Recommended Weight Distribution System for 6,000 Pound Trailer

Question:

The trailer I am pulling is base weight of 4615 plus carry capacity of 1385 total of 6000 gvw My tounge weight is 470 Is the part number that I want to order efficient For that trailer. Thank you.

asked by: Brian W

Expert Reply:

When looking for a properly rated weight distribution system, the most important factor to consider is the total tongue weight of your towing setup. This number includes both the loaded tongue weight of your trailer (as if loaded and ready for a trip), along with any added cargo weight coming from behind the rear axle of your tow vehicle. Ideally, this number will fall somewhere near the middle of the operating range for the system you choose.

Using a tongue weight scale like the etrailer # e99044 is the most accurate method for determining your trailer tongue weight, but we can make an estimate based on the trailer weights you provided in your question. You did mention a tongue weight of 470 pounds, but this likely refers to the empty/unloaded tongue weight of the trailer. To estimate its loaded tongue weight, we can use the 6,000 pound GVW that you also mentioned, which refers to the most the trailer can weigh when fully loaded. Since a trailer's tongue weight should be 10 to 15 percent of its total weight, we can use this GVW to estimate a loaded tongue weight of 600 to 900 pounds. You will also still need to remember to add any cargo weight coming from behind the rear axle of your Ram to this number.

With this in mind, the Fastway e2 Weight Distribution System # FA94-00-0600 that you referenced is likely a bit under-rated for your setup, as it features a tongue weight capacity of 400 to 600 pounds.

I instead recommend looking at the Fastway e2 Weight Distribution System # FA94-00-1000. This is the same design system from Fastway that you were looking at, but it features higher-rated spring bars that give it a tongue weight capacity range of 600 to 1,000 pounds. This system will do a great job of evenly distributing weight over the axles of your truck and trailer, while its integrated 2-Point Sway Control will limit side to side movement. You will just need to add a compatible hitch ball like the 2 inch # A-90 or the 2-5/16 inch # 63840.

I have attached a short video demonstration on this system that you can check out, along with an FAQ on weight distribution systems that you might also find helpful.