Troubleshooting 2016 Chevy Silverado 1500 Sags While Towing with a Weight Distribution System

Question:

I have a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 with tow package. I pull a 33 foot camper and when hooked up with weight distribution system the back of the truck still sits a little low. Ive taken it back to my camper dealership where I purchased the weight distribution and they confirmed the hitch is set up correctly. Would you have any suggestions on spring support or modifications to hitch to lift the back to proper height?

asked by: Chris

Expert Reply:

If the dealer said that the weight distribution (WD) system they installed is set up correctly then I bet they didn't give you the correct system as there should be little to no sag when a WD system is used for towing.

When you choose a WD system you first need to find the tongue weight (TW) of your loaded trailer. I recommend using the TW Scale # e99044 as it quickly measures your tongue weight. Please note that a properly loaded trailer will have a TW that is 10-15% of the loaded weight of the trailer.

Once you know your TW then you need to add the weight of any cargo that will be sitting behind the rear axle of your 2016 Silverado to that total. These numbers combined give you what we call Total Tongue Weight (TTW). The best WD system for your towing application will have a TW range that your TTW falls in the middle of.

For example, the popular Equal-i-zer WD System # EQ37120ET has a TW range of 800 lbs - 1,200 lbs. If your TTW falls in the middle of this range then this would be a perfect system for you. If a system is rated too high then it will result in a stiff towing experience but if it is rated too low (which sounds like your situation) then it will basically be non-existent.

I have linked our selection of WD systems for you to filter through but if you let me know what your TTW is I can make a recommendation for you to check out.

expert reply by: Jon G