Semi Truck Weight Distribution

If the back of your tow rig sags and your headlights light up the sky when you tow a heavy trailer, and the whole outfit handles strangely and takes a while to come to a stop, you need a Weight Distribution (WD) hitch. Besides poor steering and braking performance, towing a heavy trailer with a standard hitch can also result in parts dragging the ground and difficulty seeing the road, plus it makes the trailer more prone to sway. We offer WD hitches, WD hitches with sway control attachments and integrated WD/sway control systems.

As the name implies, a weight distribution hitch distributes the trailer tongue weight evenly to all axles on the vehicle and trailer. This creates a smooth, level ride and optimal steering and braking control thanks to more weight on the front axle of the tow vehicle. It will also allow you to tow a trailer closer to the maximum rating for your receiver hitch, since most hitches list a higher capacity when used with a WD hitch. The weight that the hitch can handle, with and without weight distribution, should be shown on the hitch.

A weight distribution hitch consists of a shank that fits into the receiver, the head assembly that is adjustable for height on the shank and to which the trailer ball is attached, the spring bars that apply leverage and distribute the weight, the lift brackets that attach to the trailer, and the chains that connect the spring bars and brackets. The spring bars come in round and trunnion style, but both function basically the same. Some trunnion bars are available with a higher weight capacity, and because they attach at the side of the head assembly, trunnion bars may be preferred if there is a ground clearance problem. Shanks are available separately with extra rise or drop if needed.

WD hitches are available for Class III and above receiver hitches in a range of Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) and Tongue Weight (TW) ratings. Choose a WD hitch with a rating as close to the tongue weight as possible for best performance. However, regardless of the affect the WD hitch has on the receiver hitch rating, the vehicle’s towing capacity ultimately determines what you can tow. And while a WD hitch will help reduce trailer sway, it’s most effective when used in conjunction with a sway control kit. We offer WD hitches that are set up for an independent sway control kit as well as WD hitches that have built-in sway control.

Most WD hitches with sway control are designed to prevent sway, not just reduce it. Instead of being connected to the conventional lift brackets and chains used on regular WD hitches, the spring bars on sway control WD hitches fit into sway control brackets mounted on the trailer frame, to hold the bars in place and keep the trailer aligned. On some systems these brackets have integrated friction pads that hold the spring bars in place and prevent the trailer from swaying. The bars are also held tightly within the head assembly, and some systems use a spring and cam system that maintains pressure to prevent sway when the tow vehicle and trailer are driving straight down the road, but relaxes to allow turning.