How to Select Correctly-Rated Weight Distribution System for Towed Trailer

Question:

MY TRAILER is 10900 gvw and im wondering would you use 1000lb bars or the 1500 bars ive read that you want to be as close to the weight with out going over can you make a suggestion

asked by: RYAN R

Expert Reply:

With any weight distribution/sway control hitch system the ideal situation is that the total actual measured tongue weight (TW) of the loaded trailer, plus the weight of any cargo in the truck that sits behind the rear axle, will have a combined weight that falls in the middle of the system's operating range.

The Blue Ox SwayPro # BXW1000, for example, works effectively over a TW range of 750- to 1000-lbs so it would be perfect if your total TW turns out to be 850-to-900-lbs.

The etrailer Tongue Weight scale # e99044 is the easiest way to accurately measure your actual loaded trailer tongue weight. It also allows you to ensure you've loaded the trailer correctly, so that it has a TW in the 12- to 14-percent range. The trailer's gross weight is not precise enough to choose the right system, unless you always drive with it fully loaded.

Let's say you measure the loaded trailer with the scale and find it has 1000-lbs of TW. If you have a 200-lb generator in the back of the vehicle that gives you a total TW of 1200-lbs and that weight should be in the middle of the system's operating range. For this case you would want to Blue Ox # BXW1506 which works from 1000-lbs to 1500-lbs TW. All you need to add is the hitch ball # 63840.

expert reply by: Adam R