Towing car with Uhaul Auto transport
- Thread starter Beastmobile
- Start date
ARunner
New member
Absolutely! Very noticeable towing with the 4th gen with the wdh compared to towing the same trailer (uhaul 6x12) with a third gen that had a more simplistic hitch that didn't bolt so far forward on the frame. Minimal sag noticed on the 4th gen with the wdh.
OP, that sample of yours, you'll see that the car's weight is pretty much in the tongue, not balanced. if you backup the car in that trailer and put the engine all the way in the back of the trailer, it will help balance it a bit. you don't want the rear of your truck to take all that weight, it may cause you a rear wheel bearing. if it's balanced in the trailer, it will look better. also, tie down all the 4 wheels.
The receiver on the truck is NOT the hitch.
A WDH has tension bars that transfer some load from the trailer to the front axle of the tow vehicle. See the pic I posted and you can clearly see them coming out from the hitch head.
I feel like people here think there's some "WDH voodoo" in the V8 factory receivers that make them tow better with a regular ball hitch. They can be used with a WDH, but you've got to USE a WDH to get that benefit.
There's some additional install work to get a WDH working with a trailer, so I don't think most people use them on something like a rental UHaul trailer.
ARunner
New member
Wow. Easy. The hitch is in fact a "receiver hitch". The only alternative is a bumper that has a ball that mounts on it directly, and I haven't seen too many 4runners with that setup since the 80s.
No need to be so bent out of shape. Yes, it's clear that there is a difference between a "hitch" and weight distribution system that slides into the "receiver" hitch.
Point is there is a big difference between the hitches on the v8 and v6 4runners. And in fact a few of the v8s had the lighter rated hitch system that would max out at 500/5,000 tongue/total tow weight. The point being made above is even with or without the weight distribution system you describe, the 4th gen v8 hitch rated for 730/7300 is a superior design to many standard receiver hitches. Fact is Toyota certifies the tongue weight up to 1095 lbs when you have the incremental weight distributing hardware attached.
No need to be so bent out of shape. Yes, it's clear that there is a difference between a "hitch" and weight distribution system that slides into the "receiver" hitch.
Point is there is a big difference between the hitches on the v8 and v6 4runners. And in fact a few of the v8s had the lighter rated hitch system that would max out at 500/5,000 tongue/total tow weight. The point being made above is even with or without the weight distribution system you describe, the 4th gen v8 hitch rated for 730/7300 is a superior design to many standard receiver hitches. Fact is Toyota certifies the tongue weight up to 1095 lbs when you have the incremental weight distributing hardware attached.
No one is getting bent out of shape, don't be so sensitive.
Are you sure you can put 1095 lbs of tongue weight on a factory V8 receiver when you use a WDH? That seems FAR higher than anything I've seen.
BTW - there are tons of aftermarket receivers out there that allow the use of a WDH. I've got a Hidden Hitch one on my V6.
ARunner
New member
I'm positive. I'd be happy to upload a picture of the sticker on my factory hitch if you seriously want to see it.
The weight distributing system you speak of is all but universal from what I recall when using one. I don't think there is anything too specific about the hitch itself that would prevent you from using one. The ones I have seen use a special tongue that slides into the receiver hitch, off of which the arms connect to the trailer and then you crank to add tension. Would I bother with one myself? No. Not unless I was pulling something like a high profile lengthy camping trailer or something similar that would induce sway and become unruly behind me. Wouldn't blame anyone for using it on a jet ski if that is their preference.
daka320
New member
If you want to see the true weight that is on your hitch, take it to the CAT Scales. Most truck stops have them. I would do this and adjust the car as necessary. There is more than just the hitch weight you have to consider. Rear and Front Axle weights, Max Payload, Combined Weight of the trailer and your 4runner, Max weight on your tires, etc. Look in your manual to find these weights. Again, take it to the CAT Scales and weigh everything. It will cost under $20 and save you a lot more in the long run.
Also, If you add the Hidden Hitch to your V6 4runner you can increase the hitch weight to 680lbs and tow up to 6800 lbs. With out it you are limited to 500lbs hitch and 5000 lbs towing. You cannot hook up a weight distribution hitch to a bumper mounted hitch like the 6 cyl 4runners and some of the early v8s. Replace the bumper hitch with a frame hitch.
Also, If you add the Hidden Hitch to your V6 4runner you can increase the hitch weight to 680lbs and tow up to 6800 lbs. With out it you are limited to 500lbs hitch and 5000 lbs towing. You cannot hook up a weight distribution hitch to a bumper mounted hitch like the 6 cyl 4runners and some of the early v8s. Replace the bumper hitch with a frame hitch.
It doesn't really limit sway at all, it helps distribute axle load more evenly. Going over a bump, instead of all the load variation being on the rear axle of the tow vehicle, it will help distribute this change towards the front (when the trailer goes both up and down).
It also helps reduce the rear axle load a small amount for any position the load you're towing is in due to the moment transmitted by the tension arms.
And yes, WDHs are universal. They really aren't that expensive. Mine was about $160 vs. ~$25-30 for a simple drop ball. So an extra $130ish - for how much it helps stabilize the vehicle in towing - it's worth it all day long.
I would say that's much better money than a fancy brake controller. I've towed with both a $30 POD controller, and a $135 Prodigy 3. The Prodigy 3 is nice, but it doesn't drastically change the towing experience, while a WDH does.
Beastmobile
New member
Thanks you everyone with providing input. I was reading about using a WDH with the uhaul trailer and uhaul says not to use one. The reasoning is because it could mess with the serge brakes that uhaul uses. Not sure how true this is but seems to make sense somewhat.
My plan is to use my own chocks and put them against the built in chocks on the trailer to move the car back a little so I'd have less weight on the tongue. Of course I'll use the provided tire straps as well as my own straps on the rear wheels and anywhere else I can tie her down.
I've ordered the Firestone Coil-Rite air helper springs to hopefully eliminate any sag in the rear and will have them installed prior to the tow. I'm actually pulling a 6x12 trailer in about 2 weeks so that will be a decent test of the air springs. I will be pulling the M3 sometime in late August. Hopefully I remember to come back here and post my thoughts of how it all worked out.
My plan is to use my own chocks and put them against the built in chocks on the trailer to move the car back a little so I'd have less weight on the tongue. Of course I'll use the provided tire straps as well as my own straps on the rear wheels and anywhere else I can tie her down.
I've ordered the Firestone Coil-Rite air helper springs to hopefully eliminate any sag in the rear and will have them installed prior to the tow. I'm actually pulling a 6x12 trailer in about 2 weeks so that will be a decent test of the air springs. I will be pulling the M3 sometime in late August. Hopefully I remember to come back here and post my thoughts of how it all worked out.
mathew_barnes
New member
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