RV FEATURE
The main drawback of any WDH comes down to the stresses it places on and through the towbar and chassis . Most vehicles should be able to handle them , especially those whose manufacturer specifically recommends their use , but these stresses are significantly amplified when the vehicle or van articulates . In fact , the simple act of towing a van over a speed bump or a spoon drain will amplify these stresses . This is why WDHs are strictly not to be used in offroad situations .
The other thing to consider is weight . Most WDHs involve heavy steel torsion bars and a particularly heavy assembly for the towball to mount to . In fact , these components combined could add up to 25kg to your payload , if not more .
It ’ s also important to remember that WDHs do not reduce ball weight – they only redistribute weight across all axles . Sure , you could beef up the rear suspension with stiffer springs or variable pressure air-bags ; however , while this will result in less suspension compression , it won ’ t change the fact that the weight imposed by the coupling is see-sawing weight off the front-end .
And no , WDHs do not allow you to exceed your vehicle ’ s maximum towball mass . Although the vehicle might appear more level , that ball weight has not magically disappeared .
DO YOU NEED ONE ?
It ’ s impossible to answer this question in a general way . Like most things in life , it depends on your individual circumstances . There are plenty of vehicles towing caravans on our roads without a WDH in a perfectly safe manner .
If your caravan and tow vehicle sit level , and if it all feels tight and balanced as you drive , and you experience no loss in handling or braking , then a WDH might not be of much benefit .
However , if your vehicle ’ s nose is pointing upwards and it ’ s not braking or handling as effectively as it should , then a WDH is worth investigating . At the very least , this should prompt you to reassess how you ’ ve loaded your vehicle and van .
In terms of setting WDHs up , it isn ’ t rocket science ; however , finding the optimum setting can take some fettling . It would be worth seeing a specialist , who will assess all aspects of your situation , from hitch height to the ride angle of the vehicle , as well as provide practical advice on how to safely operate the WDH .
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