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- Measure vehicle and trailer height. Park your vehicle and trailer on a level surface and use the trailer tongue jack and a level to make sure your trailer is parallel with the ground.
- Attach the WD shank and hitch head. Insert the weight distribution shank into the receiver tube. Be sure that the shank is fully inserted in the receiver tube of your trailer hitch and secure it using a hitch pin & clip.
- Adjust the head. Pivoting the head downward, place two washers on the adjustment rod and insert the rod into the lower hole on the head. Some weight distribution hitches may not require this step, having a different adjustment mechanism.
- Install spring bars and couple the trailer. Mount the spring bars on the hitch head. If the spring bar chains have not yet been attached, attach them to the spring bars before mounting the bars to the head.
A weight distribution hitch (or weight distribution system) helps to ensure a smooth, level ride and allows you to tow at the maximum capacity allowed by your hitch. It also helps to correct tow vehicle sag, improve steering and stopping, and—when used with sway control—correct trailer sway.
- Take Vehicle Measurements. No matter what type of weight distribution hitch you're installing, the first tool you need is a tape measure. First, you'll need a few measurements of your tow vehicle without the trailer loaded.
- Install the Weight Distribution Shank. Remove your old ball mount if you have one, and install the WD shank in its place. Make sure your trailer is level, then measure from the top of the coupler to the ground.
- Install the Hitch Ball. Slide the hitch ball into the head assembly and secure with a washer and nut. In its final position, the top of the hitch ball should be about 1/8th" higher than the coupler for every 100 lbs of tongue weight.
- Install/Adjust the Head Assembly. This step is going to differ between WDH, depending on which type you have. You can adjust the tilt of your WD head assembly—and therefore the angle of the spring bars—to help apply the necessary amount of leverage to lift the rear of the vehicle.
In this video we show you how to properly set up and use your weight distribution hitch. The goal of using a weight distribution hitch is to keep the traile...
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While there are many weight distribution hitches on the market, most work the same way. We’ll walk through the general principles of how to set up a WD hitch so you can feel confident about completing the process with your own specific model.
Feb 8, 2021 · What is a Weight Distribution Hitch? When you have too much tongue weight resting on the center of your hitch, it will sink down or dive. This is often referred to as a ‘squatting hitch’.
A weight distribution hitch distributes the total weight of the trailer, including cargo, fuel and anything else in the truck, to the vehicle’s and trailer’s axles, relieving the vehicle’s bumper for increased safety and maneuverability.
