Weight Distribution for a 2010 Toyota 4Runner Towing a 2002 Forest River T19 Travel Trailer

Question:

good day, i will be getting a 2002 forest river trailer M# T19 with a dry weight of 2980 i could not find the tongue weight. which system would work for me?my towing cap# is 5000lb and tongue cap 500lb.

asked by: Nathan

Expert Reply:

I looked up the dry hitch weight of the Forest River T19 travel trailers and the information I got for a newer model is 370 lbs dry tongue weight. This is a good place to start, but you must keep in mind that this is the dry tongue weight of the trailer and once you add a 12 volt battery, 25 lbs +/-, and propane, 60 lbs +/-, and then add some gear your tongue weight is going to increase to over 400 lbs quickly. Make sure you weigh the trailer fully loaded and ready to tow before you take off for the first time and that all of your equipment is sized properly for your vehicle.

You should also check the weight capacity of the tires on your 4Runner and make sure that they are capable of carrying the load your new trailer and all of your equipment will require of them.

If your manual says not to exceed 500 lbs tongue weight and 5,000 lbs gross trailer weight, and you adhere to those ratings, a 200 to 600 lb tongue weight rated weight distribution system would work well for you. Keep in mind that anything you load in the 4Runner behind the rear axle needs to be added to the trailer tongue weight, because a weight distribution system will have to over come this weight also to distribute the weight at the rear of the vehicle.

I recommend the Reese Steadi-Flex Weight Distribution System, # RP66558, that you mentioned, or the Reese Strait-Line, # RP66082, weight distribution system for your application. These systems are both compatible with tongue weights up to 600 lbs., and everything is included except a hitch ball that is compatible with the coupler on your trailer.

The difference between these two systems is that the Steadi-Flex sway control system is a reactive sway control system and the Strait-Line system works to keep the trailer inline with the tow vehicle at all times.

For a hitch ball for the Strait-Line you will most likely need the Tow Ready Ball # 19286, which has a 1-1/4 inch diameter shank and 2-5/16 inch ball, or possibly the Curt Ball # A-90, which has a 1-1/4 inch diameter shank and 2 inch ball. The Steadi-Flex needs a hitch ball with a 1 inch shank so use # 63845 for a 2 inch ball or # 63847 for a 2-5/16 inch.