1. Welcome to Tundras.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tundra discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Tundra owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Weight Distribution Hitch advice

Discussion in 'Towing & Hauling' started by TundraMoe, May 31, 2023.

  1. May 31, 2023 at 11:19 AM
    #1
    TundraMoe

    TundraMoe [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2022
    Member:
    #80938
    Messages:
    263
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Vehicle:
    2023 GMC Sierra Denali 3.0 Duramax
    IMG_4842.jpg IMG_4841.jpg I am hooking up the camper for the first time this year after adding a 1.75” front/1” rear lift.

    Ground to bottom of fender measurements front/rear:
    Unloaded 39.25”/40”
    Hooked up no WDH 40.5”/37”
    Hooked up w WDH 39.5”/38.5”

    Using a 12,000 lb hitch wit h 1200 lb arms. Camper is about 7000lbs with 7-800lbs on tongue.

    Thoughts? I’d appreciate advice. Pics are WDH arms on and no arms.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: May 31, 2023
  2. May 31, 2023 at 11:26 AM
    #2
    Blufin

    Blufin Seasoned member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2023
    Member:
    #92850
    Messages:
    1,261
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bob
    Vehicle:
    23 Capstone
    Definitely need the WDB keep them on,your truck doesn't squat as bad with them as you know you'll have better road control when a 18 wheeler blows by ya,the vacuum won't be as bad.

    Have fun glamping in that impressive condo on wheels!
     
  3. May 31, 2023 at 11:48 AM
    #3
    TundraMoe

    TundraMoe [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2022
    Member:
    #80938
    Messages:
    263
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Vehicle:
    2023 GMC Sierra Denali 3.0 Duramax
    Thank you.
    We pull this 70 miles to our lake lot in northern WI and it serves as our “cabin” for the summer. Can’t wait to tip a few back around the camp fire and enjoy summer.
    Is anybody a hauling expert? Are the squat measurements ok? It seems ok with the arms on with a 1.5” drop in the rear and the front as is.
     
  4. May 31, 2023 at 12:24 PM
    #4
    cvd2312

    cvd2312 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2022
    Member:
    #84844
    Messages:
    125
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2023 CrewMax SR5 TRD OR
    Hey nice trailer! I’ve got a 2/1 lift and have about the same squat as you with my WDH. Our trailer is a bit lighter
    F21D2512-1135-4987-9360-F1C5F0111BA4.jpg 5AC80CFE-28C9-4A28-BE4D-578F16BD7AF3.jpg
     
  5. May 31, 2023 at 12:31 PM
    #5
    TundraMoe

    TundraMoe [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2022
    Member:
    #80938
    Messages:
    263
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Vehicle:
    2023 GMC Sierra Denali 3.0 Duramax
    Nice!!! Great minds think alike.
     
  6. May 31, 2023 at 12:33 PM
    #6
    TRD-JP

    TRD-JP New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2022
    Member:
    #87285
    Messages:
    63
    Gender:
    Male
    Winnipeg, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2023 Tundra CM Limited TRD OR Midnight Black
    Do the same comparison at a CAT scale and the numbers will amaze you. Looking at your measurements, it/s the front height that tells a lot. With the WDH on you are basically back to normal height, which is what you want to maintain steering and control.
     
    Mattedfred likes this.
  7. May 31, 2023 at 4:38 PM
    #7
    PBNB

    PBNB Needy

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2022
    Member:
    #85226
    Messages:
    1,951
    First Name:
    Peter
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    2023 Z71 3500 HD
    Lots of stuff!
    Do you have much weight in the truck like camping stuff in the bed or back seat? If so, maybe you could move some of that into the trailer (over the axles to avoid messing up you weight balance.

    Ours is putting 500 lbs on the tongue and another 100 ish lbs for the hitch. I have a 70 lbs DB cover, Kayaks are 50 lbs each (x2) racks about 30 lbs, RCI plates are about 50 lbs. Camping gear in the truck bed is about 150 lbs. I will move this stuff into the trailer next trip.

    In this pic, I have 1.75” level and Timbrens in the back so they are holding up the rear. I have some 1” Westcott rear spacers on there way and the Timbrens are out so I will be closer to your setup.

