Re: Towing ride with load level bars
[Re: SportF]
#2492051
05/04/18 04:12 PM
05/04/18 04:12 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,285 West Coast, USA
jbc426
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,285
West Coast, USA
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Most people don't understand how to use the load leveling bars, as evidenced by how many tow vehicles and trailers you see driving around with the back of the tow vehicle sagging down.
The bars can be preloaded a lot more than many think to gain the desired effect of leveling the tow vehicle and trailer. I've seen them lift the back wheels of a truck off the ground to show how much the bars can lift.
If you crank the tongue lift up enough to bring the trailer and tow vehicle up just past level, latch the load leveling bars and then retract the tongue lift; the two vehicles should be level.
The sway away bar is another critical component to set up right.
1970 Plymouth 'Cuda #'s 440-6(block in storage)currently 493" 6 pack, Shaker, 5 speed Passon, 4.10's 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible 408 Magnum EFI with 4 speed automatic overdrive, 3800 stall lock-up converter and 4.30's (closest thing to an automatic 5 speed going)
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Re: Towing ride with load level bars
[Re: SportF]
#2492090
05/04/18 05:06 PM
05/04/18 05:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,576 Motor City
6PKRTSE
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,576
Motor City
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I use the bars when towing my 28' enclosed trailer with my 2500 V10 Ram. Night and day difference. The trailer already had two sway control balls welded on each side of the tongue so I use both sway controls when on the freeway outside of just inter-city streets.
1963 Belvedere 440 Max Wedge Tribute 1970 Charger R/T S.E. 440 Six Pack 1970 Challenger R/T, 528 Hemi 1970 Charger 500 S.E. 440 4 BBL 1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383 1974 Chrysler New Yorker 440 1996 2500 RAM 488 V-10 4X4 2004 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4 2012 Challenger R/T Classic.
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Re: Towing ride with load level bars
[Re: shorthorse]
#2494399
05/10/18 02:25 PM
05/10/18 02:25 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,285 West Coast, USA
jbc426
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,285
West Coast, USA
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Even though the common term is "load levelers", the true purpose of those bars is to get the correct tongue weight for safe towing. Yes, they will adjust the rear end height of a tow vehicle but what you are adjusting in reality is the tongue weight. The appearance of a level vehicle does not insure proper tongue weight. The old rule of thumb is that proper tongue weigh should be 10% to 15% of a totally loaded trailer. It's easy to spot a vehicle with too much tongue weight. It's negative tongue weight people need to be concerned with but they'll know soon enough after they get on the road and look in the rear view mirror and their trailer is swaying back and fourth. It is usually easy to spot a poorly load leveled trailer, but you do need to be familiar with trailers and load levelers to determine proper weight distribution. I've never seen anyone do it with a scale. Bottom line is its always wise to have proper training to set up load levelers. There is more to it than simply assuming a level load is a properly weight distributed load.
1970 Plymouth 'Cuda #'s 440-6(block in storage)currently 493" 6 pack, Shaker, 5 speed Passon, 4.10's 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible 408 Magnum EFI with 4 speed automatic overdrive, 3800 stall lock-up converter and 4.30's (closest thing to an automatic 5 speed going)
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Re: Towing ride with load level bars
[Re: SportF]
#2494443
05/10/18 04:37 PM
05/10/18 04:37 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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I now have a truck that doesn't need the load level bars anymore. But, on a recent trip without the bars, its appears the trailer contents got shaken more than before.
On the return trip I put the bars on and set them with a small amount of tension.
The ride quality in the truck was not noticeably different either way, but it was a short trip.
Do any of you have a preference of use or not use for ride quality when towing?
IMO and from my experience. The weight distribution bars are to spread out the load on the trailer tongue. The load is distributed through out the trailer tongue and tow vehicle with them, not just hanging on the trailer ball. Yes you are correct that the ride is worse without them. It is much harder on your trailer tongue and trailer hitch if you don't use them no matter how big your tow truck is. I tow with a huge tow truck and I still use them with a open car trailer and my ride is noticeably better with them even with huge long wheelbase tow truck. This truck is air ride and I can adjust it, but the hitch and trailer tongue still needs the load distributed. I have been towing with this rig since 2002 and over 100K miles with this rig alone. Even this rig needs weight bars, all trailers in this range or larger need weight bars no matter how big and tough your tow vehicle is. The more tension the better in most cases. Last month in Lakeland Fla. Look at that wheel base and I still can feel the weight bars work. We have been all over the US and I can say for sure you should always use weigh bars to help protect your trailer tongue and hitch even with a little trailer like this one. Even more important with a heavy load like this.
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Re: Towing ride with load level bars
[Re: SportF]
#2494560
05/10/18 11:14 PM
05/10/18 11:14 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Challenger 1, I know you've towed a lot, and appreciate your opinion. I just towed 600 miles with the bars on, and the ride is a little better with the bigger truck, but not a lot. Was hoping for a Cadillac ride ha ha. Bars it is for me. The major benefit that I did not mention and the main purpose of them is to give you better control and braking. Play with your tire pressures to get a softer ride and watch your tire temps with a IR gun as soon as you roll into a rest area. Can check your wheel bearings too that way.
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Re: Towing ride with load level bars
[Re: Challenger 1]
#2494593
05/11/18 12:40 AM
05/11/18 12:40 AM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,331 Clinton, NJ
njmopar
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,331
Clinton, NJ
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Challenger 1, I know you've towed a lot, and appreciate your opinion. I just towed 600 miles with the bars on, and the ride is a little better with the bigger truck, but not a lot. Was hoping for a Cadillac ride ha ha. Bars it is for me. The major benefit that I did not mention and the main purpose of them is to give you better control and braking. Play with your tire pressures to get a softer ride and watch your tire temps with a IR gun as soon as you roll into a rest area. Can check your wheel bearings too that way. LOL, thought I was the only one that did this. Had many people stare at me while at a gas station checking tire, hub and even diff temp. Pretty amazing how hot a diff gets towing a 9000# trailer. One guy stopped me and asked, "Excuse me, what are you doing?"
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