HONEST REVIEW! B&W Weight Distribution Hitch. Setup and Road Test!

B&W Continuum Weight Distribution Hitch
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[@davewhite119]

How about a CAT weight segment? Interested in knowing trk b4 weights front and rear, and towing weights for trk frnt/rear and trlr axle weight.

[@michaelbezos2969]

Outstanding hands on review. My limited experience with horse trailers & slide in campers is exactly what you are stating. A 1/2 ton is capable but does not have floating rear axels 3/4 + trucks do. Everthing is wonderful until something like bad roads, cement dividers placed helter skelter, cross winds coming out of underpassed, thumder storms, emergency situations....gets that trailer thinking it would rather be somewhere else with the towing truck. Really really appreciate your experience, knowledge, common sense. You speak the truth. Personally I amazed at your roads. NE Ohio (land of orange barrels) you'd think secondary roads are cow paths. Keep it coming. Only ignorance would prohibit anyone from not considering your "opinions". Once more, thanks!👍

[@michaelbezos2969]

Spell check, go figure. I better proof read more.😊

[@thomasschwartz2611]

Completely agree, fun fact the newer F150's have floating axles on the max towing package (I believe)

[@brianb-p6586]

You do realize that full-floating axles don't make any difference to towing, right? It's just a reliability/durability difference, not related to suspension or handling.

[@markreams3192]

Adding rear suspension enhancement to a light truck really gives a more comfortable towing experience. I use Timbren springs but air bags may be even better. You can deflate them when not needed. May be you can add them to your Denali and evaluate the towing again. I like that hitch and may buy one.

[@jetdriver]

Yes it’s a sway control hitch as well kind of like the Anderson in that it relies on friction in the pivot point where the WD bars attach to the hitch head to control sway. I do find it very interesting that they have you grease that point which serves to reduce the ability of the hitch to control sway but obviously their design requires that. The novel part of this hitch is obviously how you engage the WD. I’ve seen other testers report that they are getting pressure bleed off over time so it will be interesting to see if you experience the same thing. I’d love to see you load this trailer heavy and rest a variety of hitches like Weigh Safe, ProPride and Equalizer and see how they perform with this truck towing.

[@MichaelOlsen]

Love your vids JD. I highly recommend you try the Weigh Safe Middleweight on this truck/trailer combo. My experience tells me it will eliminate a lot of the porpoising you experienced and will handle sway better. I've been blown away by the middleweight.

[@ronniebouley2813]

I recently bought this system to install for use between my wife's 2023 Grand Wagonner and my 2014 Ram 2500. The big selling point for me is that all I need to do to adjust between vehicles is the change the amount of hydraulic pressure each vehicle requires. Luckily for my setup both vehicles sit at the same ride height so I can even use the same shank and shank height.

[@Beckfrombama]

Check out the Curt TruTrack which has a true WDH & anti-sway control built into it. They use a large ball bearing to keep the trailer straight, and you can back up without removing anything. Been using it for several years on long haul trips, out west to east etc. Towing with a 2012 F350 SRW 6.7, excellent combination

[@thechroniclesofmaintenance4192]

I love it !! My decades of towing using the Reese Duel Cam system allows me to appreciate this one. The Reese worked just fine, although it made a lot of noise from the cams and hitching up was a little more involved having to tongue jack the truck and trailer to get the bars on. I used to get a kick from the folks who lubed them, the friction on the cams was what provided the sway control. This hitch is sweet, would have loved to had this "back in the day".

[@brianb-p6586]

The adjustment is the standard WD procedure to control load transfer between the axles, but with this hitch the adjustment is simply by pumping the hydraulic jack, instead of changing part configurations. When the hydraulic pump is used to pull the cylinder in you can see the spring bars flatten out - that's the springs being applied. The hydraulic cylinder then stays at a fixed length until it is adjusted again or released for unhitching, so the weight distribution system works the same way as other brands and models with chains or vertical bars.

[@lance2la]

I have a 2023 F350 4 door dually Lariet. I have the same camera views and I can use them while traveling on the freeway.

[@pats8092]

We have a minilite 2509S with an equalizer on a 1500. Tows great. Good to see we aren’t alone with the mix of slam latch and non-slam latch cargo doors.

