Recommended Weight Distribution with Sway Control for a Fully-Loaded 5,100 lb Horse Trailer

Question:

Hi, I have a 16 foot stock trailer 19 foot ball to tailgate that Id like to very occasionally tow with a 2013 Durango Crew 5.7L Hemi, factory tow package. I usually tow it with an F-250 but Id like the option to occasionally safely move a horse or two horse with the Durango. Empty trailer weighs 3100lbs. Two horses @ 1000lbs each, plus a driver. No other cargo or gear. What weight distribution and sway control system would you recommend, keeping in mind that Im moving live cargo so Id like to minimize the groans, creaks and popping and have as smooth of a ride as possible. Being able to back up without disconnecting anything is a requirement. Ive been looking at the Reese Steadi-flex and the Reese Strait-line. The Strait-line sounds like its the better sway control but I hear its very noisy and clunk-y. Thank you in advance for your advice!

asked by: Patricia C

Expert Reply:

The Reese Steadi-Flex and Strait-Line Weight Distribution (WD) Systems are two of the best options out there. They do an excellent job and allow backing up without having to disassemble anything.

When it comes to a smooth ride for your horses, the Strait-Line, like part # RP66083, is the better way to go. It is uses a dual-cam sway control which stops trailer sway before it starts.

I spoke with one of our installers about which WD system he thought would be the more quiet out of the 2 options that you were looking at and he said that the Steadi-Flex, like part # RP66559, would most likely be the quieter of the 2. Even though every WD system will have that noisy, clunky, popping noise which is caused from the friction, he pointed out that the Steadi-Flex has less moving parts so it would offer slightly less noise.

One thing to keep in mind would be the type of horse trailer that you have. If the tongue A-frame part of your trailer has a cover on it then the Steadi-Flex would definitely be an easier installation since you would have to cut away part of that cover.

The last thing that I would like to throw out there for you is how to decide on the WD system with the correct weight range. A typical trailer's Tongue Weight (TW) is about 10-15 percent of the actual trailer weight. When looking at TW for a WD system you have to take the TW of the loaded and ready-to-go trailer plus the weight of any cargo that is behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle, this is otherwise known as Total Tongue Weight (TTW). When you add these together, you will want to pick a WD system which has a weight range that the TTW of your towing setup falls in the middle of.

The 2 parts that I mentioned, part # RP66083, and part # RP66559, both have a TW range that should work for your application, I just recommend double checking and doing some math first.

These WD systems come with a shank but do not include a hitch ball. The Curt # A-90 and the TowReady # 19286 offer a 2 inch and a 2-5/16 inch hitch ball respectively.

I have attached some helpful articles and demonstration videos for you to review as well.