New WDH sent with too stiff spring arms?

[Davexxxx]

I ordered a new WeighSafe Middleweight WDH, with the 8,500lb. bars.

They sent the 12,500 bars

Called them, they said they'd ship the right bars right away for an exchange.

My trailer will max out at 7590 and while I don't expect to ever get there, because it would mean I brought a literal long ton of stuff. prudence requires using that number.

As it comes from the factory, the trailer is a little nose heavy, IF we're to believe published numbers, at a fuzz over 11% tongue weight and I'll be adding more to that.

Per Fords towing calculator and my inputs, the truck will be good for right at 13% (987) tongue weight and I'll keep inside that but that will exceed the specced tongue weight of the 850 bars.

So, on that, I should probably consider it a happy accident, that they sent me the 12500 bars but I'm a little concerned it will give a too harsh ride.

There are a few Q&As at etrailer speaking of this.

OTOH, this guy has done real world testing of 11 hitches and rated this one, his number 2, with the same bars, on a trailer a little lighter than mine.

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[{tpc}]

I think I would want the other bars. I wouldn't hesitate to try the stiffer ones if I needed to, unless they need to be sent back. I'm guessing they are allowing you to keep them. Try them both and see what ones are better.

I think the ones that are too stiff aren't going to allow everything to "work" as designed. But they may work better. My friend and I bought the same hitch from the same dealer, but I ended up with a heavier duty hitch head and spring bars, even though my trailer is lighter. He says his works great (which is why I bought mine), even though its for a lighter setup. I have never towed his rig with his truck though.

Mine also works well. We have talked about swapping bars just to see but have never tried it.

 

[Aron]

I agree with @{tpc} to try them both and see which feels better before sending one set back.

In my experience, I've had to replace the bars twice on my setup because a) I miscalculated what I should have had, and b) even once I solved that, I needed stronger bars to provide the necessary distributing force to keep all of my axle weights under the ratings. I'm actually tempted to go up one more level still, since I'm near the top-end of the range of my current bars.

I haven't noticed a particularly stiff ride because of it, though. For what it's worth, I have a Blue Ox SwayPro, which is designed to have very "springy" flexible bars, so that may explain the lack of stiffness in my situation.

 

[Davexxxx]

They agreed to an exchange, not a free try.

Think I'll keep what I've got and see how it goes.

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