I measure my tongue weight before hooking up to the Ridgeline, I am within the 2019's maximum of 600 pounds, I am good. I hook up the trailer and head for the scales. Front axle is under it's gross axle weight rating, I am good. Rear axle is under it's gross axle weight rating, I am again good. Moving the trailer onto the scales the trailer axle weight is under it's maximum axle weight rating. I am golden! 😁
Bill

 

You won't get any disagreement from me. An accurate scale and good numbers will set you free.

We only use our calculators to estimate where we are at...both with and without our WDH in use...before scale confirmation... and before a trip if we significantly changed our loading.

 

At first I was uncomfortable with the thought of going to using a weight distribution hitch with our unibody Ridgeline. But since the discussion of weight distribution hitch use came up, it has brought to my attention just how many SUVs I am seeing towing these days. And how many of these are actually using weight distribution hitches. Apparently the reasoning for not using a wdh with yesterday’s unibody vehicles now no longer applies to today’s evolved SUVs? At least I have lost most of my apprehension with our using a wdh. In fact, it has been adding peace of mind.
Bill

 

I think the key, like so many things in life, is moderation. My experience with a weight distribution hitch is that even though I don't need one, it makes the towing experience more enjoyable. I have mine set to return about half the load back to the front axle and that seems to work well for me. If it's a short move, I don't even need to hook up the WDH. But for longer trips, it makes the truck-trailer combination seem to act more like a single unit, which improves the ride.

By the way... This is my 1,000th post!

Where's the confetti? I was expecting confetti. Oh well.

🎉

 

I have mine set to return about half the load back to the front axle and that seems to work well for me.
🎉

If this procedure is any where near accurate.................................

............................we are leaving 150-250 pounds on the rear axle, which also appears to be working well for us.

Bill

 

Just be aware that some unibody-based vehicles are not designed for WDHs and there use is expressly prohibited. However, that is NOT the case for our 2023 Ridgeline. We have used an Andersen WDH with our Ridgeline and Casita trailer to great benefit as fully detailed here:

https://www.borstengineeringconstruction.com/Our_Los_Gatos_Casita_Spring_2023_Trip.pdf

Andersen WDH Calculator :: Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch Software :: Borst Engineering & Construction LLC

Casita Trailer Weight & Balance Calculator Software :: Borst Engineering & Construction LLC

 

I thought that I would add this recent post to this thread also. We are running with a Blue Ox TrackPro WDH with 800 pound spring bars. This trip no ballast was added to rear bath so I am guessing 3900 pounds gross on the trailer axles and 650 pounds on the tongue. (If we were carrying our 300 pounds of water ballast in the rear bath our tongue weight would have been reduced to under 600 pounds) We have the hitch set up for one inch drop on the rear axle of the Ridgeline with the front axle remaining at unloaded height. 200 miles today and the trailer towed perfectly, even with some pretty stiff crosswinds. I done do believe that after all of this trial and error we have found the sweet spot!👍
Bill

 

I will follow wjfyfe's example and share our Fall trip last year from Metro DC to the Green Mountains of Vermont, over 1,200 miles overall. The Anderson WDH worked much better than I expected. It transfered more weight to the front axle than I thought it would (I didn't use the CAT Scales correctly the first time I went). The entire rig (truck and trailer) handled very well, with a few exceptions.

On our drive back, we noticed a little sway every now and then but the Anderson would stop it fairly quickly. Next time, i will pay more attention to how I repack the trailer for the drive home.

Also, despite dialing in our REDARC brake controller, I am not a fan of my Ridgeline's braking performance. More powerful brakes on my tow vehicle would make things more comfortable for the trailer can only do so much before its wheels lock up.

 

What I often see in posts regarding WDHs its they are compensating for excessive tongue weight. That's the issue, an improperly balanced/ loaded trailer or simply too much trailer. Excessive TW will squash the independent rear suspension down; inducing negative camber with reduced contact patch, compromised handling, and uneven tire wear...I did a ton of work on my 3350 lb (dry) trailer to get its TW down to 500 lbs wet. I do not haul waste, nor 40 gallons of potable water (fresh water is fwd of my axle), wet in my case is 'fully loaded'. I relocated my 2nd LP tank, generator, tool chest to a rear bumper mounted storage chest.

 

Yes, tongue weight appears to be the greater nemesis of the Ridgeline. Even with our trailer being a thousand pounds under the Ridgeline’s 5,000 pound towing weight limit, it has been the tongue weight of our most recent trailer which has created the most challenges!
Whenever there are discussions about towing, the trailer’s gross weight is always at the top of the list. But the tongue weight may be ignored entirely! I have talked with folks many times who have no idea of the tongue weight of their trailer.
An added note where with the Ridgeline being front wheel drive biased, I have come to believe that keeping weight on the front becomes more of a priority for traction reasons. I say this because it has been while towing in the rain have I ever noticed the traction control warning light. So we remain cognizant of loading as much of our cargo at, to the rear, of the trailer axle. And we too also don’t fill the fresh water tank which is on the very front of the trailer.
Bill