2014 Ford F-150 Owners Manual Explains Setting Up Weight Distribution Different than Fastway

Question:

Im having problems installing my Fastway e2 WD hitch do to some conflicting information. The Fastway owners manual says The tow vehicle FRONT measures the same as or less than its unloaded dry height. It should rarely if ever measure more than the unloaded height. My 2014 Ford F150 owners manual says - 1. Measure the height of the front wheel well without the trailer attached. 2. Attach the trailer to the truck without the WD bars attached and measure the front wheel well height. 3. Attach and adjust the WD bars so that the height of the front wheel well is approximately halfway between measurements 1 and 2. As you can see the information provided is conflicting. Should I follow Fords recommendation or Fatways? I guess my ultimate question would be this ... What should the front axle on my TV weigh with proper WD hitch settings? I feel more comfortable using weights, rather than measuring my fender levels, to determine if I have it correct. Should my front axle weigh .... - Same as unhitched weight - More than unhitched weight - Less thank unhitched weight

asked by: Travis

Expert Reply:

Well, I can't recommend measuring it weights since that is not how Fastway or Ford does it. So it would make it more difficult to figure it all out because then we would have to add in some sort of conversion from weight to height which might not be accurate.

We have always sais that once your weight distribution system is set up and connected the wheel well height at the front and rear should be the same or within a fraction of an inch of the unloaded height.

You don't want the front height higher than when the truck is not loaded/towing for sure. Being ever so slightly lower at the front though would be fine and it indicates the weight distribution system is doing its job.

Believe it or not the weight at the front and rear axles should be about the same with or without using weight distribution provided the system is set up properly and is the correct capacity for the trailer. This is because the spring bars are pushing up and toward the vehicle using the trailers tongue weight to deliver that force. But no weight is moved from the tongue.

There could be slight differences, it wouldn't be exactly the same, but it should be just about the same. If it is 50 pounds or so more at the front using weight distribution I would say that you'd be fine and that it is likely set up properly.

I have always been told that it is done the way Fastway is explaining it. What you might want to do is contact at Ford dealer and speak with a technician (mechanic) about the conflicting methods and see if following Fastways instructions is going to be fine or if there is some reason you have to do it as explained in the manual.

expert reply by: Michael H