How to Select Weight Distribution System for Trailer Towed by 2012 Chevrolet Equinox

Question:

When I am looking to purchase a travel trailer, should the GVWR also be 3500 lb on the trailer? My 2012 Equinox 3.0 SUV has a towing capacity 3500 lb.

asked by: Betty B

Expert Reply:

In any trailer towing set-up it is always good to have some safety margin. This is equally true whether we're talking about a heavy-duty pickup towing a 40-foot 5th wheel trailer or a passenger car towing a pop-up camper or travel trailer.

GM does indeed rate the 3.0L Equinox for 3500-lbs maximum towing capacity so long as the trailer itself has brakes (which requires a brake controller in the car, such as the prodigy P2 # 90885). If the trailer does NOT have brakes then the maximum towing capacity is 1000-lbs.

If you do find that your chosen trailer is close to the car's maximum capacity there is a way to help the car deal with the extra weight from the trailer. A weight distribution/sway control (WD/SC) system will shift some of the trailer's tongue weight (TW) forward to the car's front axle, which restores front axle traction for better braking and steering performance. Without such as system in use the trailer's TW can lift up the front end enough to cause loss of handling. The other benefit of such systems is that they can prevent the trailer from swaying. This is accomplished by the steel spring bars in such systems that stiffen the trailer's motion to keep it tracking behind the car. Wind blasts from passing trucks will no longer send the trailer into swaying motion. Your hitch will need to be rated for use with such systems; this will be noted on its safety sticker.

The key to selecting such a system is knowing the fully-loaded trailer's TW, which is easily measured using scale # e99044. To this measured TW you will add the weight of any cargo in the car that sits behind the rear axle, say a generator or loaded cooler. With this total TW known you can choose the right system. The linked article will also help.

Let's say you choose a camper with brakes whose GVWR (maximum loaded weight) is 3000-lbs. Typicall the TW of such as trailer will be around 400-lbs and for such a TW Equal-i-zer system # EQ37060ET would be ideal.