Will I need a WDH?

[geekything]

Pulling an ultralight (3000lb FULLY LOADED) travel trailer. 380lbs tongue weight. Connected to my factory class IV hitch.

RAM recommend a WDH at over 5000lbs, so I'm guessing they mean 500lbs or more of tongue given they like to exaggerate and always use 10% tongue ratio.

My current, as weighed on a CAT scale, axle weights are 3500lb front (diesel!) and 2600lb for the rear. The rear wheel arches are about 2.5" higher than the front right now.

I desperately want to avoid a WDH because I'm very tight on payload with an ecoDiesl Laramie 4x4. Can I do it?

I'm quite prepared to add a set of the low-end Air Lift bags to the back shocks if it will make a difference.

 

[Hd74ica]

I think you'll be fine with that tongue weight but let's see what others say.

 

[geekything]

I think you'll be fine with that tongue weight but let's see what others say.

I guarantee at least one person will tell me to get a 2500

I think I'll be just fine, too.

 

[Dinky]

WDH will make it tow nicer and safer. I dont think I would tow a travel trailer without one after towing with one.

 

[averageguy]

I guarantee at least one person will tell me to get a 2500

I think I'll be just fine, too.

3500 dually with a Cummins or you will die in a fiery crash or be put to death by the weight police!

 

[GsRAM]

Hitch it up loaded and see how much sag you have and go from there.

Your within receiver weights with no wdh I believe. Wdh will tighten things up and help with sway, but you don't need one based on your stated weights

 

[mtofell]

You should be fine. You're well under the manufacture's ultra-conservative recommendation. I towed a 6500# trailer with my 2500 Hemi (3000# payload) and often ran without the WDH. Heavier tongue weight is better and I had plenty to spare. The tongue of that trailer didn't even reach 25% of my available payload. I did ALWAYS have the anti-sway bar on but often went without the WDH bars. The worst part was running w/o WDH was weight police at gas stations scolding me.

 

[GsRAM]

You should be fine. You're well under the manufacture's ultra-conservative recommendation. I towed a 6500# trailer with my 2500 Hemi (3000# payload) and often ran without the WDH. Heavier tongue weight is better and I had plenty to spare. The tongue of that trailer didn't even reach 25% of my available payload. I did ALWAYS have the anti-sway bar on but often went without the WDH bars. The worst part was running w/o WDH was weight police at gas stations scolding me.

Yep. When going to the cg local to my house it's only an 8 mile run. I don't use any wdh or sway control and have no issues. Biggest thing I notice is there is more slop between the 2.5 to 2" adapter sleeve when I run without wdh. Beyond that my 6k tt hardly squats my truck even with no wdh.

Again I'd hook it up and see what it looks like. Go from there. If your not down on the bump stops with no wdh see how it tows and then make your decision. Wdh is no big deal to put on and only takes a few minutes but I get it and it's why I don't run it when I camp local

 

[gofishn]

Pulling an ultralight (3000lb FULLY LOADED) travel trailer. 380lbs tongue weight. Connected to my factory class IV hitch.

RAM recommend a WDH at over 5000lbs, so I'm guessing they mean 500lbs or more of tongue given they like to exaggerate and always use 10% tongue ratio.

My current, as weighed on a CAT scale, axle weights are 3500lb front (diesel!) and 2600lb for the rear. The rear wheel arches are about 2.5" higher than the front right now.

I desperately want to avoid a WDH because I'm very tight on payload with an ecoDiesl Laramie 4x4. Can I do it?

I'm quite prepared to add a set of the low-end Air Lift bags to the back shocks if it will make a difference.

Not enough info. First blush,no you do not need a WDH.
10% tongue weight is not exaggerated but plain norm. Rule of thumb is 7-15%, never less than 7%. 10-13% is preferred, for longer towed vehicles.
One of the ideas of tongue weight is to keep the towed vehicle attached to towing vehicle.

WDH is for more than just spreading the weight to both axles. they also help with sway control.

regarding air bagfs, always prefer new springs, then bags if you need more.

 

[NewBlackDak]

Probably not needed for weight distribution, but you will want the sway control to help out that mushy suspension in the wind.


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[olyelr]

You will probably be fine for several years, but it just takes that one particular day of travel when the wind gets you just right and the rig and trailer go into the sways. Then, once you get your undies cleaned out, it is at that very moment you will know the correct answer to your question.

 

[crash68]

3500 dually with a Cummins or you will die in a fiery crash or be put to death by the weight police!

ONLY a 3500...are you crazy??? LOL