Andersen weight distribution hitch

Mike Harding · Guru

Andersen weight distribution hitch

Delta18 · Guru

Depends on your car/van combo. It is not suitable for all rigs, some are better off with, some better off without.

Mike Harding · Guru

Delta18 wrote:
Depends on your car/van combo. It is not suitable for all rigs, some are better off with, some better off without.

Would you care to explain your observation in a little more detail?

Fiery · Veteran Member

I have used the Anderson system towing my 21' Crusader (2750kg) for 5 years and wouldn't change anything.
I would recommend the system, but having said that I have not used other systems.
I also agree with the above comment!

yobarr · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
(Or, I suppose, other WDHs also.)
Essential, useful or a waste of money?
Your opinions please.

Hi Mike....if a suitable car has been chosen to suit the van,or vice versa,theyre not needed.I can run at 6800kg GCM,legal on all axles,and the car is 16% heavier than the van,so super-safe....and no WDH. If you would like to advise what your car and van are,we might be able to offer some advice,but WDH are all fine and dandy on the freeway.On uneven roads,gutters and even servo entrances ridiculous stresses are put on both van and car chassis.What you have is what is effectively a stiff-arm,from the cars front axle,through the hitch point, to the vans axle group.Can you imagine how much stress is imposed on the chassis and other components if one axle....ANY axle.....drops below the level of the others? All a WDH does is take weight off the rear axle of the car,and put some of that weight back onto the front axle of the car.However,some weight also is transferred to the vans axle group,increasing the GTM (weight on vans wheels) and possibly overloading the van,beyond its ATM. A WDH DOES NOT change ballweight.ALL it does is disguise a problem that should never have existed in the first place.What is your car? And van? Cheers

Dickodownunder · Guru

Hi Mike Harding

Vehicle nanufacturers will provide their recomnendations in their respective operators manuals.
There are some manufacturers that are recommending not using a WDH on their make or model of vehicle.
Others recommend that you do use that type of equipment when towing in varying situations.
The criticism aimed at WDH systems is unfounded unless all details of use are known.
The use of this equipment is not illegal and is in many cases, necessary for the safe operation of the combination.
If you have time, watch this video as it represents exactly how a WDH will assist in placing the weight lost off the steer axle by the
see-sawing action of placing extra weight of drawbar weight on the tow bar.
If you are using a WDH then disconnect it when reversing sharply into position or if you are off road.
Many systems may also incorporate an anti sway mechanism within the engineering of the unit.

Anyway here is the video...BTW I am not in any way recommending the use of air bags in any situation to eliminate the need for a WDH

youtu.be/XBZu39pQ8Gg

Radar · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
(Or, I suppose, other WDHs also.)
Essential, useful or a waste of money?
Your opinions please.

Hi Mike

My idea only and I believe it works. We do not use WDH. Instead we invested money in setting our car up for the purpose to tow our 2.7 tonne caravan, had the suspension upgraded to carry the loading better over the longer touring times.

The car was fine on short hauls but as we started to venture further and longer away from home the car become very noticeable with the weight on the towbar. So now with better rated springs to carry the load and better quality shockers all round is now a much better tow vehicle. 3 months 10000 ks 8000ks towing, every enjoyable.

My life is much simpler not having to attach wdh's, no stress on the rear of the car. Lower gross weight as wdh do add weigh to your already heavy set up, one of my other observation is most wdh set ups extends the tow ball further away from the rear of the car eg 30 to 40 and I have seen up to 100., what you are trying to grain you will loose by having the tow ball further away from the rear of the car. Not a good plan.

In retirement time to slow down enjoy the pace we have all worked for, we take as many back roads as we can where for the most we travel slower, once again improving the situation.

