Weight Distribution Hitch setup

[BReeves61]

SInce the rear of the Ranger sits up about 3 inches higher than the front, should I allow the rear leaf springs to compress and set the wdh to level the truck front and back, or set it up so the front and rear wheel wells are back to original height before load. The tongue weight is 800 lbs and I'm using the Husky Centerline WDH. It is currently setup so the front and back wheel wells are level but it feels like it could use a bit more downforce on the front.

Thanks!

Sponsored

 

[Dgc333]

Normal process is to have the truck sitting at its normal ride height after adjusting the weight bars.

Note: An 800 lb tongue weight is 100 lbs more than what the truck is rated for. Max tongue weight for the Ranger is 700 lbs.

 

[ControlNode]

800 is 50lb too much for the Ranger. WDH does not increase the tongue limit.

Normal process is to have the truck sitting at its normal ride height after adjusting the weight bars.

Note: An 800 lb tongue weight is 100 lbs more than what the truck is rated for. Max tongue weight for the Ranger is 700 lbs.

No, 750lb is the Ranger's limit.

 

[Big Blue]

Yes, your tongue weight is too heavy. The tongue weight rating of the Rangers OEM hitch 750 lbs. That is what the truck is rated for no matter what your aftermarket hitch says.

Now for the setup. No matter how you setup the hitch you are never going to get the truck to be at its unloaded ride hight, especially with that much tongue weight. The key is to get the front no higher than unloaded and maybe slightly lower. This means you are transferring some of the tongue weight onto the front axle to help with steering control. Ideally you would lower both the front and back equally, but you never want the front higher than unloaded ride hight. That means you have taken weight off the front axle, a bad thing.

 

[BReeves61]

Normal process is to have the truck sitting at its normal ride height after adjusting the weight bars.

Note: An 800 lb tongue weight is 100 lbs more than what the truck is rated for. Max tongue weight for the Ranger is 700 lbs.

With the WDH, its no longer 800 correct since its transferred some to the front?

 

[Big Blue]

With the WDH, its no longer 800 correct since its transferred some to the front?

Transferring it does NOT reduce it. Tongue weight is still tongue weight. There's no magic with this.

 

[BReeves61]

Transferring it does NOT reduce it. Tongue weight is still tongue weight. There's no magic with this.

I can move 100 lbs to the rear no problem.

 

[Grumpaw]

With an 800 lb tongue weight, I'm willing to bet your trailer weighs at least, if not more than the recommended max weight of 7500 lbs.
You can move 100 lbs back and forth, but after adding stuff to the truck bed, people in the cab, betting you'll still be over weight in both tongue weight and total weight.
Your just trying to find ways to justify towing more than the Ranger is capable of doing safely.

 

[BReeves61]

With an 800 lb tongue weight, I'm willing to bet your trailer weighs at least, if not more than the recommended max weight of 7500 lbs.
You can move 100 lbs back and forth, but after adding stuff to the truck bed, people in the cab, betting you'll still be over weight in both tongue weight and total weight.
Your just trying to find ways to justify towing more than the Ranger is capable of doing safely.

Dry weight is 3850.It's a single axle Forest River. Tongue weight is about 450 before propane bottle,battery and gear. We are about 4500 lbs

 

[Grumpaw]

Dry weight is 3850.It's a single axle Forest River. Tongue weight is about 450 before propane bottle,battery and gear. We are about 4500 lbs

So where did you come up with an 800 lb tongue weight ?
20 lb filled propane tank weighs around 35-36 lbs, so if you have 2, thats 70 lbs. Battery around 40 lbs. So that puts you at around 550-570 tongue weight. Still leaves you with some stuff you can carry in your front cargo areas, but don't go too heavy as it's still a single axle trailer.
Of note...is the 3850 dry weight from Forrest River as you bought it ? If so, than the weight of the propane tank/s are included in the dry weight and tongue weight....but the battery is not.

 

[BReeves61]

So where did you come up with an 800 lb tongue weight ?
20 lb filled propane tank weighs around 35-36 lbs, so if you have 2, thats 70 lbs. Battery around 40 lbs. So that puts you at around 550-570 tongue weight. Still leaves you with some stuff you can carry in your front cargo areas, but don't go too heavy as it's still a single axle trailer.
Of note...is the 3850 dry weight from Forrest River as you bought it ? If so, than the weight of the propane tank/s are included in the dry weight and tongue weight....but the battery is not.

I had the dealer weight it when we took it on for warranty work. I saw the scale that said 800lbs. The 3850 is the dry weight on the sticker. it was new.

 

[Grumpaw]

Something is wrong with the way the tongue was weighed....probably nowhere near 800 lbs.
I re-read your previous posts about towing your trailer, and you didn't seem to have any problems then.
What seems to be problem now ? If its how to set up your hitch properly, go to the towing section and search......myself, BigBlue, and several others have posted about setting up a hitch.
Or, got to ETrailer web site...most knowledgeable site on hitches, and some good videos of setting up a hitch.

 

[Big Blue]

I agree with @Grumpaw something is wrong with that tongue weight. My Forest River R-Pod sounds very similar and I'm only running around 500 lbs tongue weight.

 

[Grandaccess]

Have you pulled the trailer?
Does the rear end float?
I have pulled loads and trailers probably well over rated but for very short runs of 30ish miles and it did just fine, would I pull them loads cross the state, Nope
having that weight in the bed is no big deal, I have had 1100 lbs in the bed, But having that weight behind the back tires, not a good idea, I also think there is something wrong with the way the 800 was weighed
over all weight if its balanced right on the axle of the trailer is no problem, be very careful in rain and snow!
Pictures or it didnt happen

 

[BReeves61]

Have you pulled the trailer?
Does the rear end float?
I have pulled loads and trailers probably well over rated but for very short runs of 30ish miles and it did just fine, would I pull them loads cross the state, Nope
having that weight in the bed is no big deal, I have had 1100 lbs in the bed, But having that weight behind the back tires, not a good idea, I also think there is something wrong with the way the 800 was weighed
over all weight if its balanced right on the axle of the trailer is no problem, be very careful in rain and snow!
Pictures or it didnt happen

I do get a float sensation when getting passed by a big truck or a gust of wind

Sponsored