Weight Distribution/Sway Control for 2006 Fleetwood Yuma Pop-Up Towed by 2010 Toyota Highlander
Question:
i have a 2010 toyota highlander sport. my camper is a 2006 fleetwood yuma popup. on a smooth road i dont even know the camper is there. on a bumpy road i get a lot of bouncing between my vehicle and the camper, i also have a sway problem. there are two lp tanks and a battery on the tongue of the camper, and about 100 lbs behind the rear wheels of the tow vehicle. will this part help relieve the problem. i was thinking of making the lp tanks and the battery removable when i travel. either store the tanks in the camper and the battery in the tow vehicle, or leave them where they and see what happens. thanks for your help. i need to mention that the tow vehicle is using a curt class lll hitch with a 2 in ball, and the tongue weight is 214 lbs plus 20 gal of water one way.
asked by: Wayne R
Expert Reply:
Trailer sway and bounce can have multiple potential causes. Wind gusts from passing vehicles, rough road surfaces and trailer loading all have an effect on trailer sway. (Usually, it is too little tongue weight that adds to sway.) If you install a properly rated weight distribution/sway control system like the Pro Series # PS49901 you can reduce the effects of these road gremlins.
Selection of a WD system requires knowing your total effective tongue weight. This is the combination of the actual measured tongue weight of the fully loaded trailer and the weight of anything in the truck bed that sits behind the rear axle. A loaded cooler, generator or toolbox would be examples of common items whose weight affects selection of a WD system. The easiest way to measure TW is to use a scale like the etrailer # e99044 or one of the other methods that are outlined in the linked article.
Once you know this total effective TW you can choose a system that is stiff enough to shift some TW forward onto the Highlander's front axle but without being so stiff that it creates weird or jumpy handling from the trailer. Ideally your TW will fall right in the middle of the system's operating range.
The Pro Series system # PS49901 that you referenced works with a TW range up to 550-lbs, so if for example your total TW ends up being 350 to 450-lbs then this cost-effective round bar system would be suitable. This system comes complete with a hitch ball. Please note that the friction style sway control on this system requires you to disconnect it before you can back up the trailer.
With your total TW figure confirmed you can use the linked page to review weight distribution/sway prevention systems. Just click on your TW figure and select your type of brakes (electric in the case of your Yuma).
If you find that you have issues with ground clearance at the trailer tongue, you might consider a trunnion bar system like # RP66082 from Reese, sister company of Pro Series. This Strait-Line system works for a TW between 200 and 600-lbs, uses trunnion bars for better ground clearance. It also allows you to back up the trailer without having to get out of the truck to disengage the sway control. Also please note that this system actually prevents sway, rather than try to correct it once it starts like with friction-type sway control. All you need to add is the hitch ball, # A-6. The Reese will deliver clearly superior performance to the Pro Series system, granted for about twice the price.
Products Referenced in This Question
2-5/16" Hitch Ball - 1-1/4" Diameter x 2-5/8" Long Shank - Chrome - 10,000 lbs
- Trailer Hitch Ball
- Trailer Hitch Ball
- Standard Ball
- Chrome-Plated Steel
- 2-5/16 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 >
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 - 6,000 lbs GTW, 600 lbs TW
- Weight Distribution Hitch
- WD With Sway Control
- Some Sway
- Includes Shank
- Electric Brake Compatible
- Fits 2 Inch Hitch
- Allows Backing Up
- 300 lbs
- 400 lbs
- 500 lbs
- Reese
more information >
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