Weight Capacity of Trunnion Spring Bars for 6500 lb Travel Trailer

Question:

I have a Draw-Tite Strait-Line hitch system with a pair of 800# trunnion bars. My travel trailer GVW is 6500# tongue weight @ 15 would be 975#. The actual weight is currently 6118# tongue weight @ 15 would be 918#. My tongue weight is 858# 14 as determined by weighing car + trailer and then car alone. Am I OK with 800# trunnion bars or should I switch to 1200# trunnion bars?

asked by: Donald P

Expert Reply:

I cannot advise using 800 lb spring bars on a trailer with a 858 lb tongue weight. Exceeding the capacity of the spring bars will certainly lead to poor performance as your existing bars would be over loaded. In the worst case scenario, they could bend or even break possibly causing vehicle damage or personal injury.

Upgrading to the 1200 lb spring bars would be a good idea. You would use part # RP66009, you would need two of them.

expert reply by: Mike L