How to Choose Weight Distribution/Sway Control System for 2016 Jayco 174BH Travel Trailer

Question:

Hello currently in process of purchasing 2016 Jayco 174bh travel trailer. Looking for best WD/Sway Control set up. Will be towing with 2014 Ford F150 4x4 SuperCrew 5.0L. . It appears that these Jayco trailers do not have much ground clearance. Would system like the : Curt Tru Trak or Equal-i-zer, fastway e2, Husky Centerline work better for more ground clearance? I do have a rather large incline in driveway and a large dip when backing trailer into post steel building. I have never pulled rv before and think i would feel safer with WD set up. Dealer says i dont need one. Thanks.

asked by: Tyler

Helpful Expert Reply:

Weight distribution/sway control (WD/SC) is usually called for if your trailer's loaded weight (GTW)exceeds 50-percent of the vehicle weight (GVWR), if your rear-end sags, if your headlights point upward or if you have issue with sway, or with reduced steering or braking performance. With a GVWR of 3500-lbs, your Jayco 174BH is just in the weight range where you might find you need a WD/SC system. The linked article explains in detail.

The key to selecting a WD system is knowing your trailer's actual fully-loaded tongue weight (TW) and by adding to this the weight of anything in the truck bed that sits behind the rear axle, such as a loaded cooler. We offer a scale # e99044 but other methods for measuring are outlined in the linked article. Ideally your total TW will fall right near the middle of the system's operating range.

Your Jayco has a dry hitch weight of 310-lbs so we'll figure for this example that when totally loaded up with all supplies and gear your actual measured TW will be around 500-lbs. Since you have concerns about ground clearance I suggest a trunnion type system like the Reese Strait-Line # RP66083 which works with TW ranging from 400-800-lbs. All you need to add is a hitch ball like # 19286. The Pro Series system # 49570 that you referenced uses round bars that have less ground clearance; also this system is likely to be rated too high for your trailer since its range is 700-1200 lbs of TW.

You might give the trailer a try as is, before adding a system, to see how it handles. You may find you're comfortable towing the 174 BH as is, or if not you'll at least have a point of comparison for how it handles with the weight distribution system installed.

expert reply by: Adam R