired Aero Scout Pilot
2012 Fleetwood Providence 42P Class A/DP
Spartan Chassis, 8.9L Cummins 450HP
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06-19-2015, 08:30 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 14,891
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On a rough road I wonder if the one bar would introduce a significant corkscrewing motion. Likely make steering a bit problematic.
However the Darwin awards need more candidates.
__________________
Gordon and Janet
Tour 42QD/InTech Stacker
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