[@jacobwilliams4724]

I got a ProPride 3P hitch for my travel trailer and I can say it’s a night and day difference. I live near the Sierra Nevada mountains and try to go camping almost every weekend I can with the family. I highly recommend to anyone looking for something that ends away control. With a proper 3/4 ton and this hitch there is no worries.

[@thedoitalldad765]

Add HD RAS to your truck and take the same route and see how the truck handles as a comparison. I added them to my F150 and helped with the porpoising after hitting a large bump. I know you have talked about them in the past.

[@dennisd7292]

I watched the B&W KZbin company videos on the installation, and they do their measurements from the front tire….ypu used the back. Don’t know if that makes a difference. Good video, as usual!

[@brianb-p6586]

The answer to the question (at 17:36) of multiple tow vehicles with the same trailer: there will be a set of holes to set the head at for each tow vehicle (to accommodate their different heights), and a hydraulic pressure to pump to for appropriate load distribution (to accommodate the effect on load transfer of different wheelbase and rear overhang) for each tow vehicle. Just set up once (or once for each time you change the trailer loading) and note that for the next time you use that vehicle. This is exactly the same as a conventional bars-and-chains WD system, with a head setup and chain length for each tow vehicle.

[@craigwilliams1073]

I have the 22 LT baby deisel, and now I have to purchase this $1200 unit. My numbers are 900 hitch and 9000 tow.

[@rockinrranch1431]

I have a 22 f150 that doesn’t have the 360 cameras. It does let you use the backup camera up to 8mph so it’s handy for checking trailer connections at stoplights on trips

[@hirovision]

When we picked up our camper from the dealer, we drove about an hour away to spend the night in the new camper. We towed it with the 3.0 diesel Silverado. The sway from wind is crazy and the squat had the front wheels up by 2 inches. We installed the etrailer weight distribution hitch with the weight distribution hitch and we were level and no sway. One thing to note is, was the back of your truck packed with all the things you may pack? Ie: cooler, tool box, generator, etc? The payload weight on the truck especially in the bed may make a lot of difference in the distribution of the weight.

[@alceja3522]

What size TT? Thank you for your input. We have a Silverado and are looking to buy

[@hirovision]

@@alceja3522 2023 Keystone Springdale 222rdwe, 22ft box, 25ft total. about 6000lbs loaded.

[@SurelyYewJest]

Interesting hitch. It looked like it handled the wave effect of those perfectly spaced expansion joints you crossed at the end. ;)

[@brianb-p6586]

No, the weight re-distribution (from truck's rear axle to truck's front axle) is not shifting the location of the trailer's mass so it does not help reduce sway, as speculated at 7:34. Reducing sway requires a real change (in the mass location), or adding friction to resist yaw (left-right) rotation of the hitch, or changes to other effects (tires, suspension, aerodynamics). Any sway controlling element of this hitch is primarily resistance to the assembly rotating with the trailer as it sways. Despite the greased pivot, there is still substantial friction. There can also be an effect on sway (not necessarily an improvement) due to any spring-loading of the rig toward straight. If the pivot axis of the hitch is tilted back at the top, then turning the rig will force the WD bars to deflect more, pushing it back toward straight.

[@jonathanowens2337]

this answer is the only one that makes sense to me. The tilt of the hitch ball combined with the resistance of the spring is what is going to push the trailer into a straight configuration relative to the truck.

[@wesleyrichardson141]

It appears that the sway is controled by the angle of the hitch head. Like the caster in a car that makes it want to return to center after turning a corner.

[@danielmoffett8838]

Very good review, as always. However, I would like to see a comparison video. Same truck, same camper, with a different WDH, like a Cur Tru-Track 17499 (which is what I have) to see if it is worth the triple price tag.

[@bigj200016]

It’s an interesting concept, using hydraulics to adjust weight distribution. That said, I wouldn’t be in the market for one of these. I ended up buying a heavyweight WeighSafe because they had a feature that I wanted, even more than the built in scale and that being the ability to quickly adjust the head height without undoing bolts. That way I can tow with one hitch the same trailer with my lifted F250 (if using in toy hauler mode) or my Ranger (if just going for a weekend with a dog or two)

[@michaelmacdonald1446]

Any plans to do a review with the same truck and trailer using the Weigh Safe Middle weight with the 8500lb bars?

