Can 1,000 lb Tongue Weight Equal-i-zer System be Used for an 8,000 lb Dry Weight Travel Trailer

Question:

I was given an equalizer hitch for my new travel trailer. Its the 10,000 lb/1000 lb tongue weight version. My TV is a 3/4 pickup and the trailer is 34 foot, 8000lb dry weight with a 890lb tongue weight. I have already put it on and properly adjusted it and it seems to have really improved the experience in the 15 miles i drove it to put in storage. My question is, with a 890lb tongue weight and adding things like 30lb propane tanks instead of the 20 that came with it, an extra battery, and all of the inside contents, I realize i will be close and probably over 1000lbs of tongue weight. Should I worry about being slightly over the 1000lb mark, will i damage it, or will i notice a huge difference in performance in the 1200 lb model? My theory is that with a 3/4 truck I will experience less sag in the first place over a half ton and it shouldnt be a huge deal. Should i think about getting a higher rated hitch?

asked by: Kevin M

Expert Reply:

Ideally you want the loaded tongue weight (TW) of your trailer plus the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of your tow vehicle to fall in about the middle of the TW range of your weight distribution (WD) system. If your system is rated too high then your towing will be stiff but if it isn't rated high enough it won't be very effective.

If the dry TW of your trailer is 890 lbs then you definitely need to upgrade to a higher rated system. This allows you to use larger propane tanks and add cargo without the fear of overloading your WD system. The 12,000 lb/1,200 lb Equal-i-zer System # EQ37120ET will be better than the 10,000 lb/1,000 lb System # EQ37100ET that you currently use but if you end up adding enough weight that it is pushing the 12K system you may need the 14K System # EQ37140ET.

I recommend loading up your travel trailer and 3/4-ton pickup as if you were going to go on a trip and then finding what your TW and cargo behind your rear axle is before purchasing a bigger system. You can use the etrailer Tongue Weight Scale # e99044 to fine-tune your trailer loading as well.

expert reply by: Jon G