Weight distribution hitch - do I need this?!?

[Kevin_D]

My Sport S with tow package says it has electronic sway control.
Would you still want something added?
I haven’t researched how the electronic system works.

Kevin

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[BEERviper]

Lot's of great advice here as usual! I was in the same quandary about 1 year ago just as Covid started as we bought a 3,500 lb single axle TT and pulling it with my wife's Nissan Pathfinder (6,000 lb tow rating) since my Wrangler JKU was only rated at 3,500 total.

I did a lot of research and after towing just 1 time without the WDH it was night and day. It's not just about the squat, it's about the weight come off the front axle of your tow vehicle - which means a lessened ability to steer and brake.

I ended up with the Andersen WDH which is a different concept than the traditional trunnion style. I'm really happy with it. Here's a great explanation and review:

https://campaddict.com/weight-distribution-hitch/

https://campaddict.com/andersen-weight-distribution-hitch-review/

 

[Jay Gatsby]

Agree with everyone here. I did a lot of research and bought the Equal-i-zer. Works great. Provides weight distribution and sway control AND you can back-up with it (like the Andersen). I pull a 1700 lb dual axle utility trailer with a SXS, ATV, dirt bike and other cargo loaded on it totaling over 4500 lbs. I have a JTR, max tow with 35's, no lift.

 

[Jay Gatsby]

My Sport S with tow package says it has electronic sway control.
Would you still want something added?
I haven’t researched how the electronic system works.

Kevin

Yes

 

[danielspivey]

My Sport S with tow package says it has electronic sway control.
Would you still want something added?
I haven’t researched how the electronic system works.

Kevin

the Electronic sway control on the Jeep is different that the sway control with the WDH. The sway on the WDH stops the hitch at the trailer ball from pivoting so easy. The sway typically occurs from in and out movement at the hitch ball ... which is between the rear truck axel and the trailer axel. A tandem trailer helps keep the trailer straight, whereas a single axel can start to sway easier.

the electronic sway control with the jeep simply applies the trucks brakes when needed to help to stop sway. If you have a proper WDH w sway control, you should never get to this point (or would you want to).

 

[danielspivey]

Lot's of great advice here as usual! I was in the same quandary about 1 year ago just as Covid started as we bought a 3,500 lb single axle TT and pulling it with my wife's Nissan Pathfinder (6,000 lb tow rating) since my Wrangler JKU was only rated at 3,500 total.

I did a lot of research and after towing just 1 time without the WDH it was night and day. It's not just about the squat, it's about the weight come off the front axle of your tow vehicle - which means a lessened ability to steer and brake.

I ended up with the Andersen WDH which is a different concept than the traditional trunnion style. I'm really happy with it. Here's a great explanation and review:

https://campaddict.com/weight-distribution-hitch/

https://campaddict.com/andersen-weight-distribution-hitch-review/

this is a great point about this Anderson WDH with horizontal chains, versus vertical chains... the horizontal design is optimal and works like the friction bar WDHs. These things have received really good reviews!

 

[brianinca]

Still trying to grok how that works, but that setup is 50 lbs lighter than the Husky I have (and it works GREAT). 50 lbs is 50 lbs!!!

Lot's of great advice here as usual! I was in the same quandary about 1 year ago just as Covid started as we bought a 3,500 lb single axle TT and pulling it with my wife's Nissan Pathfinder (6,000 lb tow rating) since my Wrangler JKU was only rated at 3,500 total.

I did a lot of research and after towing just 1 time without the WDH it was night and day. It's not just about the squat, it's about the weight come off the front axle of your tow vehicle - which means a lessened ability to steer and brake.

I ended up with the Andersen WDH which is a different concept than the traditional trunnion style. I'm really happy with it. Here's a great explanation and review:

https://campaddict.com/weight-distribution-hitch/

https://campaddict.com/andersen-weight-distribution-hitch-review/

 

[BEERviper]

Still trying to grok how that works, but that setup is 50 lbs lighter than the Husky I have (and it works GREAT). 50 lbs is 50 lbs!!!

Yes I was pretty amazed at the simplicity of it as well. I purchased my setup at a local trailer shop in the Denver CO area and when I spoke with the owner of the trailer shop he told me he uses this same exact WDH on every one of his own personal trailers!

That's pretty high praise from someone that runs a trailer shop and utilizes them daily and obviously has tried them all.

