If a Vehicle Requires Weight Distribution To Tow a Certain Weight Is the System Required for Towing

Question:

Unless Im missing something, if I have a trailer that GVW and TW mandate a 5000#/500# wd and sway control system, every time I with to drop the trailer at a site so I can use the tow vehicle for errands, I essentially have to completely disassemble the hitch system, as opposed to a 3500#/350# system/trailer where I drop and go. True? Seems like a total time consuming pain.

asked by: Greg G

Expert Reply:

If your trailer weighs enough that your tow vehicle requires the use of a weight distribution system when towing then yes, you would have to connect the system and disconnect it every time you decide to tow.

Installing a weight distribution system initially is a bit more involved that just hitching up the trailer. But once it is set up properly the only additional steps would be that you need to connect the spring bars. Which this does add time to the process, but it's really not that bad. You would just need to hitch up the hitch ball to the coupler and then using the trailer jack lift the setup high enough to allow the spring bars to install.

The best way to pick out a weight distribution system is to base it off of the loaded tongue weight of the setup when it is loaded and ready to tow. This figure also includes the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. I attached a help article on determining tongue weight for you to check out as well. You will want the loaded tongue weight of your setup to fall right in the middle of the tongue weight range of the system you use.

expert reply by: Jameson C