WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCHES

BARME1 · Veteran Member

WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCHES

Delta18 · Guru

BARME1 wrote:
The finace dept and my good self arre setting up to do the big trek 2014 Mazda bt50 van supreme executive 2015 need some advice on the best or views on anti sway nd weight distribution

We have always used Hayman Reese Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) and would not tow a van with a ball weight over 180kg without one.

When we bought our current van in July I switched to an Andersen WDH which has built in Anti Sway characteristics.

In my opinion it is a much better hitch in the way it connects. As a bonus it is totally silent without the groaning & squeaking we had previously.

I would never go back to a HR.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Firstly, a big welcome to the forum BARME1.

Welcome 02.jpg

Before deciding on whether a WDH and/or anti-sway 'mechanical' aids are required, you need to be aware of the weights, and capabilities, involved in your vehicle and the van.

You need to know -

the vehicle's maximum allowable towing capacity;
the vehicle's maximum allowable towball weight;
the ATM of the van;
the actual towball weight when the van is loaded.

You also need to be aware of how you load the van to ensure it is not going to be 'unstable' no matter what else you do.

This is NOT advice - but - if the van is well within the vehicle's rated, allowable towing/carrying capability and is loaded in such a way as to be very stable, and the vehicle's suspension is not adversely affected by the loading of the vehicle and hitching up of the van, then you MAY not need a WDH or perhaps even an anti-sway device. If the van already has either the AlKo or Dexter ESC device fitted you should not need any additional 'mechanical' anti-sway device.

Having now said all that, this could be a good a starting place -

http://www.towingguide.com/

Check all the topics down the left menus on that site -

http://www.towingguide.com/weight-distribution-hitches/

http://www.towingguide.com/loading-trailers/

http://www.towingguide.com/sway-control/

This should help in determining how to load the van -

Loading Caravan.jpg

Cheers - John

Tony Bev · Guru

Hello BARME1

And a welcome to the forum from me also

I hope that you and the head of the Department of Finance, have a very enjoyable "Big Trek"

Rockylizard, (like always), has given some very good advice

There has been plenty of posts about sway and weight distribution hitches in the past

Below are some links to some of those posts

http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t61758910/weight-distribution-hitch/

http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t61580397/weight-distribution-hitch/

http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t61244856/weight-distribution-hitch/

http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t58684820/weight-distribution-hitch/

Edit as some of the links did not work

-- Edited by Tony Bev on Wednesday 16th of November 2016 02:11:54 PM

Phil C · Guru

^^^^^ what they said.. Welcome to this great forum.

We have a WDH and ESC. Both work a treat with our Ford version of your ute. 2012 Ranger XL dual cab.

Cheers

mr glassies · Guru

Mine are I the corner of the shed since I put my mchitch on .

Dibs

macka17 · Guru

That Mc Hitch is just another universal Knuckle joint,
They used/tried them 30 odd yrs ago.

I've had vans from 12.6ft to 28 ft. on and off road.
Any van over 2 ton. I wouldn't tow without a. H R hitch. bars and ball to match.
Weight wise.
and a properly balanced. Individually and together set up/rig.
Preferably the tug around 400Kg heavier than the tow.
There are lots of systems on market nowadays.
All basically blokes trying to get their name known and your dollars.

I've boiled it down to a Highland Hitch (3.5ton) with 750 H/R unit behind it.
Taken all my vans over most of Aust, not a problem.
and in a few places I've had to winch my 6.5mtr out of.
(Overambitious fishing spots.)

Phillipn · Guru

Delta18 wrote:
BARME1 wrote:
The finace dept and my good self arre setting up to do the big trek 2014 Mazda bt50 van supreme executive 2015 need some advice on the best or views on anti sway nd weight distribution
We have always used Hayman Reese Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) and would not tow a van with a ball weight over 180kg without one.
When we bought our current van in July I switched to an Andersen WDH which has built in Anti Sway characteristics.
In my opinion it is a much better hitch in the way it connects. As a bonus it is totally silent without the groaning & squeaking we had previously.
I would never go back to a HR.

Go to google images and type in Andersen hitch failures, pictures tell the truth.

macka17 · Guru

My Last H/R unit 750kg.
I wore the knuckle pin holes ALMOST right through.
rewelded them with case Hardening rods
(We use them for wear reducing on excavator and dozer Buckets/Blades.)

I've near worn half way through that coating too. Lots of corrugations and long travels.
with 6.5mtr van.
Tha's my third. and never had a problem with any of them.

Hyland the same.
Heavy Duty swivel ball unit. rotates ball 360 one way. and if van wasn't there,
It'd rotate 360 deg the other way too.
Solid welded unit with 3.5 ton ball.

Both are super solid in all parts. Well designed and pretty infallible.
Why go elsewhere.

I tried "pin" units once. Gawd.. Frustration if not sitting dead level.
Universals. No better and a LOT more parts to wear/go wrong.

For the sizes and weights of our rigs.
A rotating ball and Heavy duty socket,
make most sense with NO problems.

BARME1 · Veteran Member

Hi all as we are new to this great site and its people with great views and help just a follow to my earlier query has any body used the EAZ LIFT W D H or the ones from MR HITCHES Brand cheers

Bruce and Bev · Guru

to get rid of the creaking and groaning with WDH's, when you hook up each time, use a can of silicon spray on the moving parts of the hitch - will stop the noise for the rest of the day and one can lasts for a very long time - can buy in KMart or Big W for about $5. Give it a liberal coating and still works even on dusty roads

meetoo · Guru

BARME1 wrote:
Hi all as we are new to this great site and its people with great views and help just a follow to my earlier query has any body used the EAZ LIFT W D H or the ones from MR HITCHES Brand cheers

On my EAZ it eventually wore down enough that a bar dropped out while turning sharp and going over a speed hump at the same time. New pins helped some but I couldn't ever trust that system again, so in the bin it went and I replaced with Hayman Reece and have been happy with it.

Cheers, John.