Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH)
Submitted by Cruise Control on Thu, 2017-07-06 12:07
G'Day Guys
There are a lot of big boats on this forum being towed by a variety of different vehicles. So a question has come up about WDH. Does anyone on this forum have a WDH arrangement fitted to their boat trailer ?
Most vehicle manufacturers recommend one but are they a legal requirement ? If you don't have one and you lose your car/boat/trailer, what will your insurers do ? Will they say it was recommended that you do but you didn't so we wont pay ?
Its a very gray area and I am yet to get a sensible answer from my insurers or vehicle licensing. Appreciate any feedback that anyone has on this as lots of people might have some exposure here.
cheers in advance
bsir
Posts: 574
Date Joined: 24/04/11
Ive been thinking about it..
..will be interested to see what others are doing as well.
i have a landcruiser towing 3.2 tonne without a wdh (using air bags to keep the vehicle Level which I know is not ideal).
resurgence
Posts: 578
Date Joined: 23/04/14
Intended purpose
That's exactly the intended purpose of airbags - to level the vehicle under load.
Stevo81
Posts: 1278
Date Joined: 16/04/12
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pelagicyachts
Posts: 1322
Date Joined: 23/02/11
i thought you were not
i thought you were not supposed to have more than 10% of your load/tow rating on the tow hitch.
- essentially you should have your trailer set up to ensure the weight is distributed evenly over the axle
am assuming a WDH is used where you are unable to do this easily? -
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
I never felt like i need it
I never felt like i need it towing 3.5t with the Jeep.
Pm Jarrid he has WDH same specs as me!
Rob H
Posts: 5798
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Last time I checked mine
Last time I checked mine properly, loaded for Coral Bay the axle load was 3400kg and towball down force was 180kg, roughly 5%.
It has towed nicely at that ratio so far
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
I tow with about 330kg on
I tow with about 330kg on the ball!
sea-kem
Posts: 14983
Date Joined: 30/11/09
How do you calculate that
How do you calculate that Vin?
Love the West!
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
Ive got towball scale.
Ive got towball scale. Welcome to borrow if you ever need
I spent ages testing towball weights and how it towed!
Rob H
Posts: 5798
Date Joined: 18/01/12
I just dropped into the
I just dropped into the caravan place and hooked it up, on the way back from the scales
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Cruise Control
Posts: 973
Date Joined: 03/11/10
Hey Rob, when I had my
Hey Rob, when I had my trailer built, the ball weight on electronic scales was 180kg, boat was fuelled but not loaded.
Tows like a dream at 100kph no problems, steady as a rock. In fact you have to watch your speed as it can creep up without really noticing.
Rob H
Posts: 5798
Date Joined: 18/01/12
on a 200 Bruce?
on a 200 Bruce?
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Cruise Control
Posts: 973
Date Joined: 03/11/10
No mate. I weakened and
No mate. I weakened and bought a Jeep Overland
JohnF
Posts: 2836
Date Joined: 07/07/10
On my Landrover Disco that I
On my Landrover Disco that I use for Perth duties towing my 3.5 t tug, it has air suspension that auto levels, so absolutely no need for a WDH, in fact, they recommend against it. It tows very well with no arse sag whatsoever.
Up to Exxy, I used my old mans 200 series as it has a lot more balls. However, it sagged in the arse a fair bit (300 kg on the tow ball), but being the beast that the 200 series are, still towed like a train. It probably really needed air bags or a WDH, next time I will fit a WDH just to level it out a bit.
Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.
Stevo81
Posts: 1278
Date Joined: 16/04/12
I upgraded my rear coils and
I upgraded my rear coils and put air bags in my 200 series and she sits perfectly level and tows like a dream. Didn't go super heavy duty on the coils as I didn't want to sacrifice any comfort while not towing and I'm super happy. No requirement by insurance to have a WDH to my knowledge.
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jarrid
Posts: 363
Date Joined: 20/08/10
i've got one on my boat and
i've got one on my boat and tow with a jeep. the jeep has self levelling suspension (old one was hydraulic but new one is air) but jeep still recommends WDH when towing over 2.2t. my boat/trailer is about 3.2t pretty much empty. not sure on towball weight.
tows great with it on. have been to exmouth a couple of times as well as greenhead lots. takes about an extra minute to get the trailer on but not an issue. you set it up specific to the car to get the right sags so i think its just an optimisation
Cruise Control
Posts: 973
Date Joined: 03/11/10
Thanks for your thoughts but
Thanks for your thoughts but its all very confusing.
My insurer says that provided its not a legal requirement then they are not required. Licensing says there are no specs that they have that indicate WDH needs to be legally fitted. They are checking with the Inspection boys.
The installer of my towbar says that unless the vehicle is sitting down on its rear suspension, its not required. He mentioned that they don't even make one for a Jeep Overland they do for the Laredo (possibly because of Overland having Quadralift). In their opinion fitting a WDH when its not required could potentially cause handling problems with the vehicle and possibly interfere with the vehicles trailer anti sway control.
