Advice

When and how to use a weight-distribution hitch

Weight-distribution hitches can be literally a lifesaver but are no substitute for good payload balance. We explain when and how to use a weight-distribution hitch.  We’ve probably all seen a van being towed by a vehicle with its nose pointing to…

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September 4, 2020

Weight-distribution hitches can be literally a lifesaver but are no substitute for good payload balance. We explain when and how to use a weight-distribution hitch. 

We’ve probably all seen a van being towed by a vehicle with its nose pointing to the sky, a sure example of dangerous sway and/or loss of steering control just waiting to happen. Even though that’s increasingly rare, rig balance remains a crucial element of the towing equation. Time to use a weight-distribution hitch? Hold on. 

Using towball scales
Knowing actual towball mass is vital for achieving a balanced load. A TBM scale costs less than $100

Too much towball download puts extra weight onto the rear axle and – the crucial point – removes too much weight from the front axle. This is dangerous on two fronts; firstly, it reduces the rig’s balance, making dangerous lateral movements (sway) more likely; secondly, it reduces the ability of the front wheels to steer effectively. You also risk exceeding the tow vehicle’s rear axle load limit.

Moving payload in a caravan
Storing all your heavy gear at the front of the van will contribute to poor rig balance

To show how more balanced payload storage can make a big difference, we loaded up 80kg of gear in a caravan’s front boot and 40kg under the front bed. Then we redistributed 80kg of the load from the front tunnel boot to over the axles, and gleaned the Towball Mass (TBM) and wheelarch measurements in each case.

weight distribution inside a caravan
Storing heavy items over the axle(s) is best for towing balance. Not many vans have an adequate facility for this though

Storage in most caravans is not ideal; they don’t have adequate storage provision for heavy gear in the best spot for it to achieve good balance: over the axles. Most vans have their storage up the front. 

When shifting gear to over the axles, we could only store some bulky items in lockers under the dinette seats; the rest we packed in the floor area of the dinette and the centre walkway. If you’re going to do this, you have to make sure that the load is secure and that cabinet surfaces are protected.

With no load, the van weighed 1951kg (Tare), of which 200kg was on the ball. With the load at the front of the van, TBM rose to 290kg– very close to the MU-X’s 300kg limit. With the 80kg weight moved from the tunnel boot to over the wheels, a mass of 240kg was on the towball. 

Measuring for weight distribution hitches
Measuring rear suspension droop is vital for assessing correct towing balance

Measuring both the tow vehicle’s unladen and hitched-up front/rear suspension rise/sag is vital for working out good rig balance. You’re looking for a front rise/rear droop of about 25mm maximum to not affect balance. 

Height measurements were 752mm/775mm front/rear with the MU-X unladen. With the majority of the load up front in the tunnel boot, the MU-X rose 18mm at the front and dropped 50mm at the rear compared to unladen measurements. With the load redistributed, the front was 14mm higher, the rear 35mm lower.

When to use a weight distribution hitch
The rig with all the load concentrated at the front of the van

The interesting thing to note is even with the load poorly balanced, the front rose just 18mm – well within the 25mm guidelines. However, the rear droop was significant, even with the load shifted back towards the centre of the van.

Now it’s time to fit a weight-distribution hitch…

A weight-distribution hitch (WDH) consists of a unique towball mount, two spring bars and A-frame bracket attachments. The spring bars attach to the ball mount and are tensioned on the brackets via chain links, with the brackets secured on the A-frame. A WDH is designed to transfer the weight from the back of the tow vehicle to the front, to improve weight balance. What a WDH does not do is reduce towball download.

First, level the van unhitched and measure coupling height. In the case of the Eaz-Lift WDH used here, you have to set-up the hitch higher than the coupling by 3mm for every 45kg of TBM. In this case, with 240kg TBM, the hitch needed to be 16mm higher than the coupling. WDH tongues usually have a series of mounting holes drilled into them, so it’s just a matter of setting the towball plate to the correct height on the tongue (or as close as possible). The ball mount angle is also adjustable: you want the spring bars to be hanging at an angle of about 10 degrees with the ball mount set at an angle of 6-8 degrees. Hook up the van to the vehicle.

Then you hold the spring bar chain vertically to measure where you need to seat the brackets onto the A-frame. Secure the brackets’ set screw finger tight plus a quarter of a turn with the locking bolt. 

Now it’s time to tension the spring bars. Lift the rig up on the van’s jockey wheel to higher than level – it’ll make the job much easier. Then you need to estimate how many links of the chain you need for the correct tension – here we used five links. 

Make sure that your feet are not under the spring bar, the hollow tube supplied with the WDH kit to lift the bracket piece over centre. Then you just need to slide the locking clips into position. Make sure that the spring bars are directly under the collars, then measure the vehicle and van again. The rear of the vehicle can be up to about 25mm lower than the front; if it’s lower than that, use less links in the spring bar chains (to increase tension).

When and how to use a weight-distribution hitch
The rig with WDH fitted – the combination is now almost perfectly level

The result of fitting the WDH? Measurements were 8mm higher at the front and 20mm lower at the rear – well within the 25mm guideline.

The spring bars need to be lubricated each day at their pivot point (where they are fitted to the hitch) and the use operating instruction (which, unfortunately, few caravanners adhere to) is to release the tension on the spring bars when driving over steep driveways, wash-outs or deep spoon drains.

When to use weight distribution hitches
Do not drive up sharp, steep driveways with spring bars tensioned. The tension bars must be released

While you can use a WDH on a fairly level dirt road, it cannot be used off-road – the typical undulating bush track will cause the spring bars to transfer too much tension on the tow bar and vehicle chassis.

Correct caravan balance should reduce the need to use a WDH, but if you have to use one, make sure it’s set up properly. We hope this article has answered the often-asked question about how and when to use a weight-distribution hitch.  

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Philip Lord
Philip Lord

Phil started as an automotive writer 27 years ago, with his first published article in The Canberra Times on the RV boom in the USA. Since then he has spent much of his career getting muddy, dusty or soaking wet in the pursuit of 4WD and RV journalism. Since buying his first caravan 10 years ago, Phil has owned a patchwork quilt of caravans and camper-trailers, from a 300kg teardrop to a tandem-axle Windsor Windcheater. While tow-testing vehicles and reviewing caravans is his stock in trade, Phil is particularly interested in the technical elements of RVs and towing. Phil has worked for a broad spectrum of automotive titles since 1993, such as Overlander, 4WD Monthly, Wheels and Go Auto. His current tow-vehicle project is a P38 Range Rover Vogue.

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