Just looked at the 2019 transit tow selector pdf.
Not only does it NOT say "wdh not recommended"
It does say this:
(1) Hitch receivers do not include a hitch ball or ball mounting. You are responsible for obtaining the proper hitch ball, ball
mounting, weight-distributing equipment (i.e., equalizing arms and snap-up brackets, sway control system) and other
appropriate equipment to tow both the trailer and its cargo load.
Also in there:
Notes: • Calculated with SAE J2807 method.
• Trailer tongue load weight should be 10% of total loaded trailer weight. Make sure vehicle payload (reduce by option weight) will accommodate trailer
tongue load weight and weight of passengers and cargo added to towing vehicle. Addition of trailer tongue load weight and weight of passengers and cargo
cannot cause vehicle weights to exceed rear GAWR or GVWR. These ratings can be found on the vehicle Safety Compliance Certification Label.
I think the GAWR and GVWR are the more appropriate tongue weight selectors.
The 10% is a general rule and in truth, I believe 12% of trailer weight is most optimum. The worse thing we can do is have too light of a tongue weight.
Not possible. As many smart others have said on here : the weak, tin-can style unibody will simply rip apart with a WDH because it's the weakest thing ever made. Only ladder frame can handle this ridiculous frame-snapping contraption!
Don't even get me started on the rubber drive shaft!
Also, ANY modifications to any part of the vehicle totally voids all warranty and will cause the insurance company to have you jailed.
Not possible. As many smart others have said on here : the weak, tin-can style unibody will simply rip apart with a WDH because it's the weakest thing ever made. Only ladder frame can handle this ridiculous frame-snapping contraption!
Please visit the forums for these vehicles...
They have unibody framed vehicles that allow weight distribution hitch:
Dodge Durango, Jeep Cherokee, Ford Flex, Ford Edge, Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition, Chevy Traverse, Honda Pilot, Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Highlander
I'm sure that they will be happy to know their vehicles are being turned into virtual pretzels.?
I think that is probably a generic form that they use for all their vehicles and someone missed it. The 2019 Owners Manual also mentions being sure to calculate "the weight of any weight distribution hitch" when figuring out tongue weight, but then the next page says
"Weight Distributing Hitches
A weight distribution hitch is not
recommended for use with your vehicle."
When you think about it, it's scary how bad the owners manual is when you factor in that multiple writers, editors and lawyers had a look at it.
Many years and two careers ago I had to write an End-User License Agreement (EULA) for some software I had written which was for internal use only. I argued that we didn't need an EULA but senior management insisted because "all software has it". This was in Canada so it also had to be in two languages but even though I am bilingual I was not allowed to write both. . I wrote one language, had it reviewed by my peers and a team of editors, then we sent it to translation, and I reviewed the translation and had my peers review it as well. We then sent it to lawyers in both languages for approval. When it was finally approved 8 months later and released, my superiors in the senior management team were the first to install it. My immediate Director, who I had issues with, tried to embarrass me in front of his peers at a presentation I was making on this new software. I had the joy of asking why he was even in the room at the time, since the end user license agreement that he had read, approved, and later agreed to when installing the software clearly stated that on Fridays he had to wash my car and cut my grass. His peers laughed, then I told them what they had all agreed to when accepting the EULA.
I didn't take it that way, if I'm who you are referring to. I was pointing out how sad it is that we don't really have a trusted source of OEM information when even Ford can't get their story straight on two different pieces of paper. It's no wonder there can be so many differing opinions based on the same fact.
Not directed at you.?
I found your story rather humorous and insightful.
It is just that when the "towing" issue is brought up, there seems to be a passionate discussion. Hehe
Page 3 of that guide is excellent, and Uhaul should require passing a test on these points before renting any trailer.
Thx for this @joefromga, "Also, ANY modifications to any part of the vehicle totally voids all warranty and will cause the insurance company to have you jailed."
Oh my, I better put the factory bulbs back in the dome lights, lol >
I do find it interesting that the tongue weight is based off of the 10% of the trailer weight rule. So apparently it has nothing to do with what the frame can actually handle.
A T150 with the 3.7l has a tongue weight of 470 lbs but the 3.5l has a tongue weight of 500 lbs. Only difference is the engine. And apparently the cargo van can do 750 lb tongue weight....because 10% of trailer weight...lol.
So they removed the wdh restrictions and their tongue weight #'s are pure bs.
The weight tow restrictions are based on this standard...
Crew van man.
What is the possibility of you digging Ford for the the results of tge SAE tow tests?
Braking is a big question for me and I suspect that the ac on high in 100° temps may be the big issue from others who posted about that?
By the way, the owners manual still has the "wdh is not recommended".
Interesting that you they went through the tow selector and brochures to remove it.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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