Question About Weight Label on Trailer Hitch

[exploringcarolina]

I am hearing from a fellow F-150 owner that the label on the bottom of our trailer hitches about using a Weight Distribution Hitch is recommended, not required.


I'm not finding information in the operators manual about using a WDH, but the online towing guide says to use a WDH when the trailer is over 5,000 pounds. Also looked up payload, trailer weight, GVW and tongue weight with a VIN search, but it did not say anything about WDH use.

https://www.ford.com/support/towing-calculator

My trailer is 4,900 pounds and I don't use a WDH. I always thought the WDH label is a towing requirement when we exceed 500lbs tongue weight and 5,000 pounds trailer weight.

Thanks,

Sponsored

 

[Buyer2021]

That sticker describes the rated capacities of the receiver as mounted on the truck, not the rated capacities of the truck itself.

I always thought the WDH label is a towing requirement when we exceed 500lbs tongue weight and OR 5,000 pounds trailer weight.

With the correction noted in the quote above, that is a correct interpretation insofar as the receiver's rated capacities

Your truck's rated capacity may well be different, either higher or lower, most likely limited by rated payload.

In any case, if adhering to rated capacities, the most restrictive capacity applies (IOW, the 'weakest link' in the chain is the limiting factor).

Aside, I'll opine that if you are towing a 4,900# GTW trailer with a tongue weight of 500# or less (only ~10% of the GTW on the tongue) you are at the absolute minimum of the recommended tongue weight bias range for providing inherently anti-sway characteristics. Maybe it hasn't happened yet, but that invites an unfortunate sway event in certain circumstances.

 

[exploringcarolina]

Buyer2021, appreciate the reply!

 

[Polo08816]

That sticker describes the rated capacities of the receiver as mounted on the truck, not the rated capacities of the truck itself.


With the correction noted in the quote above, that is a correct interpretation insofar as the receiver's rated capacities

Your truck's rated capacity may well be different, either higher or lower, most likely limited by rated payload.

In any case, if adhering to rated capacities, the most restrictive capacity applies (IOW, the 'weakest link' in the chain is the limiting factor).

Aside, I'll opine that if you are towing a 4,900# GTW trailer with a tongue weight of 500# or less (only ~10% of the GTW on the tongue) you are at the absolute minimum of the recommended tongue weight bias range for providing inherently anti-sway characteristics. Maybe it hasn't happened yet, but that invites an unfortunate sway event in certain circumstances.

Also, different trailers will behave differently too. A 6000lbs enclosed trailer will handle differently than a 6000lbs flat bed car trailer because it would have a different side profile.

 

[Buyer2021]

Also, different trailers will behave differently too. A 6000lbs enclosed trailer will handle differently than a 6000lbs flat bed car trailer because it would have a different side profile.

OK, but what does that have to do with weight ratings or tongue-weight bias?

IME the factors being discussed in this thread are completely independent of trailer shape.

 

[exploringcarolina]

Another question,

IF the owner of a F-150 with the OEM WDH hitch label decided to remove the OEM hitch and mount the bumper with hitch delete like one from Beefcake Racing and install a Curt Hitch with maximum weights of 10,000lb trailer and 1,000lb tongue without WDH, requiring a WDH above 10,000lb/1,000lb weights to 12,000lbs trailer and tongue weight up to 1,200lbs, as long as his F-150 is rated over these weights, would the new Curt weight restrictions apply?

Thanks,

Edit: There are other considerations like trailer frontal area, trailer loading, combined TV/trailer weight, TV axle weights, and tow vehicle weight distribution over both axles, too.

Curt Hitch:

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Ford/F-150/2024/C14017.html?VehicleID=202433001

Beefcake Hitch Delete:

https://www.beefcakeracing.com/daylight-hitch-delete-2015-2025-f150/

 

[Polo08816]

OK, but what does that have to do with weight ratings or tongue-weight bias?

IME the factors being discussed in this thread are completely independent of trailer shape.

A flat bed trailer and an enclosed trailer can have the same exactly trailer axle weight and analytical tongue weight but behave significantly different with regard to sway due to their side profile. It would reduce the need for sway control (possibly a WDH) if the side profile of the trailer is relatively small that it isn't affected by forces such as cross-winds.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

The weight distribution hitch is pretty much required. If you go past 5K.
You can’t get away without it, but the benefits are well worth it

 

[Polo08816]

The weight distribution hitch is pretty much required. If you go past 5K.
You can’t get away without it, but the benefits are well worth it

On some trailers, you're not going to be able to use a WDH.

Case in point, I used my F150 to tow a Subaru Legacy and BMW 335i on a U-Haul car trailer.

Here are some of the numbers I was able to derive from my CAT weigh tickets:

But I did get it weighed at a CAT scale to figure out some ground truth numbers:

 

[exploringcarolina]

The weight distribution hitch is pretty much required. If you go past 5K.
You can’t get away without it, but the benefits are well worth it

Agree.

Another F-150 owner had also presented the second question about replacing the original hitch, with a hitch that has higher weight WDH requirements. I personally believe we are bound by the OEM hitch label and online towing guide that says to use a WDH when the trailer is over 5,000 pounds in the notes.

I'm getting ready to increase the ready to camp weight of my travel trailer to over 5,000lbs (larger lp tanks & additional battery) and tongue weight will increase to over 500lbs, purchased a Anderson Weight Distribution hitch.

 

[Chris GTO TT]

On some trailers, you're not going to be able to use a WDH.

Case in point, I used my F150 to tow a Subaru Legacy and BMW 335i on a U-Haul car trailer.

Here are some of the numbers I was able to derive from my CAT weigh tickets:

But I did get it weighed at a CAT scale to figure out some ground truth numbers:

You're more than welcome to to drop that LGT off at my house

 

[Chris GTO TT]

Another question,

IF the owner of a F-150 with the OEM WDH hitch label decided to remove the OEM hitch and mount the bumper with hitch delete like one from Beefcake Racing and install a Curt Hitch with maximum weights of 10,000lb trailer and 1,000lb tongue without WDH, requiring a WDH above 10,000lb/1,000lb weights to 12,000lbs trailer and tongue weight up to 1,200lbs, as long as his F-150 is rated over these weights, would the new Curt weight restrictions apply?

Thanks,

Edit: There are other considerations like trailer frontal area, trailer loading, combined TV/trailer weight, TV axle weights, and tow vehicle weight distribution over both axles, too.

Curt Hitch:

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Ford/F-150/2024/C14017.html?VehicleID=202433001

Beefcake Hitch Delete:

https://www.beefcakeracing.com/daylight-hitch-delete-2015-2025-f150/

To my knowledge the limitations are on the truck also not just the hitch

 

[exploringcarolina]

Agree, found this info earlier this week in the Ford 2024 towing guide, page 40, shows F-150 cannot tow over 5,000 pound trailer or over 500 pound tongue weight without a WDH. Thanks!

https://www.globalowneraem.ford.com...523-Ford-2024-RVTTGuide-Ev7-NS-Remediated.pdf

Sponsored