Tool Box: Weight Distribution
A weight distribution hitch is an essential piece of equipment to achieve stable towing.By Malcolm Street
Weight distribution hitches are an essential part of many towing combinations. Because many caravans have a substantial ball weight, the effect on the tow vehicle’s fore and aft trim, driveability and stability can be detrimental.
A properly fitted weight distribution hitch corrects the effect of the caravan ball weight by transferring the excess weight on the rear wheels to the front wheels.
The hitch acts a bit like an adjustable tension spring between the tow vehicle and caravan to create a balanced towing combination, giving good traction, steering and braking.
Hayman Reese is well known for its range of weight distribution hitches. The hitches are quite simple to fit but Toolbox thought it worth helping our readers understand how they are fitted.
For this purpose we visited the premises of the Sydney Caravan and Camping Centre at Emu Plains, NSW, to see how a hitch is set up.
When setting up a weight distribution hitch, one of the first things to do without the van hitched up (or with the jockey wheel taking the weight of the van) is to take measurements between the ground and centre of the wheel arch for both front and rear wheels (see wheel measurements table, p157).
A link of the spring bar chain is then connected to the snap-up bracket and the lifting tube is fitted over the handle of the snap-up bracket and lifted. The first spring bar is in position and the procedure repeated for the other side of the van.
You will notice that by changing the links, we were able to get the tow vehicle back to a level position again. When doing this yourself, the jockey wheel should be off the ground.
Toolbox set up the spring bars of the weight distribution system with both vehicle and caravan having no gear on board. However, when travelling, correct balance can only be achieved with van and tow vehicle loaded up.
Hayman Reese’s fitting instructions state: “for increased traction, allow the rear of the tow vehicle to settle more than the front for rear-wheel drive. In the case of front-wheel drive ensure that both tow vehicle and caravan are level”.
<a href="http://www.sydneycaravan.com.au/"><u><font face="Arial" color="#0000ff" size="2">www.sydneycaravan.com.au</font></u></a>
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