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  • Weight Distribution Spring Bars

    I purchased a 2670MK a couple of months ago and purchased the WD hitch from the dealer as well. The spring bars are rated for 1,000 lbs and my tongue weight is 1,150. I went to the dealer to ask about the under weight bars and was told that, with 2 bars, they can support TW up to 2,000. I'm not sure if I believe that? Tandem axels are rated less than the total weight of the trailer e.g. 2 4400 axels should support up to a 8800 lb trailer. Is it the same with WD spring bars? The hitch itself is rated for 12,000 so no concerns there.
    2120 Imagine 2670MK
    2016 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost

  • #2
    Originally posted by scdock View Post
    I purchased a 2670MK a couple of months ago and purchased the WD hitch from the dealer as well. The spring bars are rated for 1,000 lbs and my tongue weight is 1,150. I went to the dealer to ask about the under weight bars and was told that, with 2 bars, they can support TW up to 2,000. I'm not sure if I believe that? Tandem axels are rated less than the total weight of the trailer e.g. 2 4400 axels should support up to a 8800 lb trailer. Is it the same with WD spring bars? The hitch itself is rated for 12,000 so no concerns there.
    I think your bars are underrated. When we bought the 297RSTS I called Reese who makes my straightline WDH/Sway control. My 297RSTS can have a tongue weight of 1500 lbs if you take the 15% of the 9995 GVWR. Reese told me to get the 1500 lb bars which would work for tongue weights of 1000 - 1500 lbs. The dealer that I bought the system from also told me to get smaller bars to avoid too stiff of a ride. Ride is not too stiff. Tows like a dream. The bars are rated in pairs as you cannot use only one. Your dealer doesn't know what they are talking about. If you have questions I would call the manufacturer of you WDH and then use that info to get the dealer to do the right thing.

    Rob
    Rob & Barb
    2022 RAM 3500 Big Horn, 6.7 Cummins HO/Aisin
    2022 Solitude 378MBS

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    • #3
      I actually use two 2000# bars on my 297 Rsts with a hitch weight of 1400#. I have a very good ride.
      Jim and Ginnie
      2024 Solitude 310GK
      GDRV Technical Forum Moderator
      GDRV Rally Support Coordinator

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Huntindog
        Bars are a lot like a pair of shoes. Too small is no good. And too large is bad as well. The right size is the right size.

        Too small will not transfer enough weight. To large will give a bad ride, and in some cases can actually damage the TT frame, or cause a lack of traction for the rear wheels of the TV. The bars are wiorking springs. They MUST flex in use, whiile being strong enough to transfer the right amount of weight.

        Now have said that, there are enough differences in TVs to sometimes justify moving away from the bars ratings a little. Factors such as the the TVs wheelbase, and or how strong or weak the TVs suspension is can make a somewhat stronger or weaker bar best for a particular lashup.

        Fortunantly the bars usual have a fairly large weight range that they can perform well in, so one can usually get the proper bars by following those ratings.

        Bars ARE rated for the pair!

        If for some reason, you think that you may have a bad match,, reread what I wrote above and consider if any of it may apply to your lashup
        Some other things to consider.

        I keep one set of bars for when I'm towing very light and another set for when I'm fully loaded.

        Many hitch manufacturers are not clear on this. But from what I've read, the bars should also compensate for heavy loads that you may have in the rear of the tow vehicle. For example, if you have 1200# of hitch weight and 300# of cargo behind the rear axle, you should consider 1500# bars to tackle the load.

        If the load in your trailer or back of your tow vehicle changes, you may need to adjust your chain settings or change your hitch bars to compensate and get the tow vehicle back to the proper level.

        I'd recommend that you visit a truck scale with your fully loaded truck and trailer to make sure that you are not over or under adjusted with your weight distribution settings.

        Jim
        Last edited by Country Campers; 11-06-2020, 03:49 PM.
        Jim and Ginnie
        2024 Solitude 310GK
        GDRV Technical Forum Moderator
        GDRV Rally Support Coordinator

        Comment


        • #5
          Thanks for the feedback everyone. I've reached out to Fastway to get their advice and will follow up on this thread when I hear back. Based on all of your comments I'm guessing they are going to come back with the same information
          2120 Imagine 2670MK
          2016 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost

          Comment


          • #6
            I heard back from Fastway and the 2 bars together are rated for 1,000 lbs. Now I have to deal with the dealer selling an incorrectly weighted WDH and providing me incorrect information on how the weighting works on spring bars......I'm sure that will be fun!. I'll post results from that conversation.
            2120 Imagine 2670MK
            2016 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost

            Comment


            • #7
              Agree the bars are too light for the OP. Air bags on the TV will supplement greatly with proper sized bars or slightly undersized bars. 1400lb (sum of both bars) bars would work well where you do not want to be at the upper limit and airbags would provide infinite adjustment for alternate loading. The pre-load or adjustment of the bars will provide the proper transfer of weight (static) where the higher capacity bars will better absorb energy when the trailer mass is accelerating down on the hitch from rough roads.