[@mountainsintomemories]

I can’t say I noticed much difference going to a 2500 from a 1500. I agree on not towing anything bigger or heavier with a truck like that though.

[@ShawnPatterson402]

very interesting test. While you may "feel" more comfortable towing your big 5th wheel with an F250 or F350, I am willing to bet that in an emergency situation you are much more likely to avoid it with the half ton and the trailer you are towing today. Or put another way, take the two units through a slalom course of cones spaced 100 feet apart. The truck with the lower center of gravity and the lower trailer will be faster hands down. Better yet, set up the trailer you are towing today behind a Chrysler 300 with the weight distribution hitch properly set up, and it would beat both of these combinations in any test of real world handling and accident avoidance... and the Chrysler 300 will stop the set up quicker too. Its brakes are basically the same size as most half ton pickups, and it weighs in several thousand pounds lighter. As always, safe travels and keep the excellent content coming.

[@brianalsum7706]

As a general rule. Use WD when your at 50% of your towing capacity or greater.

[@shadowsabre194]

Good product introduction but you really need CAT scale weights to show the effectiveness of the system.

[@hularock2705]

I have the Continuum, biggest drawback. Speed bumps and you really have to watch your appraoch and departure angles if you go off pavement.

[@jayd872011]

Honestly im looking seriously at this set-up for my next camper soon it has to be lighter than my current chain spring bar anti sway weight distribution setup which probably is about 180lbs total and ok but required a decent amount of setup measuring and drilling i trust this setup fully and honestly my half ton ford f150 has the 6.5 foot bed super crew and 1850 lbs of payload and 9300 of towing i dont think it would have a issue towing a 30 ft 9 inch travel trailer that fully loaded weighs 7800lbs every one keeps pointing that as long as its 32 feet and under 8000lbs gross its definitely half ton towable so IDK why you keep saying 6500lbs is the max weight tops you would do short beds and less payloads are a killer that gmc your using is a comfort truck to my work horse xl f150

[@joecool509]

I agree sway control isn’t really part of this system. It seems easy to adjust but I am concerned more failure items orings etc.

[@aaronbritt2025]

Sway control probably comes from the arms resisting side to side motion.

[@whodat90]

I don't like the reliance on hydraulics for continuous load bearing without a mechanical backup. Leak in the system, nick or pull the hydraulic hose on something, bang the bottom of the cylinder, anything could cause a pressure loss. There's a reason that servicing hydraulic cylinder systems requires a mechanical lock to protect the operator.

[@adamharriger5193]

23 F250 with 360 cameras, have those same camera views and also can set it to turn on the cameras down the side of the truck automatically when you put the turn signal on. Provides an awesome view down the truck and trailer, really handy for tight parking lots and campgrounds, turning around curbs and trees etc… As for that hitch, really interested to see the long term longevity with regards to bleed down of pressure- will it hold where set on a long 8-10 hour trip? Also curious about the effects of temperature on the pressure, not uncommon for us to leave home in NY at 30 degrees and stop for the night somewhere 10 hours south at 80 degrees.

[@fifedizzy4563]

Good video, JD. Off on a tangent here, but have you had experience with or tried longer Sumo springs instead of short factory jounce springs? I bet your friends at etrailer have them ;) It is an economical way to help with the expansion joint tottering bounce. I have a Silverado 2500hd pulling a 9000lb loaded, 37ft travel trailer and those sumo springs help sooooo much. Hardly any bounce n pull when hitting those bridges and dips.

[@MMDSparky]

I have a 2021 GMC 1500 SLT with the 3.0 Liter Duramax. I am thinking about getting a Rockwood Mini Lite travel trailer. UVW of the trailer is around the same as the curb weight of my truck, 5600-5700 pounds. What has your experience been towing your travel trailer, specifically the MPG you're getting?

[@michaelmacdonald1446]

Great video.. Have you measured the ground clearance below the hitch? I have a Sierra Denali as well. I'm leaning towards the Weigh Safe Middleweight. I like it because it gives me a Tongue weight. We purchased a Alliance Delta 262RB. Hasn't arrived yet. Enjoy your new trailer.