But here's a good one, the Toyota LC200 handbook recommends the use of a Toyota approved WDH when towing BUT Toyota don't make one . . If you install a non approved Toyota accessory it voids warranty . . . go figure ?
On the actual Jeep Forum most respondents, say 70/30, use them but they are pulling high, wide and heavy loads, with lots of wind resistance and big weights on the towballs.
Still waiting for Jeep to respond.
I will continue to pursue and post results here but I am thinking that the manufacturers requirement for mandatory use of a WDH is maybe more designed to protect the vehicle manufacturer from claims through chassis failures.
jarrid
Posts: 363
Date Joined: 20/08/10
page 300 of manual. it
page 300 of manual. it doesn't distinguish between models as i have an overland now and a limited previously which had the same wording:
WARNING! If the gross trailer weight is 5,000lb (2,268kg) or more, it is mandatory to use a weight distributing hitch to ensure stable handling of your vehicle. If you use a standard weight carrying hitch you could lose control of your vehicle and cause a collision
Cruise Control
Posts: 973
Date Joined: 03/11/10
Yep, saw that. However read a
Yep, saw that. However read a couple of paragraphs above that where it says:
To maintain the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, follow the requirements and recommendations in this manual concerning vehicles used for trailer towing.
Common Towing Definitions The following trailer towing related definitions will assist you in understanding the following information: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) The GVWR is the total allowable weight of your vehicle. This includes driver, passengers, cargo and tongue weight. The total load must be limited so that you do not exceed the GVWR. Refer to “Vehicle Loading/Vehicle Certification Label” in “Starting And Operating” for further information.
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) The GTW is the weight of the trailer plus the weight of all cargo, consumables and equipment (permanent or temporary) loaded in or on the trailer in its loaded and ready for operation condition. The recommended way to measure GTW is to put your fully loaded trailer on a vehicle scale. The entire weight of the trailer must be supported by the scale.
WARNING! If the gross trailer weight is 5,000 lbs (2 267 kg) or more, it is mandatory to use a weight-distributing hitch to ensure stable handling of your vehicle. If you use a standard weight-carrying hitch, you could lose control of your vehicle and cause a collision.
Is it an arse covering exercise? No reference to legal requirements only required to maintain your warranty coverage and I reckon that's so you can’t blame them if the vehicle develops chassis cracks or becomes unstable if you are towing big weights. Given that the Jeep is rated to 3,500kgs they are covering plenty of arse !
Really like if someone on here has a legal background or knows someone who has who might be interested in giving us an interpretation of this.
Stevo81
Posts: 1278
Date Joined: 16/04/12
Sunshine on this site is/was
Sunshine on this site is/was in insurance and normally jumps in on these sort of threads. Im sure he can oiffer some insight from an insurers POV. Send him a PM
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Cruise Control
Posts: 973
Date Joined: 03/11/10
Good idea. I'll do that
Good idea. I'll do that
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
WHaaat nust inly be in the
WHaaat nust inly be in the newer models. Thats def not in my manual!
sunshine
Posts: 2601
Date Joined: 03/03/09
From a purely insurance perspective
Providing what you are towing does not exceed the vehicle's published towing capacity, there is no issue in regard to insurance. My concern is that many people load up their boat when under tow, particularly for holidays, treating it like a trailer rather than a boat, and in such circumstances, can exceed towing limits, alter ball weights or unbalance set up completely. If you knowingly overload in such a fashion, then you give the insurer a strong argument to deny.
ledge64
Posts: 1017
Date Joined: 24/11/09
Caravan Insurance
MY Pajero is rated 180kg on the ball and can tow 3 ton I was looking at buying a caravan and the ball weight for the van was 195kg spoke to the insurance and they said if its outside the vehicle manufacturers specifications they would not cover any claims regardless if you have rear air bags/shocks or WDH !
Cruise Control
Posts: 973
Date Joined: 03/11/10
Cheers Sunshine.
Cheers Sunshine.
Cruise Control
Posts: 973
Date Joined: 03/11/10
My insurer has just confirmed
My insurer has just confirmed Sunshines comment above. WDH is not a requirement provided you are within your vehicle specs and don't overload.
The comment in the manual relates warranty cover in the event of a claim that devolves from towing.
cheers
bsir
Posts: 574
Date Joined: 24/04/11
Axle loads
it's not just tow weight, you also need to consider axle loads. In the specs there is specified front and rear axle load rating.
i know im probably preaching to the choir, but......
it is possible that the axle load can be exceeded if the rear of the vehicle is loaded and you have a heavy load on the ball.
the WDH helps in this instance by transferring load to the front axle.
Airbags (or self levelling suspension) will help to level out the vehicle, but do not transfer any axle load.
Cruise Control
Posts: 973
Date Joined: 03/11/10
Absolutely correct. A mate
Absolutely correct. A mate is heading off on his annual trip, he has fitted a WDH and then gone in over a weighbridge to get his axle loadings ball weights and trailer weights. He then takes his weighbridge certificates with him in case of an incident.
However that's not to say that if you don't have a WDH and still fall within the same specs that you won't be OK