Weight Distribution Recommendation for a 2005 Ford F-150 that is Lowered

Question:

I have a 2005 f150 2 wheel drive that i lowered 3 inches in the rear using the leaf spring brackets. The question that i have is by towing a 4500 lb trailer with a weight distributing hitch, how much sag if any should i expect in the back.

asked by: Doug N

Expert Reply:

Weight distribution is deigned to take out any sag on the vehicle by re-distributing the weight to all axles of the tow vehicle and trailer so you can have a level tow. One thing that I will warn you about is that by lowering the truck (also applies to lifted trucks) it makes the towing capacity unknown and in most cases actually reduces it. I would check with whoever did the lowering or the manufacturer of the product used if you used one to determine if the trucks towing capacity was affected in anyway.

When choosing weight distribution you will want one that has a tongue weight capacity range that encompasses the trailer tongue weight when loaded and ready to tow plus the weight of anything behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle.

So for example if you were towing a trailer that weight 4,500, and tongue weight is typically 10 to 15 percent of gross trailer weight, that would put the tongue weight at 450 to 675 pounds. Based on that figure, I recommend a system rated for 400 to 800 pounds like # RP66083.

This system uses trunnion bars instead of the round bars like in the system you referenced. The trunnion bars are going to give you more ground clearance than the round bars. You would just need a properly sized ball like # A-90 for a 2 inch diameter or # 19286 for a 2-5/16 inch diameter. I have included links to the instructions for you.

I have also included a link to our FAQ article on weight distribution and sway control for you to view.