[@dalemarshall9736]

Last week coming down from northern NY encountered very heavy crosswinds for a time pulling my 27' Arctic Fox weighing about 8,500 and did get pushed around some. Probably would have with a traditional weight distribution hitch. Find very little push from 18 wheelers with the B&W. Agree with you JD, it is a very well engineered hitch and love the ease of use.

[@waltfriedrich7631]

I have been using chain hung weight distribution hitches since the mid 1980's with friction sway controls. Once I got to a 30 footer I went to dual friction sway controls and current;y tow a 37 footer. Never have an issue with sway. The friction control allows you to adjust the resistance thus you can increase or decrease the amount of anti-sway. From what I have seen the majority of issues are from rigs not set up properly. The first two dealers I did business with knew nothing about proper setup. I have towed other rigs with new fangled hitches including Anderson and they dont compare

[@jimdrew5765]

JD, will the tailgate open with that short of a hitch?. I've been told that they are working on a longer shank. I'll have to wait and see...

[@cwtex59]

If you only had your 450 and pulled a travel trailer in the 25 -30’ max weight 7000 -8000 pounds . Would you just use a drop hitch to get you level ? Would you be worried about sway?

[@BrandonHerrenbruck]

How tight can you turn? Compared to Hensley? Can you open your tailgate?

[@TheDesertdawg1]

So sad you didn’t mount a camera on the bumper to video that hitch while bouncing down the road.

[@alexcast7135]

Can you tell if it’s any reduction on the clearance with this set up . I mean the distance between the lower and ground

[@TheFiremanJoe]

Would like to be able to lock the hitch components.

[@katherinehellstrom1952]

What kind of bed cover do you have on that truck?

[@MyRcking]

How would you compare it to an equalizer 2?

[@keithacline]

What kind of failsafe is used in the case of a hydraulic failure? Is it just loss of weight distribution? I understand the risk is different, but nobody would trust a hydraulic jack for safety when working on a vehicle. It just seems like a lot of trust for some rubber seals.

[@popdaddyg]

On your 1/2 ton are you towing with E rated tires ? I just got a F150 with the Max tow package but it doesn’t have E rated like my 2500 Ram diesel had.

[@RonaldAnderson]

I just got my first trailer, 22.5 Mallard, just 4700 lbs dry, 1500 Ram. I’m trying to decide between the B W or weigh safe. First time pulling a trailer on the highway any distance. Which would you recommend?

[@kennethgeorge9800]

I have a 2022 ram 1500 with the BW and the camper is white hawk 26FK. several hundred miles now with this set up and it is great. Even in 40 mph winds.

[@trumpwon8231]

How every is the trailer your towing

[@BigTruckBigRV]

About 6000lbs

[@robertpulliam9973]

Went to the web site and it say for 2” hitch $1299 expensive, yes, heavier yes, is it that much better than spring bars?

[@BigTruckBigRV]

Far far more convenient connected and disconnecting and easy to make quick adjustments based on truck and trailer load. No more removing and reinstalling spring bars either.

[@brianb-p6586]

It has spring bars - they are composite instead of steel, but they're still spring bars. The important difference isn't the bars, it's the mechanism of applying force to the bars.

[@trumpwon8231]

Heavy

[@davezorn]

Just my personal opinion, with all the recently brought to the public eye. I’d rather put a set of bags, instead of putting all the extra stress on that frame section. Again just my opinion……..

[@BigTruckBigRV]

Problem with bags is that they do not transfer weight or the front of the truck. This can lead to an unstable towing experience.

[@briandonald]

How would this work with a truck that already has air suspension?

[@BigTruckBigRV]

Air suspension changes the dynamics of setting up a WDH if your using the bags to level the truck/trailer.

[@briandonald]

@@BigTruckBigRV Ah ok. Thanks!

[@brianb-p6586]

The best approach would be to do the setup with the air suspension active, using axle load (weight) readings from a scale to find the WDH setting that restores the front axle to load to close to what it was without the trailer. Then it would work fine while towing, with all of the usual advantages of air suspension still working for you.

