WDH Prices

[rob.mwpropane]

Back when I had an odyssey & 3k tow trailer, I used adjustable air ride airbags in the coils and a curt anti-sway setup. Towed like a dream, surprised a lot of folks with how well it handled. Only needed to disconnect the bar if i was doing a tight turn backing up.

Rob - what year is your Pacifica? Looks like airbags are available for the current generation: https://www.pacificaforums.com/threads/uas-air-suspension-for-sale-500.42119/

Interesting find. Ours is a 2018.

I just need to do a lot more research before pulling the trigger on anything. I like the idea of Anderson, but I need to see if the PUP can take it. I looked today, it is not C channel. If I had to guess it looks like 1/8" to me.

 

[Rob Roy]

For a pup, which has a pretty low tongue weight, you might be fine with using coil-over shocks to replace your OEM shocks. I had a 2008 Grand Caravan (4.0L engine), and Monroe coil-over shocks (I think) made a huge difference in how stiff the rear end was. They also improved the handling of the van when it wasn't towing! If your Pacifica has the towing package (as mine does), it claims to have sway control built into the suspension (as my 2017 Pacifica does). 1-1/2" of sag is hardly anything to spend any time or money on. Good luck!

 

[Sjm9911]

Sway control built into a vehicle compensates after you have sway. It detets it and compensates. Sway controll on a hitch stops the sway before it starts. So , its a big diffrence.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

The camper is around 2800, say 3000# with the tanks and battery. The Pacifica is supposedly good for 3500 but we all know that's bogus after you factor in occupancy and some gear. I was just trying to do my best to keep things safe and little to no squat.

 

[MileHigh]

As long as your Pacifica allows a WDH, this one would work: https://www.huskytow.com/husky-towing-31995-weight-distribution-hitch

 

[rob.mwpropane]

As long as your Pacifica allows a WDH, this one would work: https://www.huskytow.com/husky-towing-31995-weight-distribution-hitch

I'm still trying to find out if I can even use one on the van. Can't find anything in stone either way.

 

[Rob Roy]

There's no reason that the tow vehicle would limit your use of a WDH, is there? The WDH is heavy, mine probably weighing 60# plus (my guess). All it does is use the flexing members to torque the hinge point some to raise the hitch. I am not sure that I see the reason for your concern.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

There's no reason that the tow vehicle would limit your use of a WDH, is there? The WDH is heavy, mine probably weighing 60# plus (my guess). All it does is use the flexing members to torque the hinge point some to raise the hitch. I am not sure that I see the reason for your concern.

I would have thought the same thing, but apparently there are vehicles and PUP's that aren't supposed to get WDH attached. If you read through the thread there were a few reasons why. C channel used on the PUP (which doesn't apply to me), and the design of the rear of the TV (which I don't know yet if that applies to me).

Just trying to make sure I don't do something I'm not supposed to..

 

[Sjm9911]

Yea some tv cant use a wdh. I dont know why, uniboady maybe? Not sure. I dont have that kind of tv so never resurched it.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

So just an update, I bought a Andersen WDH on Ebay for a good size discount, suppose to arrive on Tues. Everyone seems happy with them. It fits the bill, no noise, can back up, has sway control, no lubrication needed, lightweight. My PUP is 3" tube. I can see this maybe causing some stress to the A frame on the trailer down the road as I have seen posted. Fortunately the "w" in rob.mwpropane stands for welding, so if that's the case I'll fabricate something to take care of that. Not a big deal at all. I'll just have to remove the brackets and check it every so often.

As far as the WDH on the Pacifica I reached out to both etrailer and Andersen and both said they have seen multiple WDH installed on them without issue. Now I understand that their opinion is a little biased because they sell WDH, but I don't think etrailer would steer me wrong, they're pretty reputable.

