Weight Distribution Recommendation for Towing a 2005 Jay Feather EXP 23B with a 2005 Nissan Titan

Question:

I tow a 2005 Jayco 23b. 4995 trailer weight and 900 lbs tw with 2005 Nissan Titan 1/2 ton. The truck has 4 inch blocks in the rear and Im using a hitch at the moment. There is considerably sag. What Distribution hitch would be a good choice? Im interested in sway control as well. Thanks!

asked by: Wayne

Expert Reply:

I would love to help you find a weight distribution (WD) system that helps you with towing your 2005 Jay Feather EXP 23B with your 2005 Nissan Titan.

One thing that will help with your sag and control of your setup is to ensure that everything is loaded properly. I looked up the specs for your Jayco and it looks like the GVWR is 4,950 so you are loading it 45 lbs over the max weight from Jayco. Since a properly loaded trailer will have a tongue weight (TW) that is 10-15% of the weight of the loaded trailer that means once you achieve the 4,950 lb weight of your trailer you will want to shoot for a TW that is 495 lbs - 742 lbs.

If you don't already have a good way to measure your loaded TW then I recommend using the TW Scale # e99044.

Once you have the proper TW you simply need to add the weight of any cargo that sits behind the rear axle of your Jeep to the loaded TW and then choose a WD system with a TW range that this total falls in the middle of. I also recommend using a WD system that has integrated sway control as the friction sway control units like part # 17200 have to be disengaged before backing your trailer up.

For a compatible WD system in your range I recommend the Reese Strait-Line # RP66074 which has a TW range of 600 lbs - 1,200 lbs. This uses dual cam arms that actually fight sway before it starts and trunnion spring bars for ground clearance. To complete this setup, you also need a hitch ball like the 2" # A-90 or the 2-5/16" # 19286.

This kit doesn't come with a shank but that actually works out in your situation because most WD shanks that comes in a kit are fairly short. Since you have a 4" lift on your Titan you should be able to use the Curt Shank # C17124 which has a 9" drop for trunnion systems.

If you have propane tanks or other accessories that are mounted about 30" back on your frame from your hitch ball, then you can use the Reese Hangers # RP58305 to mount the chains.

Attached are some review videos and helpful articles for you to check out.