[@briandonald]

@@brianb-p6586 Thanks for the advice!

[@brianb-p6586]

One additional note, @briandonald : the instructions include setting the ball above the trailer coupler height, to allow for the ball coming down as the truck's rear suspension takes the load of the trailer tongue. If your air suspension is going to maintain the same height, then you wouldn't allow that extra; just set the ball at the same height as the trailer's coupler.

[@brianb-p6586]

The first time I towed with a new truck and trailer setup it wouldn't be on a windy causeway between walls and guardrails.... but that's just me.

[@i70show]

not sure I like the Weight dist. being the Lowest thing on the Rig.....

[@brianb-p6586]

It usually is low compared to the tongue, but this seems very low.

[@DonFarmer-hq5sw]

That hitch is a world-class dumb idea 💡 😮 😂 I’ll stick with my Anderson WD hitch. ❤

[@BigTruckBigRV]

Andersen is a good hitch for sure. I've recommended it to many peole, but this is far far from a dumb idea. It's actually quite brilliant. Andersen, in my opinion, isnt as effective in terms of effective sway control and weight distribution over 5,000 lbs. Mainly because of the horizontal tension of the chains creating weight distribution, and a sleeve with friction surrounding the ball creating sway control. Vertical pressure is far more effective for weight distribution. Again, I'm still curious about the sway control of the B&W.

[@herb7877]

I tow my 8400# tt with a f350 & use an Andersen wdh. I’d say it’s pretty much maxed out. It’s not as good at sway control as my previous Equalizer but really saves my back with the much lighter weight. It’s just so easy to connect & disconnect. This one looks like a little more work & weight. In theory I understand the concept of this new hitch. I’d like to see the same hitch in a year or two and the reliability

[@johnand]

I have had both Andersen and B&W Continuum on multiple trailers and tow vehicles. While the Andersen is a very good hitch, I agree completely with BTBRV that is is not very effective with trailers over 5000lbs or much over 500lbs of tongue weight. The B&W is better in every way over the Andersen except the hitch head weight. Andersen is significantly lighter which I miss. But the towing performance of the B&W over Andersen is significant. Also the Andersen trailer brackets mounting tends to damage most lightweight trailer frames when you crank down the chains enough to get adequate weight distribution.

[@ewetuber186000]

I don’t mind that your video is limited to your subjective comments. You are probably correct or partially correct on many of your opinions. I just think you missed an opportunity to make a much better video. You dismiss the idea of testing the truck/trailer setup without weight distribution as “unsafe”. That doesn’t really make sense. Just drive at lower speeds. Half ton trucks probably benefit from weight distribution at that size/weight trailer. But moving hitch weight from the rear axle to the steer axle might INCREASE sway. Without the “no hitch” test you are trying to solve a problem that you haven’t identified.

[@waltfriedrich7631]

Dont like the idea of the hydraulics. Too many ways it can fail.

[@henryford2736]

Like the FedEx wheels up landing in Chattanooga you mean? That Boeing 757 had multiple hydraulic back up systems and still failed....lol

[@brianb-p6586]

It's very simple hydraulic system. Yes, a seal could fail and release the force on the spring bars.

[@hirovision]

We use hydraulic pumps to open and close the internal valve in our chemical tankers, the fittings vibrate loose, the lines break and starts leaking and the expansion and contraction of the o rings in the pump causes it to not operate correctly. Hydraulic fluid also freezes in freezing weather, we replace the hydraulic fluid with pure glycol (anti-freeze) so it wont freeze. You are right, i feel more confident with a mechanical weight distribution with torsion bars then using a hydraulic pump.

[@brianb-p6586]

@hirovision hydraulic fluid doesn't freeze, and pure glycol freezes at −12.9 °C (8.8 °F) so it is unsuitable at low temperatures (antifreeze mixtures are about equal parts water and ethylene glycol, which freezes at −37 °C (−34 °F)). So I don't know what's really going on with your tankers... but I do understand wanting to avoid fluids.

[@craigwilliams1073]

You should have towed it before adding hitch.

[@forexfrank4484]

Complete over kill, imo.

[@HateBMcDead]

What? No comments on being able to back your trailer without having to remove spring bars? That's a big advantage.