Recommended Weight Distribution With Sway Control That Allows Backing Up and Isnt Affected By Rain

Question:

I will pick up a new ordered Little Guy Max trailer, next week. 3100# dry, max total around 3800, tow with my 2018 4Runner 4WD. Do not want to go over kill here. Looking at the Curt C17063 on your site. Have to take off the sway control part during wet weather ? I can see the backing up part. So, traveling down the highway, starts to rain, stop, take off that part ? Need to know, as some guys are towing these LG Maxfoot without the sway control, etc. Do not want to minimize safety. Thanks, I have communicated with someone there in the past

asked by: Vince V

Helpful Expert Reply:

I apologize in advance because this is going to be a bit of a long winded answer, but I promise there will be some good information in it.

I'll start off by saying that a weight distribution hitch is recommended any time your trailer weighs more than half of the weight of your vehicle- it looks like your 4runner weighs in at around 4500-lbs, so using a weight distribution hitch is recommended with your 3100 to 3800-lb trailer. This will help keep your 4runner's rear end from sagging and help redistribute the load evenly over all of the axles in the tow setup, resulting in much better handling and safer towing experience.

When it comes to choosing the correct weight distribution system, you'll want a WD hitch with a tongue weight range where the tongue weight of your trailer falls roughly in the middle of. For reference, the tongue weight of your trailer will end up being between 10-15% of the total weight of the trailer; a Little Guy Max trailer likely has a tongue weight of between 310-lbs and 570-lbs depending on whether or not the trailer is fully loaded and how much cargo weight you've got at the front (looking at the trailer, you're more than likely going to be closer to 10% than 15% since you can't load much cargo at the front). Since the Curt MV # C17063 has a tongue weight rating of 1400-lbs, it's going to be rated way too high for that particular trailer setup. It also uses a separate friction sway control bar compared to other systems that 2 point or 4 point sway control via the torsion in the spring bars.

When it comes to towing in the rain, weight distribution hitches that have a separate friction sway control bar like the Curt # 17200 included as the part of the system that works to control sway, like you'll find on the Curt MV # C17063 , are where you run into problems and you would need to either completely disconnect or loosen the system up so that it isn't engaged. This type of sway control also only works to slow down trailer sway after it has started, where 2 or 4 point sway control systems work to stop sway before it begins.

You don't have to worry about towing in the rain with a weight distribution system that uses 2-point sway control to help dampen and control sway. A good example of a system that uses 2 point sway control and would work well with your tongue weight is the Equal-i-zer # EQ37060ET , which is ideal for 200-600 lbs tongue weights. This system also will allow you to back up when it is connected, which is a concern with some other weight distribution systems- like the Curt MV.

At the end of the day, the Equal-i-zer system is going to be more expensive, but it is properly rated for your towing application, will provide you with the ability to backup without disconnecting it and you won't have to worry about disengaging the sway control in the rain.

I've attached some of our help articles on weight distribution as well as a helpful video review on the Equal-i-zer weight distribution system to show you more about how it works and is installed. The "Which Sway Control Hitch is Right For You" article explains in more detail about the differences between Friction and 2/4 point Sway Control.