How Does a Weight Distribution Hitch Work?

1. When any vehicle tows a heavy weight, there is a tendency for the weight of the load to pull down the rear of the towing vehicle. A travel trailer attached to a regular hitch can drag down the rear of a heavy-duty truck enough to compromise safety. When the rear of a tow vehicle is pulled down by the weight of a trailer or other load, the front of the tow vehicle comes up, and the equilibrium of the vehicle is compromised. Without an even distribution of weight, the tow vehicle has poor traction on the road. Road handling is also affected, as well as the tow vehicle's ability to turn safely.
2. A weight distribution hitch will combat the problems associated with weight distribution between a trailer and a tow vehicle. Regular hitches only allow for a small overlap between the trailer tongue and the tow vehicle hitch. This creates a weakness in the connection between the tow vehicle and the trailer, which allows the weight of the trailer to pull down the hitch. The pressure on the hitch then pulls down the rear of the tow vehicle. Without any kind of weight distribution hitch installed, the entire weight of the trailer is placed on the rear axle of the tow vehicle.
3. Weight distribution hitches prevent the pressure of the trailer's weight on the rear axle of the tow vehicle from affecting the tow vehicle. They accomplish this by using spring bars to place part of the pressure on the tow vehicle's front axle. Distributing the weight between the front and rear of the tow vehicle allows the tow vehicle to pull the weight more effectively. It also improves the tow vehicle's traction, road handling, and ability to make turns safely. For this reason, the use of a weight distribution hitch is common for any load over 5000 pounds.