Weight Distribution Recommendations for 10K Enclosed Car Trailer  

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Anytime the weight of a trailer exceeds 50% of the vehicle's weight (which it does, in this case) weight distribution is highly recommended. Because enclosed trailers have a large surface area on the sides which act like the sail on a boat when impacted by crosswinds or turbulence from oncoming or passing traffic, using a weight distribution kit with an integral sway control component is also highly recommended.

Weight distribution will level out the ride height between the truck's front and rear axles when towing, which will keep your headlights properly aimed. Having the rear of a vehicle squat because of the trailer's tongue weight can also remove a good bit of weight from the front truck axle which can have a huge negative effect on steering and braking performance, so there's definitely some serious benefit to using a weight distribution system.

From what I found online, the 2021 Ford F-150 max tow package equipped trucks have an impressive 14K towing capacity. You'll want to make sure that the hitch your truck is equipped with has the necessary capacity for your trailer. Since it's a max tow package truck, I'm sure the hitch has enough capacity but it's worth checking the ID label on the hitch to make sure.

A 10K trailer will have a tongue weight between 1000-1500 lbs. The nice thing about a car trailer is that you can usually move the car fore or aft to add or remove tongue weight (move car forward for more, rearward for less), so you'll have a bit of latitude there.

The first thing I'd recommend doing is to find the exact tongue weight of the trailer when it's loaded up as you'd typically tow it. I'll link to an article that explains a few ways of doing this, but a tongue weight scale like the etrailer # e99044 would be the easiest.

If you find the trailer load can be adjusted to get the tongue weight below 1200 lbs, the Fastway e2, part
# FA92-00-1200 would be an ideal, reasonably priced option. The system provides weight distribution with sway control that's proven to be effective on minor to moderate trailer sway. The 2-5/16 inch trailer ball is sold separately as part # C40008. The ball would require a thin walled 1-7/8 socket to install. If you don't have or can't borrow one, we offer them as part # EQ70-00-4800.

If your tongue weight is above 1200 lbs we'll need to go a different route that unfortunately would be more expensive. The Equal-i-zer # EQ90-00-1600 is rated for trailers with tongue weights from 1200-1600 lbs, and has a more effective sway control component than the Fastway system I recommended above. The 2-5/16 trailer ball is included.

The # RE44FR Reese system you'd looked at would work for you if your tongue weight is lower than 1150 lbs but it offers no sway control whatsoever. You could add an optional friction sway unit like # 83660 (you'll need two if the trailer is greater than 25 feet long). However, there are downsides to a friction sway unit like these. You'll need to remove it before backing the trailer, because jackknifing the trailer will destroy it and it's also recommended to remove it on slick pavement. This is a budget friendly option, but the sway control wouldn't be as effective as the other options I mentioned.

I've linked to some product videos that you might find helpful.

expert reply by: Mike L

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