Choosing The Best Weight Distribution System For A 4,500 Pound Trailer Being Pulled By A Ford F-150

Question

Question:

i have a trailer that might top out around 4500lbs gross and maybe 400-500lbs tongue weight. Ive towed this trailer dry around 3000lbs with my F150 and had 1 inch squat and as far as i could tell no sway. Im still thinking of getting a WDH/Sway control and i one for around $300, but its rated for 8000lbs/800 tongue. Is it a bad thing to get one rated much higher than actual tow weight? Would the sway control be too rigid for my set up? Also, i want to be able to back up without disconnect. thx

asked by: Jimmy B

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Expert Reply:

When choosing the weight distribution system that will suit your needs best, you want to try and get your loaded tongue weight as close to the middle of the system's capacities as possible. A system with too little capacity will be ineffectual and too high of a capacity can actually cause more problems then it solves.

Most systems with 8,000 pound towing and 800 pound tongue weight capacities will be more than you want, but something like the Fastway e2 # FA92-00-0800 with its minimum tongue weight capacity of 400 pounds will work. But you will want to load your trailer a little front heavy to make sure it's doing the best job it can.

With that said, you really want to try and find something with a max tongue weight capacity of 600 pounds, like the Blue Ox 2-Point # BLU45FR. This has a tongue weight range of 400 pounds to 600 pounds and will do a better job than one that is rated too high. This also has sway control and there is no need to disconnect anything when backing up.

expert reply by: Lazer S

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Answer 1

While your Grand Design Imagine 21BHE is lighter weight it does weigh more than half the weight of your tow vehicle so a weight distribution system will be a great idea and I would recommend you go with one. You'll have better ride quality,…

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Answer 2

Sway controls are designed to be used in situations where sway is a direct result of some type of road condition, like high winds or large vehicles passing. If you have sway with a trailer under normal towing conditions, sway control will most likely…

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Answer 3

You will want to go with a higher capacity weight distribution system. For a system to be effective you want the tongue weight of the trailer to fall right into the middle of the tongue weight range of the system. Your 610 lbs of tongue weight is…

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Answer 4

From the weights you provided, I would actually suggest the Fastway e2 #FA92-00-0800. This will have a maximum tongue weight of 800 pounds and a minimum tongue weight of 400 pounds. What you really want to do to get the correct weight distribution…

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Answer 5

We can definitely get you setup with a backup camera for your trailer. There will be some things we have to work around to get this setup properly. First, the Furrion cameras will only work with Furrion monitors, so you will not be able to use the…

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Answer 6

I have a solution for you but unfortunately we do not have anything that can be wired into or connect wirelessly to your 12" U Connect screen on your 2019 Ram truck. I recommend the Furrion RV Observation Camera System w/ Monitor and Bracket…

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Answer 7

When choosing a weight distribution hitch you'll want the tongue weight of your trailer to fall towards the middle of the prescribed range of the system; it looks like your 2022 Grand Design Imagine XLS 21BHE has a GVWR of roughly 6400-lbs, which…

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Answer 8

In order to determine the rating of the weight distribution system you need, you'll need to determine the trailer's tongue weight when it's fully loaded and ready to tow. To that weight, you'll also want to add the weight of anything…

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Answer 9

When choosing the best weight distribution system for your trailer you will want your total tongue weight (TTW) which is composed of the loaded ready to tow weight of the trailer by any cargo stored behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle to fall in…

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Answer 10

The best way to pick out a weight distribution system is to base it off of the loaded tongue weight of the setup when it is loaded and ready to tow. This figure also includes the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. I attached…

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Answer 11

The frame brackets of the Reese weight distribution system part #RE94FR can fit frame heights of up to 8 inches. There isn't a minimum listed since you could always use a metal spacer to take up extra room as needed if the frame height was…

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Answer 12

With most weight distribution systems (including this Reese kit part #RE94FR), you can back up with the spring bars connected as long as you are backing up mostly straight, but if you are going to angle the trailer and tow vehicle sharply you need to…

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