Weight Distribution Recommendation for a 2011 GMC Terrain Towing a 3,200 Pound Travel Trailer  

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Expert Reply:

The basic rule to go by is if the trailer is 50 percent or more of the vehicle weight then you should use weight distribution. In this case, your 2011 GMC Terrain probably does not weigh over 6,400 pounds so using weight distribution would be a good idea.

To choose a system, you will need to go by the tongue weight of the trailer, loaded and ready to tow, then add to that the weight of anything loaded behind the rear axle of the Terrain. Tongue weight is typically 10 to 15 percent of the gross trailer weight. For a 3,200 pound trailer, that would make the tongue weight 320 to 480 pounds. If you are not carrying anything behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle, then a system rated for 200 to 600 pounds would be best.

I recommend the Reese Trunnion Bar system, # RP66540. The trunnion bars allow for better ground clearance and they are easier to install. You would just need to add a ball like # A-90 for a 2 inch or # 19286 for a 2-5/16 inch, depending on what your trailer coupler takes. i have included a link to our weight distribution FAQ article for you.

expert reply by: Michael H

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