Is a WD System Recommended When Pulling a Trailer with a 2014 Ford Flex with a Class III Tow Package

Question:

We want to pull a travel trailer with a hitch weight of 443. and a dry weight of 3138. Can we do this with our car? Do you recommend weight distributing equipment and a sway control system?

asked by: Robin A

Helpful Expert Reply:

I took a look at an online version of your owner's manual and I found on page 255 it states the towing capacities for a 2014 Ford Flex which depends on the powertrain and towing class that you purchased. This varies from 2,000 lbs to 4,500 lbs. Since you have the Class III towing package your vehicle is rated for 4,500 lbs of towing but you will want to verify that in your owner's manual, as well as taking a look for any specific towing instructions.

Since we recommend using a Weight Distribution (WD) system when your trailer weighs at least half of the weight of your tow vehicle you definitely need to use one.

You will want to choose a WD system with a Tongue Weight (TW) range that the Total Tongue Weight (TTW) of your towing setup falls in the middle of. To find the TTW of your towing setup you will need to add the TW of your fully loaded and ready-to-go trailer along with the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of your tow vehicle. Keep in mind that a properly loaded trailer will have a TW that is 10-15% of the loaded weight of your trailer.

One of our most popular WD systems that has a TW range around what you may need is the Fastway e2 Weight Distribution # FA94-00-0600. This system has a TW range of 400 lbs - 600 lbs and features a 2-point integrated sway control to help keep your towing ride smooth.

The WD comes with everything you need aside from a hitch ball. You can use part # EQ91-00-6080 for a 2" hitch ball or part # 19286 for a 2-5/16" hitch ball.

If you can verify what your TTW is I can make a different recommendation if need be.