Air Bags vs. WD Hitch

rrcbov
rrcbov Member Posts: 109
edited March 2021 in Trailer & Towing
The attached video confirms my walk-in-around sense regarding air bags and weight distribution hitch.  Given this, what benefits do air bags provide from a safety perspective?  I get that they may help keep you from bottoming out but they don't help with front axle weight.

watch
2021 Tab 400 Boondock, 2021 Toyota Tacoma, Juno Beach Florida
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  • MuttonChops
    MuttonChops Member Posts: 1,940
    Interesting and (appears) accurate video . . . of course they are selling WDH equipment.
    IMOH . . .
    air bags or helper leaf springs are of questionable value.  They only make sense if the rear axle rating is very high and the rear springs are very soft.  Maybe 50-years ago that was the case for typical production vehicles . . . these days with increased engineering to reduce weight and accounting pressure to reduce cost expect most rear axles are rated with the installed springs " in-mind " so WDH is the only sane/safe option.

    Of course for the T@B 320/400 trailers WDH is a non-issue if the correct TV is used to start with.

    '18 320 S,  pitched axle, 3020HE; PNW based
    TV: '17 Colorado V6 Z71 4x4, Tow Package, GM Brake Controller
    TV: '25 Canyon AT4
    Adventures:  58   Nights:  405  Towing Miles 50,180
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  • Dalehelman
    Dalehelman Member Posts: 2,414
    MuttonChops said:
    Interesting and (appears) accurate video . . . of course they are selling WDH equipment.
    IMOH . . .
    air bags or helper leaf springs are of questionable value.  They only make sense if the rear axle rating is very high and the rear springs are very soft.  Maybe 50-years ago that was the case for typical production vehicles . . . these days with increased engineering to reduce weight and accounting pressure to reduce cost expect most rear axles are rated with the installed springs " in-mind " so WDH is the only sane/safe option.

    Of course for the T@B 320/400 trailers WDH is a non-issue if the correct TV is used to start with.

    X2
    1. Hash  T@B Fun
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  • AirBoss
    AirBoss Member Posts: 740
    x3...

    WDH is a bit overkill and not necessarily recommended by nuCamp. If you have the proper TV with good suspension components and the requisite sufficient additional towing capacity and you've loaded your TV and your T@B properly, there's really not much of a reason to install a WDH. In addition, if you're near the GAWR fo the T@B when towing (full water, tanks, propane, food, clothes, gear...alcohol), adding the WDH will only make that worse as essentially the WDH redistributes weight across the TV and the T@B.  
    2020 T@B 400 "OTTO" (build date 08/19)
    Factory Victron Solar; Norcold 3-way fridge
    '04 Chevy Tahoe Z71 DinoKiller
    San Diego, CA
    www.airbossone.com
    https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/owen-ashurst/shop


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  • DenisP
    DenisP Member Posts: 542
    X4  A caution that has been previously expressed is to use WDH with a larger TV which is heavier than the Tab can overload the Tab’s suspension as it shares the load with the TV.  Could be problematic as you travel down the road and encounter rough surfaces. 
    2018 T@b 400, 200ah Lithium with Solar
    2013 Tundra TRD 5.7L
    Massachusetts
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  • bergger
    bergger Moderator Posts: 1,077
    AirBoss said:
    x3...

    WDH is a bit overkill and not necessarily recommended by nuCamp. If you have the proper TV with good suspension components and the requisite sufficient additional towing capacity and you've loaded your TV and your T@B properly, there's really not much of a reason to install a WDH. In addition, if you're near the GAWR fo the T@B when towing (full water, tanks, propane, food, clothes, gear...alcohol), adding the WDH will only make that worse as essentially the WDH redistributes weight across the TV and the T@B.  
    I totally agree.  If you have to use a WDH with a 320 or 400 then you don't have the proper tow vehicle.  These are small trailers and most midsize trucks or SUVs can handle them without WDH. 
    2021 T@b 400 BD  "Vixen Gail" 
    2018 Nissan Titan Pro 4X "Big Bird"
    Leadville Colorado
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  • rrcbov
    rrcbov Member Posts: 109
    MuttonChops said:
    Interesting and (appears) accurate video . . . of course they are selling WDH equipment.

    I took another look at the video - the combined truck/trailer weight was different in each scenario.   Shouldn’t it be the same?
    2021 Tab 400 Boondock, 2021 Toyota Tacoma, Juno Beach Florida
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