Weight distributing hitch ???

[cire74]

Originally Posted by Larryjb

One thing no one has mentioned is the axle ratings. Even if your Suburban doesn't drop when hooking up the TM, the weight is still mainly on the rear axle. I have a tahoe and I did exceed the weight rating on the rear axle even though I was still several thousand pounds under the towing limit.

Your Suburban will be fine with a WDH, so I'd go for it. There are weight ratings for the WDH, and I recall the medium (800 lb) was the best. I got mine from Cap-it, but there are many good places to get one.

I'm sure any WDH will do. No one here has ever felt the need for sway control.

They probably have either sold the TM or at least upgraded the TV since the original post was 18 years ago....

[Larryjb]

I didn't catch onto the fact that Trailbiker was replying to an 18 year old post. However, my reply is good for him to consider. I should have directed my response to Trailbiker and the Ridgeline instead.

[cire74]

Originally Posted by Larryjb

I didn't catch onto the fact that Trailbiker was replying to an 18 year old post. However, my reply is good for him to consider. I should have directed my response to Trailbiker and the Ridgeline instead.

It was good advice. Just found humor in it. I didnt catch the age initially either...

[dab1950]

Originally Posted by Van Isle TM

I have a 31/24 - I taking over towing duties and moving from a Nissan Titan Truck which towed it like it wasn't there and will now be towing with a Nissan Pathfinder - it is rated for 6000 lbs. It is a 'truck based' SUV. The distribution hitch seems huge - I am older female and struggle with the bars on the hitch - I was hoping I could tow without it. Sounds like from this thread most people are using a weight distribution hitch. Does anyone not - or is it just not recommended? Thanks

Dear Van Isle Tm,

Is your Pathfinder 2 wheel drive with front wheels driven or 4 wheel drive? TM does recommend/require a WDH with a V6 engine and front wheel drive only. Also, does the
Pathfinder have some kind of air assist for the rear suspension? A WDH might still be a
good idea without air assist rear suspension. Another consideration which you did not mention is tongue weight. What is the tongue weight(TW) rating for your Pathfinder?
The TM 3124 TW might be over what your Pathfinder is rated to handle. Using a WDH is a moot point if the TW is too much.
I recently replaced my TV. I had a Dodge Durango and replaced it with a Toyota Highlander with Class 3 2" receiver hitch installed by previous owner.
I made sure the Highlander and the receiver hitch could handle the TW of my 2720(~400-420 lbs). I can't remember exactly why I passed over the Nissan Pathfinder in my shopping but it might
have been the TW rating might have been too low. One thing I know I didn't care for with most of the Nissan's was the CVT transmissions.

Hope this helps. Stay safe.

[dab1950]

Originally Posted by trailbiker

I have a 2720 which I tow with a Honda Ridgeline. I have considered getting weight distribution hitch, but never felt like I really needed it. Honda does not recommend the use of WD hitches, but I am not sure why. I am not sure what I'm missing here.

Trailbiker,
When I was shopping recently for a replacement TV, I vaguely remember the Ridgeline
had air assist rear suspension. Does yours? Is your Ridgeline AWD(4 wheel drive)?
With AWD the Honda's have 5000 lb tow rating and 500 lbs TW rating and I think air
assist rear suspension is standard equipment.
You obviously have been towing your TM for 9 years. If you haven't noticed any considerable 'squat' at the hitch then you likely don't need a WDH.

Hope this helps. Stay safe.

[Larryjb]

A rear assist air suspension does not shift the weight back to the front. There is a very You Tube video proving this, I can find the link later. The air assist is good if you have a heavy load with no trailer. As soon as your load is the trailer, you need the WDH.

[Bill]

The purpose of a WDH is NOT to reduce squat. Reduced squat is simply an indication that the WDH is doing its job - a free benefit, if you will.

When you put the TM's hitch weight on the hitch ball, two bad things can happen. First, you can very easily exceed the weight rating of the tow vehicle's rear suspension. Wheel bearings, tires, and other suspension parts have a maximum weight-carrying rating, which is listed on a sticker on the driver's door. If you exceed this rating, you do so at your peril.

Second, the teeter-totter effect removes some weight from the front wheels of the tow vehicle. Since the front wheels are where all of the vehicle's steering, and most of the braking happen (and at least part of the driving force if you have FWD or AWD), reducing traction by taking weight off the front wheels is a really bad idea.

If your trailer's tongue weight is, for example, 450 pounds, and the WDH moves 100+ pounds of it off the rear suspension and back onto the front wheels, and a similar amount back to the TM wheels, this is a really good thing. Not only does it re-load the front wheels, but it takes 200+ pounds off the rear suspension. That's important.

Oh, and incidentally, moving the weight around de-squats the vehicle.

As Larry points out, an automatic vehicle load leveler also de-squats, but does nothing to move weight around. If I had a vehicle with a load-leveler, I would turn it off, at least until I had the WDH adjusted properly.

You might want to take a look at this article in the TrailManor Technical Library.
https://www.trailmanorowners.com/for...ead.php?t=2616

Bill

[kempert]

Great post, Bill. I think it will help many people as it is simple and straight forward.

Also, Thanks for the fantastic job you do as a moderator! KUDOS!!!!!

[Larryjb]

Yes, Kudos for Bill!

Anyway, here is a link to the video showing the differences between using air levellers and a weight distributing hitch. It's a very good demonstration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBZu39pQ8Gg

[Shane826]

Van Isle TM- What year is your Pathfinder? They’ve been unibody with a CVT transmission since 2013; far from truck-based.