How to Change Weight Capacity of Weight Distribution System to Match Trailer Tongue Weight
Question:
I have a 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500WT. I have the hitch set up 2 inches higher than my level camper. When I hook up my bars, I am with in 1/2 inch of my original front fender height. This tells me that I have my system set up correctly. My problem is, that I still have a front end that likes to move around. I was wondering if I lowered my hitch and then used the bars to level out the front of the camper, would this work? I am maxed out on the tilt. Camper fully loaded is almost 6000lbs, with a tongue weight of 750lbs.
asked by: Anthony F
Helpful Expert Reply:
It sounds like perhaps your weight distribution system is not rated for your actual trailer tongue weight (TW). Keep in mind that in addition to the trailer's actual measured TW you need to account for the weight of any cargo in the truck that sits behind the rear axle, such as a tool box, loaded cooler or generator. This behind-the-axle cargo weight will act just like trailer TW and so it needs to be factored in to your TW measurement. That total TW needs to match your system's capacity.
If your total TW is 750-lbs then you need a system rated for up to 1000-lbs. The Reese system you referenced # RP66086 tops out at 600-lbs.
The ideal situation for any WD system is that this total TW falls in the middle of the system's operating range. This ensures the system is stiff enough to shift trailer TW to your front axle to maintain steering and braking performance but without being so stiff that it creates jumpy handling from the trailer.
Starting off with your hitch ball a bit higher than the level trailer is a good idea since this helps deal with the normal vehicle squat. All you may need is to swap out your spring bars for higher-rated ones better suited to your total TW. Most WD systems can use alternate bars that will give it a higher or lower weight rating to match the total TW.
I linked our pages for replacement trunnion and round spring bars
