Is Weight Distribution Necessary for 34 Foot Long Camper Towed by 2014 Ford F150
Question:
I have a 2014 F150 with 5,0L and has the tow package. Im going to be pulling a 2013 34foot keystone Laredo. Will I need weight distributor ?
asked by: Craig
Expert Reply:
We highly recommend weight distribution any time the trailer weighs more than 50 percent of the weight of the vehicle itself, so without knowing the exact weight of your camper and truck, I'm going to make an educated guess that there's a near 100% chance that a 34 foot camper will weigh more than half the weight of your 2014 Ford F150.
So yes, you will indeed need weight distribution and because the camper is pretty long, I'm also going to highly recommend a system with an integrated sway control component. Long campers are especially susceptible to sway caused by crosswinds or turbulence from oncoming or passing traffic. I don't know if you've ever experienced an instance of severe trailer sway, but it's a horrifying experience I wouldn't wish on anyone. Weight distribution systems will also balance the right height between the front and rear truck axles, and greatly reduce the rear end sag of the truck. This vastly improves steering and braking response, and also helps keep your headlights properly aimed.
The Curt # C17057 system you've looked at lacks a sway control component, and therefore wouldn't be a great choice for your camper. It would work best on flat trailers. Sure, a friction sway unit would somewhat limit that, but for trailers longer than 25 feet, two of them should be used and even then it's not the most effective solution.
A system like the E2 from Fastway which has a sway component that's much more effective would be a better choice. The exact system you need will depend on the fully loaded and ready to tow tongue weight of your camper. To that figure, you'll also want to add the weight of anything carried in the truck bed behind the rear axle. I'll link to an article that explains exactly how to determine the trailer's tongue weight.
If the trailer tongue weight is between 600 and 1000 lbs, use # FA94-00-1000. If the tongue weight falls between 800-1200 lbs, # FA92-00-1200 would be a better choice.
I would urge you to determine what the towing capacity of your truck is. Things like cab configuration, rear axle ratio, bed length and whether the truck is 4 wheel drive or rear wheel drive will ultimately determine the maximum towing capacity. You should be able to find this information in your owner's manual or by doing a web search on '2014 Ford Towing Guide'.
I've also linked other articles that explain further how weight distribution works.
Products Referenced in This Question
Fastway e2 Weight Distribution w/ 2-Point Sway Control - Trunnion - 12,000 lbs GTW, 1,200 lbs TW
- Weight Distribution Hitch
- WD With Sway Control
- Some Sway
- Includes Shank
- Electric Brake Compatible
- Surge Brake Compatible
- Fits 2 Inch Hitch
- Allows Backing Up
- 1000 lbs
- 1100 lbs
- 900 lbs
- Fastway
more information >
Fastway e2 Weight Distribution w/ 2-Point Sway Control - Round - 10,000 lbs GTW, 1,000 lbs TW
- Weight Distribution Hitch
- WD With Sway Control
- Some Sway
- Includes Shank
- Electric Brake Compatible
- Surge Brake Compatible
- Fits 2 Inch Hitch
- Allows Backing Up
- 700 lbs
- 800 lbs
- 900 lbs
- Fastway
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Curt MV Weight Distribution System - Round Bar - 14,000 lbs GTW, 1,400 lbs TW
- Weight Distribution Hitch
- WD Only
- No Sway
- Includes Shank
- Electric Brake Compatible
- Surge Brake Compatible
- Fits 2 Inch Hitch
- 1100 lbs
- 1200 lbs
- 1300 lbs
- CURT
more information >
Featured Help Information
Instructions
Miscellaneous Media
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on Weight Distribution Hitch
