Recommended Weight Distribution Hitch Compatible with 2010 Ford Explorer w/ Electronic Sway Control

Question:

Hi - I have a 2010 Ford Explorer 4.6 v8, with Sway Control option. GVWR: 6280 GCWR: 12000 Curb: 4628 Payload: 1652 I am towing a 2015 Aspen Trail Mini1500BH trailer. GVWR: 3800 Dry: 2975 Cargo: 825 Hitch: 357 Trying to determine the expected tongue weight, if this particular hitch will work PS49581, and if I should use the Sway Control option on the Ford Explorer, or turn it off? Thanks in advance for your help here! Cheers

asked by: Brett M

Helpful Expert Reply:

When it comes to the tongue weight of your trailer, the unloaded tongue weight (hitch weight that you referred to) is 357-lbs, but it will be a bit more when the trailer is loaded. Typically your goal should be to have 10-15% of the total weight of the trailer on the tongue, which with a 3800-lbs trailer would be between 380 and 570-lbs.

Based off that tongue weight and even though your vehicle does have sway control I do recommend using a weight distribution hitch with sway control that will help prevent sway events before they happen. I recommend using the Fastway e2 with 2-pt Sway Control-Trunnion Bars # FA92-00-0600, which will work well a trailer like yours and offers you 2-pt sway control with heavy duty trunnion bars. From what I've heard from some other people who've had electronic sway control on their vehicles, it doesn't do the best job at controlling a heavier trailer, which is why I recommend going with a weight distribution hitch that offers this feature. You don't need to turn it off when using either of these weight distribution hitches, and it won't damage anything if you leave it on.

I do also recommend getting a tongue weight scale like the etrailer # e99044 so that you can always make sure your trailer is properly loaded. I've linked some video reviews of these parts for you to have a look at, as well as linking some helpful articles that we've put together on weight distribution hitches.

expert reply by: Erik B