Product Review: Weigh-Safe Hitch

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Weigh-Safe Hitches bring a new level of safety to the towing world with a drop-shank hitch kit that monitors trailer tongue-weight

The weight a trailer places on the hitch, known as tongue-weight, plays a critical and decisive role in how a vehicle responds when it’s rolling down the road.

That includes steering control, and braking in an emergency, the ability to control trailer sway, and the integrity of both the hitch system and the vehicle itself.

That’s why every vehicle and hitch manufacturer places a maximum limit on how much tongue-weight is acceptable in keeping the tow vehicle and hitch compliant with safety and operational guidelines.

Weigh-Safe Hitch shows trailer tongue weight right under the ball.

Exceed those limits, as would come up in a court of law after a bad accident, anything that happens afterwards is the sole responsibility of the vehicle’s driver.

The only way to make sure the trailer you are towing is being done in accordance within the towing guidelines set forth in the vehicle’s owner’s manual – and/or as noted on the hitch itself – is to weigh the weight the trailer tongue places on the hitch ball.

That’s where the innovative Weigh-Safe Hitch comes into play. It has the tongue- weight (TW) scale built right into the section that holds the hitch ball.

Weigh-Safe measures the downforce on the hitch ball. That force is then displayed in a dial gauge that’s easily read and has increments between 0-1,500 pounds, with green and red backdrop showing what is regarded as “safe” and “dangerous” weights.

Adjusting the load in/on the trailer deck allows you to easily control TW just by monitoring the dial.

Built-in scale that reads up to 1,500 pounds TW.

The hitch, which is rated for 12,500 pound trailered weight and 1,500 pounds TW, is as much a piece of art as it is a safety tool.

The machine work and tooling in the metal of the drop shank and the hitch ball/gauge housing are exceptional.

We found of the pin that locks the hitch ball, the shank adjusting pins, and grooves where the hitch ball slides up/down the shank machine perfectly.

There’re two stainless steel hitch balls – a 2” and a 2-5/16” – with the kit, making it ideal for all conventional towing applications.

Build quality: None better. I have never used a more convenient or better-designed drop-shank hitch setup.

I was also impressed with the price: $288 for the 6” Drop Hitch I tested.

That’s a good price for RVers’ and ATVers’ piece of mind who tow heavier trailers without employing a weight-distributing hitch per the vehicle manu’s recommendations/requirements.

At least with the Weigh-Safe Hitch in place the load on the trailer can be adjusted so the TW is within the correct range, maintaining some semblance of proper handling and vehicle attitude.

Again, proper trailer loading is a safety and liability issue.

The Weigh-Safe Hitch takes the guesswork out of trailer towing—it leaves no doubt as to whether or not you are towing the trailer in compliance with the vehicle and hitch manufacturer’s safety guidelines.