    My WDH is a Weigh-Safe so it has a scale that I can use to determine the amount of WD being applied (using their app).

    upload_2023-5-31_16-31-37.jpg
     
    NewImprovedRon likes this.
  8. May 31, 2023 at 5:37 PM
    #8
    TundraMoe

    TundraMoe [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2022
    Member:
    #80938
    Messages:
    263
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Vehicle:
    2023 GMC Sierra Denali 3.0 Duramax
    Only about 50 lbs of gear in the bed as it sits in pic. I’ll make sure to put the beer in the bunk room (rear) and I won’t not be carrying water. Overall I think it’s good but maybe people have suggestions.
     
  9. May 31, 2023 at 6:52 PM
    #9
    xc_tc

    xc_tc New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2021
    Member:
    #72329
    Messages:
    895
    Gender:
    Male
    Measurements are good but if you could bring the front closer to 39.25” it’s better. You want to get the front as close to unloaded as possible to keep good weight over the steer axle. Lighter bars have more fidelity in adjusting the weight distribution when adding chain links.
     
    TRD-JP likes this.
  10. Feb 1, 2024 at 7:52 AM
    #10
    CORam

    CORam New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2023
    Member:
    #105523
    Messages:
    53
    Sorry to side track, but do you like the Weigh-Safe WDH system? Does it provide good sway control too? I am looking at adding a WDH to the trailer that I will tow with my '24 Tundra. It weighs ~8000 lbs loaded and I have only pulled it with my old 3/4-ton Ram. It was no issue for the Ram but I am concerned about squat and sway with the Tundra.
     
  11. Feb 1, 2024 at 8:06 AM
    #11
    PBNB

    PBNB Needy

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2022
    Member:
    #85226
    Messages:
    1,951
    First Name:
    Peter
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    2023 Z71 3500 HD
    Lots of stuff!
    I like the Weigh Safe and it does offer a good amount of sway control. It is super easy to setup and even move to a different tow vehicle (which I did). The scale is really handy as well for tongue weight and to make sure that you have enough force in the system for the WD advantage.

    I have the first edition hitch which is more like their HD version, I don't know much about the light duty unit, but it looks like the same functionality as the HD model.

    I think the only thing I would change on my HD version would be to get lighter bars for more flex but after 4 years and 2 different trucks, I don't see the need to mess with it.
     
    CORam likes this.
  12. Feb 1, 2024 at 9:31 AM
    #12
    4genRunner

    4genRunner New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2022
    Member:
    #75025
    Messages:
    457
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brian
    Southwestern MO
    Vehicle:
    2022 SR5 CrewMax TRD OR 4x4 CSM
    RB20's, Extang Xceed Cover, Tint.
    I have Weigh Safe's middleweight WDH and have zero complaints. I tow a roughly 7500# (when loaded) travel trailer. Having the scale in the unit for tongue weight is great, makes it easy to dial in the correct amount of WD force (the phone app tells you how much to dial in based on tongue weight and a few distance measurements). Great WDH hitch and very good at sway control as well.
     
    JJ1794 and CORam like this.
  13. Feb 28, 2024 at 8:31 PM
    #13
    JJ1794

    JJ1794 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2024
    Member:
    #112565
    Messages:
    2
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    JJ
    Vehicle:
    2024 1794 TRD Off Road
    3” TRD Lift 295 65 r20 BFG KO2
     
  14. Feb 28, 2024 at 8:34 PM
    #14
    JJ1794

    JJ1794 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2024
    Member:
    #112565
    Messages:
    2
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    JJ
    Vehicle:
    2024 1794 TRD Off Road
    3” TRD Lift 295 65 r20 BFG KO2
    Do you have any issue with safety chains or 7pin not being long enough with the Heavyweight Gen 1 Weight Safe? Waiting for mine to arrive and have heard of others having this problem. Are you able to put your tailgate down while hooked up?
     
  15. Feb 28, 2024 at 8:48 PM
    #15
    PBNB

    PBNB Needy

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2022
    Member:
    #85226
    Messages:
    1,951
    First Name:
    Peter
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    2023 Z71 3500 HD
    Lots of stuff!
    No problem with the chains. I actually cut mine off my trailer and added a carabiner to reconnect my chains to the trailer. This added about 3” to the length.

    No problem with the 7 pin, the one on the Airstream is pretty long.

    The tailgate opens up and doesn’t hit any part of the hitch.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top