I'll just have to get the hitch and drive it around the block and see what it feels like.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

I received my Andersen WDH and all looks good to me. Was $400 shipped to my door. Some type of open box deal or something from a private seller on Ebay. All parts are in order, brand new still wrapped in the original packages inside the box. Hoping to have it connected in the next few days.

From all my reading the Andersen seems like it's better for smaller trailers (like our PUP's). etrailer doesn't even sell it and in all of the reviews where the Andersen was brought up they suggested against it stating it's just not cut out for anything over 500lb tongue weight. Andersen says it can handle up to (I think) 1000lbs tongue weight for the 2" ball model. Amazon has a few people not happy with the Andersen, but all were in excess of 6000lbs or more with a much larger TV. It seems everyone raves about it for smaller TT's and smaller trailers.

Andersen states 10,000lbs GTWR and 1400lbs tongue weight.

I'm just sharing what info I have. This could sway someone's decision if they ever plan to head over to the darkside with a much larger TT. Fortunately for me I'm happy with our little PUP for at least a long time coming.

 

[bondebond]

FYI, I love my Andersen WDH. It is used with a 7,000+ trailer with a tongue weight close to around 900 pounds. I've watched other family members deal with the trunnion bars, etc, of other WDHs. No thanks. The anti-sway capabilities are phenomenal. Driving I-70 west across Kansas is no longer a white-knuckle experience.

I use the tongue jack to lift up the tongue after latching onto the ball of the TV, attach the chains, tighten down the nuts against the urethane "springs" and off we go. There is a set up process, just like with any WDH and you'll spend a bit of time with a tape measure. Take your time, do it right. Except this last trip where I overloaded the bed of my truck with gear, I normally have a completely balanced wheel height on my truck, front vs. rear wheel wells.

You do end up lubricating the threads of the bolts and nuts that the chains attach to, if you have a heavy setup. In your case, you may not need to. Dry lube is fine but needs to be applied frequently. I am not wanting to use grease so either a shot of dry lube or WD-40 like quick shot works.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

FYI, I love my Andersen WDH. It is used with a 7,000+ trailer with a tongue weight close to around 900 pounds. I've watched other family members deal with the trunnion bars, etc, of other WDHs. No thanks. The anti-sway capabilities are phenomenal. Driving I-70 west across Kansas is no longer a white-knuckle experience.

I use the tongue jack to lift up the tongue after latching onto the ball of the TV, attach the chains, tighten down the nuts against the urethane "springs" and off we go. There is a set up process, just like with any WDH and you'll spend a bit of time with a tape measure. Take your time, do it right. Except this last trip where I overloaded the bed of my truck with gear, I normally have a completely balanced wheel height on my truck, front vs. rear wheel wells.

You do end up lubricating the threads of the bolts and nuts that the chains attach to, if you have a heavy setup. In your case, you may not need to. Dry lube is fine but needs to be applied frequently. I am not wanting to use grease so either a shot of dry lube or WD-40 like quick shot works.

That's awesome. Good to know. Our PUP is way less than your TT, so I wasn't too concerned about the Andersen, but it seems like I've read a lot of accounts that larger trailers didn't like it... and I'm still not 100% sure why if it was so great that etrailer recommends against it.

I honestly don't know anything. I know that the Andersen will (most likely by all accounts) work perfect for what we're doing.

 

[bondebond]

Without more knowledge, I would agree with your last statement.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Progress.... don't judge it yet. I'm not all the way done. I had to grind a small part of the battery plate off to get the brackets mounted. You can see it in the pic (this is a before pic). It still has all the welds to it. The 1/8" was a just a hair too high for the brackets.

Attached is just a mock setup, I still need to adjust some stuff. But it's close...

 

[TSQ]

So, out of curiosity, how is it working out?

 

[rob.mwpropane]

So, out of curiosity, how is it working out?

I haven't put enough miles on it to say, but so far so good.. I mean, it's not a very heavy camper, but the WDH has definitely gotten rid of the sag I had before. That's mainly what I was after.