              My tongue weight fully loaded with full water is 940lbs. I have 1000lb bars where the 1200lb bars would have performed better IMO. The airlift system handles the downward acceleration on the hitch and prevents contact with the jounce bumpers. An important consideration. So I made the light weight bars work with the airbags where buying a higher capacity hitch would be nice, but is not worth the cost.

              Jim
              Last edited by Guest; 10-10-2020, 10:25 AM.

              Comment


              • #8
                Guest Food for thought on the airbags. I have thought about adding them but haven't decided.
                2120 Imagine 2670MK
                2016 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Huntindog

                  A small but important point about airbags. They do NOT transfer any weight.
                  Very true and a good point that folks should know. They also do not raise the payload capacity.

                  Jim

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Huntindog

                    A small but important point about airbags. They do NOT transfer any weight.
                    Here is a link to a video by the manufacturer of the E2 hitch Fastway Trailer showing what a WDH does versus what air bags do and don't do. They show both with scales and all the weight numbers.

                    Last edited by howson; 10-13-2020, 04:43 PM. Reason: Embedded video in post
                    Mike & Lisa
                    Central Florida
                    2021 Imagine 2970RL
                    1996 Chevy K3500 Crew SRW 7.4L Gas

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Good point where Airbags alone generally should not be used in place of a weight distribution hitch. Unless of course your towing a 2600RB with a one ton truck. Cases where the truck rear axle is well within its load rating could be used with bags alone to level the truck. Not the case in my half ton setup, where I use both air bags and a weight distribution hitch. Much of the weight is transferred by the hitch and ride height is adjusted with the bags.

                      Jim

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by MidwestCamper View Post
                        Good point where Airbags alone generally should not be used in place of a weight distribution hitch. Unless of course your towing a 2600RB with a one ton truck. Cases where the truck rear axle is well within its load rating could be used with bags alone to level the truck. Not the case in my half ton setup, where I use both air bags and a weight distribution hitch. Much of the weight is transferred by the hitch and ride height is adjusted with the bags.

                        Jim
                        But . . . As stated in the video, airbags don't transfer any weight back to the front axle. While you may be within capacity of your rear axle it may still cause reduced steering and braking. Using the WDH like you do is key.
                        Mike & Lisa
                        Central Florida
                        2021 Imagine 2970RL
                        1996 Chevy K3500 Crew SRW 7.4L Gas

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Here is a link to a general setup of the air lift air bags with a WDH. I've used a slightly modified approach to this setup where my truck ready to tow sits in its unloaded stance. I ran across a video where this fellow is setting up very similar to the method I've used with great success.

                          https://www.airliftcompany.com/works...s-air-springs/



                          Jim
                          Last edited by howson; 10-14-2020, 11:48 AM. Reason: Embedded video

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by MidwestCamper View Post
                            Not the case in my half ton setup, where I use both air bags and a weight distribution hitch. Much of the weight is transferred by the hitch and ride height is adjusted with the bags.

                            Jim
                            The WDH on the truck should be adjusted to the level ride height of the trailer. That is the first step for adjusting a WDH. Yes air bags, sumo springs, RoadMaster Active Suspension etc...... can help with the height/squat but it all starts with a WDH that has been properly adjust for the level height of the trailer. If you don't have the proper height adjustment of a WDH nothing extra will solve that problem.

                            Charles and Susan
                            2021 Ram 3500 6.4 Hemi, 4x4 CCSB
                            Andersen Hitch
                            2021 Reflection 337rls

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by ckreef View Post

                              The WDH on the truck should be adjusted to the level ride height of the trailer. That is the first step for adjusting a WDH. Yes air bags, sumo springs, RoadMaster Active Suspension etc...... can help with the height/squat but it all starts with a WDH that has been properly adjust for the level height of the trailer. If you don't have the proper height adjustment of a WDH nothing extra will solve that problem.
                              Charles,

                              I believe we are all saying the same thing. Bars transfer weight. Bags adjust ride height....of the TV. The video link I provided shows how to setup using both systems.

                              My half ton tows perfectly with no bottoming of my TV suspension on the worse Michigan roads, no sway, and practically imperceivable truck suck. This is due to a a set up with zero lift to the front suspension.

                              Jim

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