When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
So I am 19 and i grew up on a farm where we just pulled what ever with what we had, well I have a 2016 ram 1500 ecodeisel and I am pulling a 7000lb enclosed trailer and i don't have any issues with steering or stopping. However I have been doing some research and ram recommends a wdh on anything over 5000lbs. i attached a picture of the truck sitting on level ground, I appreciate any input
this is my truck and the trailer
PS I have also reorganized the cargo in the trailer and it sits slightly higher and does pull easier with the same weight.
Are you on the highway a lot, or is it just in town? If it sees quite a bit of highway then I would use a W/D. I like them on trailers that size and bigger for more stability on breezy days or when passing larger vehicles especially when pulling with a 1/2 ton.
I've pulled a lot of trailers a lot of miles and came to the conclusion a weight distributing hitch is the way to go. Add a sway damper makes it even better. The best set up is a fifth wheel though.
Yeah, make sure you center the load over the axles and then brace it so it won't move on you.
Without the W/D the trailer will have a tendency to tilt forward, pushing down on the hitch and lifting the front end especially under braking. The W/D makes it so it doesn't do this.
Other than that, maybe a couple of leafs added to the rear spring or even consider air bags. I run bags on my '08 and it's night and day difference pulling a Keystone Energy 260FS.
Just remember its better to be tounge heavy than tail heavy. Over the axles or just a bit forward is best. Tail heavy will get interesting real fast...
Besides needing at least 700 lbs on the hitch to maintain control, all the other answers above apply as well.
You can "get away with" not being properly equipped until you get into a situation that stresses the setup. If you aren't properly rigged and you get into a collision avoidance situation, you may prove the addage:
It's all Edit and giggles until somebody giggles and Edit.
Look at the post fastback put up. The point is that a certain minimum tongue weight is needed to maintain control. The dynamics of the fish tailing are somewhat complicated, but suffice it to say that they exist and that fish tailing in response to sudden side forces can be expected.
700 lbs tongue weight (the absolute bare minimum for a 7000 lb trailer) on your rig will compromise steering and braking unless it is handled with a WD hitch.
I'd never tow a trailer that weighs more than my truck without a weight distributing hitch. Especially with a short half-ton. Some day driving in the rain when you need to slow down quick on a curve, you'll learn why.
10-01-2016, 08:57 PM
