Weight Distribution

[RobJr]

Recently had a 2013 Chevy Silverado 1500 with a 6 1/2 ft bed, towing a 2022 Keystone Bullet, 5600# with a weight distribution hitch.Just bought a 2022 GMC Sierra 2500 HD, 6.6 engine, double cab, 8 ft bed. The owners manual says towing a trailer 20000# or less the weight distribution is not required. Does that mean don't use it, use it if you want, it will screw something up if you use it.? I would think that you should use it for safety reasons. Any ideas? Thanks....

[chuckster57]

WD and sway is never a bad idea. Tow rating is a number that isn’t applicable in the real world.

[xrated]

Personally, I would use a quality WDH with sway control. Towing camping trailers is much different than say a flatbed or utility trailer in the fact that you have a large sail behind the truck that is going to catch a lot more wind from passing trucks, normal winds blowing perpendicular to the trailer's forward movement, etc. Plus the bonus is that the WDH, if properly adjusted and set up, will reduce the sag on the rear of your tow vehicle and offer a more level towing experience.

[dutchmensport]

Are you sure the information you have says 20,000 pounds, or is that 2,000 (two thousand) pounds. If under 2,000 (two thousand) pounds, no, you don't need weight distribution ... like a small utility trailer. A 20,000 pound trailer.... shoot! Even my 1 ton dually would need weight distribution!

[NH_Bulldog]

I moved from a 1/2 ton truck to a 3/4 ton truck and continue to use my WD/sway control hitch (Eaz-Lift Trekker which is similar to Equalizer 4-point).

Do I need weight distribution? Absolutely not. I had a 2,000 lb. pallet of wood pellets set in the bed and all it did was flatten out the rake (unloaded ride height where rear is higher than front) and level the truck.

Do we have a relaxed enjoyable ride without concern of trailer sway? Absolutely yes.

Can you use a WD hitch with a heavy duty truck? Of course! Should you? Of course, especially if you already own the hitch!

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

I moved from a 1/2 ton truck to a 3/4 ton truck and continued to use my WD/sway control hitch (Eaz-Lift Trekker which is similar to Equalizer 4-point).

Do I need weight distribution? Absolutely not. I had a 2,000 lb. pallet of wood pellets set in the bed and all it did was flatten out the rake (unloaded ride height where rear is higher than front) and level the truck.

Do we have a relaxed enjoyable ride without concern of trailer sway? Absolutely yes.

Can you use a WD hitch with a heavy duty truck? Of course! Should you? Of course, especially if you already own the hitch!

^^^^No matter the size of the truck (normal pickups used for towing RVs) it cannot and will not prevent an extreme event from happening. The WDH/sway control just puts that possibility even further out of the picture.

[markdol1]

Take it on a hilly winding road on a windy day and i am sure it will make up your mind for you. Be safe and enjoy your camper, That new truck should do the job nicely.

[Jonahex2099]

I went from a half ton to a full ton truck and still consider the WDH hitch a necessity. Personally I wouldn't tow it more than 1/4 mile without it.

[notanlines]

“ The owners manual says towing a trailer 20000# or less the weight distribution is not required. ”
Really? Really? Nah….

[flybouy]

I look at a WDH with sway control the same as most things in life that can provide safety and/or protection. I find it most advantageous to have it and not need it vs not having it an needing it. YMMV.

[TimC.]

If you are going to do any traveling on an interstate, I would recommend to use the WDH. If you ever got passed by a semi you will thank yourself for using it.

[Gkri]

Originally Posted by RobJr

Recently had a 2013 Chevy Silverado 1500 with a 6 1/2 ft bed, towing a 2022 Keystone Bullet, 5600# with a weight distribution hitch.Just bought a 2022 GMC Sierra 2500 HD, 6.6 engine, double cab, 8 ft bed. The owners manual says towing a trailer 20000# or less the weight distribution is not required. Does that mean don't use it, use it if you want, it will screw something up if you use it.? I would think that you should use it for safety reasons. Any ideas? Thanks....

We made the same upgrade and still use the WDH w/anti-sway bars. You might need a new shank to compensate for a higher receiver (ours did not have enough adjustment to level the trailer). The 3/4 ton receiver is probably 2-1/2" so you can either use a reducing sleeve or purchase the new shank in 2-1/2".

[Panacash]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

WD and sway is never a bad idea. Tow rating is a number that isn’t applicable in the real world.

Your one of a few I agree with what you say. people go with weight stickers like its the word of god when the manufacture is just covering their butts

[thefulminator]

I have what sounds like basically the same truck, 2009 Silverado 1500 crew cab 4wd that I tow a 2013 Outback 250RS with. The trailer has a 6500lb gross weight. Wouldn't dream of not using a WD hitch. I've been using an Equalizer with 10,000lb bars wan have added air bags to the truck to adjust the squat. Have been completely happy with that setup.

[Panacash]

I agree I have air bags to and also 20 years of driving a single axle semi pulling a 48 or 53 ft trailer in all kinds of weather loaded to 60,000 lbs gross helps