[A/S] Re: FW: Weight equalizing hitch bars - and wheel balancing

["Christopher45103" <blickcd@xxxxxxx>]

Oliver,

It sounds like you know your hitch engineering, so let me run a 
question by you:

I have an '04 F250 4x4.  It sits higher off the ground than a 
standard truck so I had to get a special extended drop shank to mount 
my ball on to get it at the proper 19.5".

When I hitch up my 1979 31' International and install the spring bars 
on the 6th link of chain, from the loose end, the trailer is 
perfectly level and the ball is brought back up to the original 
height.  Spring bars are properly seated in the "stirups" on the 
trailer tongue.

All would seem to be well, except that when hitched up, my drawbar 
looks like it's under a tremendous load, and looks like it is trying 
to tuck itself under the back end of the truck.  No heavy bending, 
just slightly noticable and possibly the result of slop between the 
drawbar and receiver.

This setup tows just fine, but am I overloading the class IV 
receiver?  I have considered raising the ball one notch so I could 
back off the spring bars by one or two chain links, but then I might 
not have the proper amount of hitch weight.  What do you think?

Christopher