 

[A 2]

Lot's of great advice here as usual! I was in the same quandary about 1 year ago just as Covid started as we bought a 3,500 lb single axle TT and pulling it with my wife's Nissan Pathfinder (6,000 lb tow rating) since my Wrangler JKU was only rated at 3,500 total.

I did a lot of research and after towing just 1 time without the WDH it was night and day. It's not just about the squat, it's about the weight come off the front axle of your tow vehicle - which means a lessened ability to steer and brake.

I ended up with the Andersen WDH which is a different concept than the traditional trunnion style. I'm really happy with it. Here's a great explanation and review:

https://campaddict.com/weight-distribution-hitch/

https://campaddict.com/andersen-weight-distribution-hitch-review/

Interesting. I like it’s light weight and simplicity. Do you have a pic of your setup? How much ground clearance do you have? What model do you have for that 3500 lb trailer? My trailer has the same max weight.

 

[GoVR46]

I just towed a Jeep YJ on a 2500lb U-Haul trailer (the old steel one) total weight was around 5500-6000 lbs.

This is how close the trailer tongue was to the ground. tge Max Tow JT has quite the squat, estimated tongue wt about 5-600 lbs. load leveling hitch would have been much better

That looks sketchy.

 

[brianinca]

I have a 98 Explorer that needed shocks every 25,000 miles. I tried Sensatracs and other "name" shocks from back in the day, but the heavy off pavement use just killed shocks. H2 on the other hand went 60K on the factory shocks with even more off pavement and off road use.

Shocks are a wear item, I wouldn't sweat changing them at 30K.

One thing I’ve noticed about my Max Tow suspension, the shocks at 30,000 miles seem ready for a change. The rear shocks especially. Anyone else experiencing this?

 

[XJADDICTION]

That looks sketchy.

? you got that right! And Uhaul thought it was fine. You can’t move weight back on the Uhaul trailer. So you live with it. Options I could have done were a level or inverted my 2” drop hitch. It tied fine and I survived.

Here is my setup now, I bought this trailer 7x18ft car hauler for adventure build out, but still able to haul a car orJeep when finished with build.

2” drop hitch with the load over the axles as they should be.

Jeep YJ weighs a little under 3300 pounds, trailer is 1500#s total weight is 4800#s.

Tongue weight is about 500lbs

 

[BEERviper]

Interesting. I like it’s light weight and simplicity. Do you have a pic of your setup? How much ground clearance do you have? What model do you have for that 3500 lb trailer? My trailer has the same max weight.

This was the setup I was using with my wife's 2010 Nissan Pathfinder (6k tow rating) to pull our camper over summer 2020.

I haven't towed yet with the JTD but with the Andersen WD hitch you have the option to buy 2 different receivers, a 4" drop/rise and a 8" drop/rise. I purchased my setup with the 8" drop/rise knowing that I had plans to eventually tow with a lifted JT so all I will need to do is adjust the drop on the hitch receiver for the JT so everything is level.

I'll definitely get pics once I set everything up.

 

[Tazbert]

My wife and I have a Sport S Max Tow on order. Our plan was to spend a year or two bed-tent camping and renting pop-ups and small trailers. End goal is figuring out what kind of trailer we want to buy (while we build back up our savings from the JT purchase). If the rental camper doesn't have a WD hitch, how quick are they to install? Is it something a renter would object to us doing to their trailer?

 

[Labswine]

My wife and I have a Sport S Max Tow on order. Our plan was to spend a year or two bed-tent camping and renting pop-ups and small trailers. End goal is figuring out what kind of trailer we want to buy (while we build back up our savings from the JT purchase). If the rental camper doesn't have a WD hitch, how quick are they to install? Is it something a renter would object to us doing to their trailer?

If you are renting a pop-up, I am sure they are light enough that a WDH will be a waste of money and, besides, your JT probably won't even know it's back there plus, your electrical connection will probably be a flat 4 connector. For rental trailers, if of sufficient size, then if they are worth renting, then they will be properly equipped for safe towing (at least that's what logic dictates...) like, a WDH or WDH/sway control combo (depending on length) and I would STRONGLY recommend getting an electronic brake controller. Brand preference varies by who responds here but, my recommendation (because I have one and it's awesome) is the Tenkonsha Primus IQ. Mine was installed for about $140 and the trailer dealership.

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