Recommended Weight Distribution System for 2007 Nissan Xterra Pulling 16FT Shasta Aeroflyte Reissue

Question:

I cant figure out which system to buy. The trailer wt is 2430lb The tongue wt was measured at 410. which I dont understand that. weighed by someone else, in a nontraditional way I guess. they used a scale they use for weighing pipeline stuff. lifting the tongue up with a forklift with the scale attached! crazy! anyways all the men were telling me this is correct. So dry weight on xterra is 4140 on truck scales it weighed 4400 with camping gear in the back. but tank was near empty . so a full tank 21gal. would be another 126 or so. vehicle and trailer on scale was 7000. vehicle itself on scale was 4400. the trailer is 7ft wide and 711inch tall . I have a class 3 hitch. and brake controller installed . the trailer sways a lot on our Louisiana roads. Help

asked by: Carla B

Expert Reply:

When choosing a weight distribution system, the most important factor to consider is the fully loaded and ready to tow tongue weight of your trailer plus the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of your 2007 Nissan Xterra. I have included an article which covers several different ways that we use to determine the tongue weight of a trailer.

Tongue weight of a trailer is typically 10 to 15 percent of the gross trailer weight and although I have never used a forklift in the measuring process, a tongue weight of 410 lbs seems pretty reasonable considering the total weight of your trailer.

In this case, I recommend going with the Reese Steadi-Flex Weight Distribution System w/ Sway Control, # RP66558. This system is very easy to use and evenly distributes weight over the axles of tow vehicle and trailer for stability and control and creates a more level ride for both tow vehicle and trailer. The spring-bar hangers in the system have integrated friction pads which will help to reduce sway on those Louisiana roads. This is for use on trailers with a tongue weight ranging from 400 to 600 pounds so it gives you a little bit of cushion should you choose to throw a cooler or other gear in the back of the Xterra. To complete the set-up you will just need a hitch ball, # 63845 for a 2 inch or # 63847 for a 2-5/16 inch.

Just a reminder, you want to ensure that you aren't exceeding the weight limitations of any component in your towing setup. This would include the vehicle, the hitch, and the weight distribution system.

expert reply by: Leah S