Weight Distribution System Recommendation for Palomino Thoroughbred that Weighs 3,500 lbs

Question:

We usually just take our camper on short trips and have never used a weight distribution hitch or sway bar, but we are planning a trip out west to Yellowstone and want to have adequate control of the trailer on highways and mountains. We have a 16 ft. 93 palomina throroghbred. It is not a pop up, per se, but the roof lowers 18 inches creating a shorter model to transport. Fully loaded it weighs right at 3.500 lbs according the scale at the recycling center. We have a 4 wheel drive 2011 toyota highlander with tow package. rated at 5,000 lbs Could you please advise on compatible products. Thanks.

asked by: Michelle D

Expert Reply:

The best way to pick out a weight distribution system is to base it off of the loaded tongue weight of the setup when it is loaded and ready to tow. This figure also includes the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. I attached a help article on determining tongue weight for you to check out as well. You will want the loaded tongue weight of your setup to fall right in the middle of the tongue weight range of the system you use.

So your trailer weighing 3,500 lbs would mean that you tongue weight is going to be between 10 and 15 percent of that so 350 to 525.

So the Strait Line System part # RP66082 would be our recommendation as it has a tongue weight range of 200-600 lbs and features only sway control to fight sway before it starts.

For a 2 inch ball you would want part # A-90 and for a 2-5/16 inch ball # 19286.

expert reply by: Jameson C