Recommended Weight Distribution/Sway Control System for 2005 Ford F-150 Towing 26-Foot Camper
Question:
I have a 2013 26foot Coachman camper with a dry weight of 5900 pounds and a cargo weight of 1740 pounds. Total weight of 7640. I will be towing this with a 2005 Ford F-150 King Ranch crew cab. I have been looking at the Curt 17422 but am not sure if this is the right one for the truck. Any recommendations would be most helpful as I am a new at this. I am sending a picture of the bumper recommendations. Thanking you in advance for your quick response.
asked by: Renee T
Expert Reply:
Since your F-150's Class V hitch has a weight carrying capacity of 5000-lbs and a weight distributing capacity of 9900-lbs, then you do indeed need a weight distribution (WD) system to tow your trailer with a maximum gross weight of 7640-lbs.
The key for selecting the right WD system is to know your trailer's actual fully-loaded tongue weight (TW), just as it will be when you head out for a trip. To this actual fully-loaded TW you need to add the weight of anything in the truck that sits behind the rear axle, such as a generator or a fully-loaded cooler. This combined total TW figure will let you select the correct system, one stiff enough to move some of that TW forward to the truck's front axle, but not so stiff that it creates weird handling from the trailer. Ideally your total TW will fall right near the middle of the system's operating range. The linked article will help you determine your total TW. We offer a scale, part # e99044 to make this easier.
When a trailer is properly loaded its TW will be between 10 and 15-percent of its gross weight. This means that if your trailer were loaded up to full capacity (7640-lbs) and you had a 100-lb cooler in the back of the truck, then your TW would be between 864-lbs and 1246-lbs. Let's use a figure of 1000-lbs for our example.
If you click on the included link you'll see all WD system that include sway control, which is recommended for longer trailers like yours. First select your hitch size, then click on the 1000-lb TW figure. You'll then see system suitable for that figure - or you can click on another TW once you know yours.
The best-performing 2-inch system we offer for this TW is the Reese Strait-Line # RP66084, a trunnion bar system like the Curt # C17422, that provide better ground clearance than a round bar system such as the Pro Series # PS49582. The Reese system includes everything but the hitch ball; use either 2-inch ball # A-90 or 2-5/16-inch ball # 19286. Based on our estimated TW range the Pro Series would be rated too low for your trailer. The Curt trunnion system would be a suitable choice if your total TW ends up being 1200-1300-lbs.
The linked article on WD systems will give you plenty of good background that will help you consider your best options. If you care to let me know your total TW figure I'll be glad to offer you several choices in suitable weight distribution/sway control systems.
Products Referenced in This Question
2-5/16" Hitch Ball - 1-1/4" Diameter x 2-3/4" Long Shank - Chrome - 12,000 lbs
- Trailer Hitch Ball
- Trailer Hitch Ball
- Standard Ball
- Chrome-Plated Steel
- 2-5/16 Inch Diameter Ball
- 2-3/4 Inch Shank Length
- 1-1/4 Inch Diameter Shank
- 12000 lbs GTW
- Class IV
- Class V
- Draw-Tite
more information >
2" Hitch Ball - 1-1/4" Diameter x 2-5/8" Long Shank - Chrome - 10,000
- Trailer Hitch Ball
- Trailer Hitch Ball
- Standard Ball
- Chrome-Plated Steel
- 2 Inch Diameter Ball
- 2-5/8 Inch Shank Length
- 1-1/4 Inch Diameter Shank
- 10000 lbs GTW
- Class IV
- Class V
- CURT
more information >
Curt Short-Arm Weight Distribution System with Sway Control - Trunnion Bar - 15K GTW, 1.5K TW
- Weight Distribution Hitch
- WD With Sway Control
- No Sway
- Includes Shank
- Electric Brake Compatible
- Fits 2 Inch Hitch
- Does Not Allow Backing Up
- 1100 lbs
- 1200 lbs
- 1300 lbs
- 1400 lbs
- CURT
more information >
etrailer Tongue Weight Scale for Campers and Utility Trailers - 2,000-lb Capacity
- Tongue Weight Scale
- Analog Scale
- 2000 lbs
- etrailer
more information >
Strait-Line Weight Distribution System w/ Sway Control - Trunnion Bar - 12,000 lbs GTW, 1,200 lbs TW
- Weight Distribution Hitch
- WD With Sway Control
- Some Sway
- Includes Shank
- Electric Brake Compatible
- Fits 2 Inch Hitch
- Allows Backing Up
- 1000 lbs
- 1100 lbs
- 700 lbs
- 800 lbs
- 900 lbs
- Reese
more information >
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