WDH for Short Haul?

Fender · 07-08-2022, 07:00 AM

Hey folks, with any luck my new trailer will land in town on Monday and I'll have about a 5 km drive from the drop off site to my house. Route is through town driving under 60 Km/hr. Won't take me 15 minutes to get home.
I've never used a WDH before but I'm assuming that it won't harm anything if I don't bother connecting the spring bars for such a short drive?

cpaharley2008 · 07-08-2022, 07:08 AM

As long as you have towed a trailer before you should be fine, make sure the set up is close to level....congrats, take pictures of the delivery and share please so others can see your smiling faces.....

HABBERDABBER · 07-08-2022, 07:23 AM

When transporting between home & storage lot, 11 km (7 miles) I travel without the WDH. Long haul, it's always on.

NEWYORKHILLBILLY · 07-08-2022, 07:51 AM

This will be a good test. at least this way you see how it acts with out one. I been all over the country with out one.

Fender · 07-08-2022, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

As long as you have towed a trailer before you should be fine, make sure the set up is close to level....congrats, take pictures of the delivery and share please so others can see your smiling faces.....

Yes, I have towed before. I can even back up!

We're excited. Delivery had been estimated for today but apparently due to some delays in unloading other deliveries we're bumped to Monday.
Not sure if this is a Canadian thing but apparently they are only allowed to drive Monday to Friday, so the poor truck driver has to sit somewhere for the weekend. I'm guessing he/she will be in Quebec.
I know there are number of hours behind the wheel restrictions but the Monday - Friday thing is a bit of a surprise.

cpaharley2008 · 07-08-2022, 08:50 AM

See here https://roanetrans.com/fmcsa-propose...e-otr-drivers/

Fender · 07-08-2022, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

See here https://roanetrans.com/fmcsa-propose...e-otr-drivers/

Interesting info.

With Canadian regulations it appears as if there are also regulations that prohibit driving more than 70 hours (cumulative) over a 7 day period or 120 hours over 14 days.
Once they hit that threshold they must stop driving for 36 hours or 72 hours respectively.
Probably explains why they are stopping for the weekend.
The fellow I talked to says the drivers hate it, mainly because they are not being paid when they aren't driving.

Eggscape · 07-08-2022, 10:17 AM

The 19 property loaded tows perfectly behind any large pickup without WDH.

gbaglo · 07-08-2022, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fender

The fellow I talked to says the drivers hate it, mainly because they are not being paid when they aren't driving.

Not being paid when dead either.

Jane P. · 07-08-2022, 01:10 PM

How exciting for you!

Can’t speak to local towing laws. However... My rule of thumb: WDH not needed when towing off the freeway.

I never use WDH when driving on surface streets.

You should be just fine.

Use your new trailer in the best of health!

**John in Santa Cruz** · 07-08-2022, 01:27 PM

your tow vehicle, put about 400 lbs as far back as possible, like on an open tailgate if its a truck, or two big dudes sitting on the edge of the open trunk of a car/SUV.... if the back end doesn't sag excessively (an inch or three drop would be totally normal), you're golden. Or if the front end comes up much more than a small amount, you might want that WDH

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