Recommended WD System for a Trailer With a Total Weight of 6,500 lbs

Question:

I am looking for a weight distributing hitch. I have a travel trailer with app 6500 lb total weight and app 500 lb tongue weight. I looked at the Curt C17062 hitch. Is there any reason that it should not be used for my trailer? If yes, do you have anything that is more suitable? Thank you.

asked by: Heiner B

Expert Reply:

The first thing that you will want to do is make sure that you have your trailer loaded properly. You will want your Tongue Weight (TW) to be 10-15% of the weight of your trailer. Since 650 lbs is the lowest TW you should have, you might want to try moving some stuff around until you get the proper TW.

When looking into Weight Distribution (WD) systems you want to find one that has a TW range that your Total Tongue Weight (TTW) falls in the middle of. Your TTW can be found by adding the TW of your fully loaded and ready-to-go trailer plus the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of your tow vehicle. Once you know that you will be able to determine which WD system is the right option for you.

If your fully loaded trailer weighs 6,500 lbs that will put the TW of your trailer between 650-975 lbs. The Curt MV WD System # C17062 that you referenced has a TW range of 800-1,000 lbs. This is a bit on the higher end, but if your TTW is in that range the this WD system will work. The only reason (aside from not having the proper TTW) that I recommend looking at another system is because of the friction sway control bar. When using a system like this you will have to uninstall the sway control bar before backing up. I recommend going with a WD system with integrated sway control.

A system with integrated sway control will allow you to backup without having to disconnect anything. One of my favorite WD systems to recommend is the Reese Strait-Line. It uses hangers like the Curt option you were looking at but there are a few upgrades. The first is that it has the sway control integrated so you can backup, the second is that it is one of the few WD systems that prevents sway instead of correcting it after it has started. I recommend going with part # RP66084 which has a TW range of 600-1,200 lbs. The only other thing you will need is a hitch ball. You can use part # A-90 for a 2 inch option or part # 19286 for a 2-5/16 inch option.

Keep in mind that these systems are based off of your fully loaded trailer being 6,500 lbs. If your TTW doesn't fall into the range of either of these systems you will need to find a compatible one. If you are not sure, just let me know what you TTW is and I can make a different recommendation if need be.

I have attached review videos of each of these WD systems for you to check out.