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WDH hitch and unibody frame concern and questions.

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Ashlandjet View Drop Down
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Joined: 01 Feb 2017
Location: Ashland, Oregon
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    Posted: 04 Feb 2017 at 10:26am

Hi Everyone

I know that this subject of weight distribution hitches has been discussed quite a bit in this forum. I just last night by accident ran into an article about WDH’s and unibody frame vehicles. I have a 2009 Toyota Highlander 4x4 V6 with factory tow, rated at 5,000 lbs tow. I just bought a new Rpod 178. When getting the Highlander ready to tow I was introduced to the concept of a WDH and thought to error on the side of caution and had a Husky WDH installed with the friction sway bar. So far I have only towed the vehicle about 45 miles, primarily from the selling dealer to my house. I am planning a trip from my home in southern Oregon to Joshua Tree in less then 2 weeks which is about 820 miles one way. Last night while online I accidentally came across a discussion of WDH’s and unibody frame vehicles, and potential for unibody frame damage using a WDH. I spent hours reading various articles about WDH’s and unibody frame vehicles getting information from one end of the spectrum to the other. Up until last night I was totally unaware that there was any concern about WDH’s and unibody tow vehicles and frame damage. I was unnerved at the prospects of damaging my unibody frame on my Highlander by using one. There is no definitive answer from anyone including Toyota Corporation. There seems to be numerous places where you can find answers that range from you don’t need it...to it can damage a unibody frame….to the opinion they are a good ideal. I did not find anywhere where anyone actually reported frame damage in their experience. I would really like to have this confusion in my mind somewhat resolved before I leave on my trip. I have not driven my vehicle hooked to the Rpod without the WDH to see how it does, but if it does not harm anything would feel better having the WDH and sway bar.


It also seems to make a difference to some in how they answer the question of the WDH as to how close you are to the maximum weight and tongue weight you are in your combination. I have a 5,000lb rating and a 2600 lb trailer (dry), so some people think don’t bother.


I guess for me the key question is not necessarily do I “need” it but rather is there really any potential danger in damaging the unibody frame using the WDH on my Highlander. I read that some years of Honda Pilots state in their owner’s manual to NOT use a WDH because of frame concerns by Honda and the unibody frame. I also read that representatives from Toyota itself contradict each other in the answer, where a Toyota representative in Canada said NO do not use it as it could cause unibody frame damage on the Highlander and a representative in the USA said that they officially did not say no, but I guess later changed his tune when confronted with the Toyota Canada answer. I am not sure what the latest official Toyota response is in regard to this and the Highlander or other of their unibody vehicles.


I am really confused as to how to proceed with what to do in this regard. I was wondering if there is any new information about this and what the groups thoughts are in this regard, especially those towing Rpods with Highlanders and other unibody frame vehicles with and without WDH hitch set ups.


I guess the bottom line that needs to be answered is simply whether a WDH could damage a unibody frame or specifically in my case a Highlander frame. 


John

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