Weight Distribution System for Use with Three Different Trailers  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Weight distribution/sway control systems like the Reese # RP66542 that you referenced really do need to be carefully matched to the actual loaded tongue weight (TW) of the trailer they're intended for. This is important to ensure the system has enough tension that it can provide the desired shift of TW forward to the tow vehicle's front axle, but not so much that it causes weird handling from the trailer. This system can use 2-inch ball # A-90 and 2-5/16-inch ball # 19286.

Total TW includes the actual measured TW of the trailer in its fully-loaded state (we offer a handy scale # e99044 for measuring this) plus the weight of anything in the truck that sits behind the rear axle, say a loaded cooler or generator. With this total TW known you can select a system; ideally your total TW will fall right near the middle of the system's operating range. The Reese system noted above works for TW ranging from 600- to 1200-lbs, making a 850- to 950-lb TW just about perfect.

Since you have three fairly different trailers that are likely to have different loaded TW, you will likely have to choose one system for the trailer to be used most often and then add alternate spring bars that are rated appropriately for the other trailers. This way you could use one shank/head assembly, add two chain hangers to each of the other two trailers and then purchase spring bars rated correctly for those other trailers. So potentially this means one complete system, two sets of extra bars and two sets of extra chain hangers for the other trailers' frames. If you're lucky and two of the trailers share a very similar TW, then you may need only one set of alternate bars.

If you can tell me the three trailers' fully-loaded TW figures I can check with Reese to see if they offer one system that is compatible with all three sets of spring bars you'd be using.

expert reply by: Adam R

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