Recommended Weight Distribution System for 2018 Coleman Lantern Trailer

Question:

I have a 2018 Pilot and a 2018 Coleman Lantern LT 17RD 21 1/2foot 3,200 lb trailer. I have not pulled it at all yet with this vehicle. I brought it home with another tow vehicle. It had no sway control at all. I could feel the trailer pushing the tow vehicle around and am pretty sure I should get some kind of sway control before taking it on the road again. My experience has been with smaller trailers so I never worried about sway control. I have driven rentals that are bigger so have some rough idea about what I should be doing with my own. Mostly, I ride a motorcycle and pull a 700 lb camper with it. Loading it balanced is how I control sway. This new camper is a MUCH different class. Just making sure it is balanced is not going to be enough. I am looking at this HT32216 as one choice. I am comparing it to the FA92-00-0600 as another Trunnion type and FA94-00-0600 as a round type. Given the close prices of all 3, I am leaning towards the Husky. Is there another model I should also consider? I am tempted to just get a sway bar as yet another option. We camp with other people with smaller trailers like this that only use a sway bar and not a weight distribution system. I have ordered an Autowbrake, 3430001, to install on the trailer for brakes. I just mention it as it is not the standard kind of trailer brakes. My biggest concern is that the propane tank is mounted close to the ball. It is on a platform that will get in the way of the mounting brackets for the spring bars. I need at least 27inch from the tip of the ball mount back to behind the propane tank platform. 26inch might work, but Id like to make sure there an extra inch of clearance. How long are the spring bars? The picture angle makes it look like the start of the tape measure is past the tip of the tongue, but it is an illusion. It is right at the tip.

asked by: Jeff

Helpful Expert Reply:

The Autowbrake Electric Brake Controller # 3430001 will work well for your trailer. The Husky Center Line Weight Distribution w/ Sway Control # HT32216 is a great option with the brackets mounted 28-1/2" - 30-1/2" from the center of ball socket on coupler not the end of the coupler. This system will work with total tongue weights of 400-600 lbs.

That total tongue weight is the completely loaded trailer tongue weight along with any cargo behind the rear axle of your 2018 Honda Pilot. It sounds like based on your trailer, this will be a good system for you as long as your coupler is for a 2-5/16 inch hitch ball. If you need the 2 inch ball, I recommend the # HT32215 instead.

This system is very similar to the Fastway # FA92-00-0600 which requires the brackets be positioned 27-30 inches from the center of the coupler. You will need to separately purchase a 2 inch hitch ball like # A-90 and a socket like # ALL643216 for the e2. These obviously add to the cost but are necessary.

I don't recommend using the friction bar sway control as they just don't work as well as a system with the integrated sway control. The round bar systems work well but don't provide as much ground clearance, so one of these two systems is my recommendation.