So Mike take your time before spending money on things the salesperson thinks you will or the people who have vested interest in the sale of these extras products you may never really need. Hope this is of some help. Enjoy your travels. Ralph.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

A bit of light reading Mike.

http://www.withoutahitch.com.au/caravan/ask-expert-need-weight-distribution-hitch/

Cheers - John

fwdoz · Guru

My previous rig was a Nissan Pathfinder which had airbags & I also used a Hayman Reese WDH with it & found the combination just right.

New rig is a Toyota Prado with a decent lift kit in it, now towing a full size Jayco. The van is perfectly even & the combo works wonderful without the need for a WDH.

So as mentioned above, some combos go together like a hand/glove, while others need adjustment.

Ron-D · Guru

Always towed with a weight distribution hitch over the years,just wondering any suggestions on what suspension mods.that I could use on my car ,a new mux. Iam giving seriuse thought to modifying the rear end and doing away with the hitch,any one here with a similar vehicle had any work done to beef up the rear your advice would be much appreciated...

Stretch60 · Senior Member

Consulting my new Amarok owners manual it states not to use a WDH. With my van recently weighed at 2880kgs and TB load of 240kg, the whole rig sits level as the Amarok rear springs are quite beefy.

-- Edited by Stretch60 on Monday 17th of December 2018 10:35:39 AM

The Belmont Bear · Guru

I used a HR WDH on the previous vehicle and when I replaced it with a Grand Cherokee I had every intention of not using a WDH unfortunately the owners manual said that I needed to use one for towing anything over 2300kg. I took the van for a service a couple of months ago which was about a 20km run and included some freeway so I decided not to fit the WDH to see how it travelled. It may have been just in my mind but to me the rig felt to be more stable with the hitch fitted.

Cheers

BB

-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Monday 17th of December 2018 10:55:05 AM

-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Monday 17th of December 2018 10:56:09 AM

-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Monday 17th of December 2018 10:57:58 AM

Mike Harding · Guru

Thank you all for your considered opinions.

Yobarr: thank you for that excellent explanation of the negatives of the WDH and how it may apply forces where they really should not be. As always with physics there is nowt-for-nowt and if you move stress form one location it *must* find its way to another. I often wish I had done more (some!) mechanics.

Twenty five plus years ago I towed a dual axle 23' caravan with a family of four all over Europe including multiple crossings of the Alps with a Rover SD1 without any issues, no such thing as a WDH then, so I think I'll give it a go without one and see what happens.

Van pickup day is Thursday then packing over Xmas then heading bush around 27/28.

Delta18 · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Thank you all for your considered opinions.
Twenty five plus years ago I towed a dual axle 23' caravan with a family of four all over Europe including multiple crossings of the Alps with a Rover SD1 without any issues, no such thing as a WDH then, so I think I'll give it a go without one and see what happens.

I towed a 22' Millard with an XB GS Fairmont 302v8 over a lot of Australia over 40 years ago and I assure you there WERE WDH's then, I used them then and still swear by them.

Dickodownunder · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Thank you all for your considered opinions.
"Snipped"
As always with physics there is nowt-for-nowt and if you move stress form one location it *must* find its way to another. I often wish I had done more (some!) mechanics.

Van pickup day is Thursday then packing over Xmas then heading bush around 27/28.

Mike Harding,

You appear to be an engineer of some persuasion or at the very least a well educated individual but with relation to physics, as a child did you ever participate on a see-saw with a fat kid?

If you did and you ended up high and dry up in the air with the fat kid on the ground then that is the basic physics that applies to a vehicle with the weight of a caravan drawbar applied behind the rear axle.

If you weren't the fat kid then you were the representative steer axle end of the physics equation.

The result of either end of the see-saw game is not good if applied to a vehicle towing a caravan.

If the stresses formed by one action move to another then I would consider it a little bit more wise to rely on the recommendations of a vehicle manufacturer, than anyone with an agenda on an internet forum.

None of us on here know what your combination is so all we can all do is wish you safe and happy travels and some of us, at least, hope you never get into a position where you actually do need a WDH.