Weight Distribution System or Rear Air Bags for Towing a Trailer

Question:

I have recently purchased a 8.5X24 ft cargo trailer, empty weight 3660, max loaded weight 10000 lbs. I have a 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ 6.2L with the Z71 Off Road suspension. It has a 12,000 hitch with a max 1200 lb tongue weight. I have not loaded it yet but pretty sure the pickup will sag at the back when loaded. To avoid that, I am considering either a weight distribution hitch or air bags. What should be taken into account when deciding between the two? I am leaning toward the air bags because that will stay with the truck If I am towing any other trailers without the hassle of moving the hitch parts and setting it up on another trailer. Also, there is a large price difference between electric brake controllers. How do I decide which one will do the job? The trailer has 2 axles.

asked by: Bill R

Helpful Expert Reply:

The best solution when truck sag is caused by a trailer's tongue weight is a weight distribution system. This is because a properly rated system will actually re-distribute this weight over both axles of your truck and the trailer to create a level ride instead of just providing additional support like air bags.

A weight distribution system with integrated sway control will also just help to create a much more enjoyable towing experience with limited side-to-side movement and much fewer white-knuckle moments.

Air bags or other suspension enhancement products are the better solution when rear sag is caused by heavy cargo in the truck bed.

For your cargo trailer the Curt TruTrack Weight Distribution System # C17501 will work great. It features a tongue weight capacity of 1,000 to 1,500 pounds which falls right in line with the tongue weight of your fully loaded trailer (10 to 15 percent of the trailer's total weight) and its spring bars will do an excellent job of transferring tongue weight to create a level towing setup. Its integrated active sway control uses spring-loaded ball bearings and steel-on-steel friction to quickly correct any sway and continuously fight to keep the trailer in line.

I have attached a short video review that you can check out as well.

Then when picking out a brake controller I recommend going with a proportional unit over a time-delayed model. This type of controller automatically sends power back to the trailer brakes in proportion to your Silverado's deceleration. The harder you brake, the more power it's going to send back.

For a brake controller that combines excellent quality with cost effectiveness I highly recommend the Tekonsha Voyager # 39510. It allows for fine-tune power adjustments, can be used on trailers with up to 4 axles, and features the reliability and durability that Tekonsha products are known for.

To install the controller on your 2015 Silverado all you need is the Plug-In Adapter # 3016. One end of the adapter plugs into the brake controller itself and the other end connects to the factory port beneath the truck's dash. I have attached an installation video that you can use for reference.