Weight Distribution/Sway Control Recommendation for 2007 Dodge Ram Pickup Towing 5000-lb Trailer  

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The key to selecting a weight distribution/sway control system is knowing your trailer's fully-loaded tongue weight. In your case you'll also need to add the weight of the cargo in your truck bed that sits behind the rear axle to the trailer's measured tongue weight. Knowing the total effective tongue weight load is important to selecting the right system, one whose spring bars are stiff enough to provide the desired shift in tongue weight forward to the tow vehicle front axle, but not so stiff that it results in jumpy or erratic handling from the trailer.

You can use a scale like the etrailer # e99044 to measure your loaded tongue weight, or you can use another method outlined in the linked article. Ideally your measured tongue weight will fall into the middle of the system's operating range. If your total tongue weight is 900-1000-lbs (including the cargo load) then the Reese Strait-Line Weight Distribution System # RP66074 that you referenced is just right. This system's operating range is 600- to 1200-lbs, so a total load of 900-1000-lbs will fall right in the ideal zone for this trunnion system.

The Reese Strait-Line system actually prevents sway from starting in the first place, rather than trying to correct it after it starts, like other systems do. It is compatible with electric but not surge-type trailer brakes.

This system does not include the shank or hitch ball so you'll need to select those items as well. For a 2-5/16-inch hitch ball you can use # 19286. For an adjustable shank you can use Reese # RP3215 (which gives 6-3/4-inches of drop to 11-1/2-inches of rise) or Reese # RP54970 for 2-inches of drop to 6-1/2-inches of rise.

expert reply by: Adam R

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