If the front went up, the WDH is not set up correctly. The hitch should divide the total hitch weight between the the front, rear and trailer axles. For example, if you have 900 pounds of total tongue weight, you should end up with aproximately 300 pounds on all the axles. The additional 300 pounds on all axles would bring them all down, none should go up. Are you sure the ball angle is between 10-15 degrees and have you shortened the spring bar chain links to the brackets? You should have to raise the the trailer tongue and rear of the vehicle around 4” when connecting the spring bar chains and then lower the tongue jack until the full weight is on the WDH. I have set up manyWDH in the past thirty years and what you are describing should not happen.
2013 EL Limited squatting when towing
- Thread starter IdFamilyTruckster
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Level towing is the goal, and weight distribution is the first method before modifying the vehicle, which should be avoided strongly. Usually if level towing can’t be achieved without resorting to vehicle changes, it’s a indication the vehicle is not large enough for the task.
2010ELExpy4x4
Well-Known Member
What is the weight of the trailer to begin with, there should be a label on it somewhere.
We tow a 6800 lb 30ft unloaded weight, using a 1000/10000 WDH. You may need to make more adjustment to the hitch.
The EL max tow is around 800/8000 (without tow package) which once you load trailer and vehicle kinda taps it out. You can get sumo inserts, they didn't work too well for us. We were camped out in 120 degrees, they softened so much one of them pushed it's way out. (at least that's what I think happened).
We tow a 6800 lb 30ft unloaded weight, using a 1000/10000 WDH. You may need to make more adjustment to the hitch.
The EL max tow is around 800/8000 (without tow package) which once you load trailer and vehicle kinda taps it out. You can get sumo inserts, they didn't work too well for us. We were camped out in 120 degrees, they softened so much one of them pushed it's way out. (at least that's what I think happened).
mjp2
Full Access Members
For my 2010 EL I contacted coilsprings.com and had them make a custom set of coils. Price was in line with factory off-the-shelf coils.
For my setup I went with +1" ride height and coil spring rate of 900#/in compression. Mounted on Bilstein 5100s it rides great whether empty or towing.
danimerciss22
Well-Known Member
It’s weird: some posts get a ton. Others get very few. Still others get a ton of posts but they’re talking about something irrelevant…
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chuck s
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Proper weight distribution is the goal.
Lots of ways to achieve "level towing" but still have poor or unsafe weight distribution. Proper weight distribution should cause -- result in -- level towing but level towing doesn't cause proper weight distribution which IS the goal.
-- Chuck
NorthernExMax
Active Member
Towing course for dummies-
Install weight distribution hitch for equal weight. This does not result in a level tow, unless the weight loaded onto the vehicle is within the original specs for ride height.
Level towing- this is achieved through the suspension dynamics, most easily through air suspension (redirecting weight into the chassis and front axle, or having an equal amount of pressure at each wheel if 4-wheel air suspension). You can have level towing WITHOUT a WDH, if you have air suspension. Without, it would be impossible to have truly level suspension. Most vehicles with traditional coil/leaf springs have the rear raised up during normal unloaded operation, to accommodate such load that they are safe at high speeds due to being level.
TLDR: get a WDH, set it up correctly, and still have some sort of sag. Add air suspension, or get something with air suspension already equipped (this DOES NOT increase towing capacity by the way) and you can achieve a completely level vehicle (expedition) with either 10,000 pounds or 2,000 pounds behind it.
Install weight distribution hitch for equal weight. This does not result in a level tow, unless the weight loaded onto the vehicle is within the original specs for ride height.
Level towing- this is achieved through the suspension dynamics, most easily through air suspension (redirecting weight into the chassis and front axle, or having an equal amount of pressure at each wheel if 4-wheel air suspension). You can have level towing WITHOUT a WDH, if you have air suspension. Without, it would be impossible to have truly level suspension. Most vehicles with traditional coil/leaf springs have the rear raised up during normal unloaded operation, to accommodate such load that they are safe at high speeds due to being level.
TLDR: get a WDH, set it up correctly, and still have some sort of sag. Add air suspension, or get something with air suspension already equipped (this DOES NOT increase towing capacity by the way) and you can achieve a completely level vehicle (expedition) with either 10,000 pounds or 2,000 pounds behind it.
You could go on harbor freights web page and get the manual for their wd set and follow that, Thats what I did and it worked fine, with a 10000 lb wd, 1 1/2 inch squat in the rear and 1 inch in the front with a 7000 lb trailer.
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