Do I Need A Weight Distribution System To Pull A 3,300 Pound Camper With My 2005 Honda Pilot?

Question:

I have a 2005 Honda Pilot with a CURT 13328 Class 3 Trailer Hitch installed. I am planning on getting a small camper with a GVWR of about 3,300Lbs. Do I need a Weight Distribution w/ Sway Control installed? If so, is this the right choice? How will this help in towing?

asked by: Tim H

Expert Reply:

I will start by address if you need weight distribution or not and what it can help with.

Weight distribution with sway control will help with sagging in the rear of your vehicle as it does what its name implies. It distributes the weight of your trailer across more than just the one point on your hitch. This means more weight can typically be carried, check your owner's manual for your capacities, and sway can be reduced by quite a bit. The arms coming off the head will have a good amount of friction on the frame brackets which makes them constantly try and straighten out the camper/trailer. This makes for a much better towing experience and it is always recommended. It is not always 100% necessary though.

I always tell people to try pulling a new camper/trailer before getting a weight distribution system. They are not always needed as your vehicle may pull it just fine without it. I suggest testing this out before you go on a trip with it though, just in case it is something you need. If you are not getting very much squatting or sway problems, then you are perfectly fine going without one. On the other hand, if the rear of your vehicle does squat a good amount when hitched up and/or you are experiencing sway, then definitely add a weight distribution system.

With that being said, choosing the correct weight distribution system, you want to get the loaded tongue weight of your trailer/camper to fall as close to the middle of the system's capacities as possible. Tongue weight is generally 10 to 15% of the GVWR, which means you are looking at a tongue weight of 330 pounds up to 495 pounds. If you are getting close to the latter, the Blue Ox 2-Point # BLU45FR will be a very good option.

However, if you are on the lower side and aren't hitting its 400 pound minimum weight capacity required for the # BLU45FR, you will want to go with the Blue Ox TrackPro # BLU36FR. This has a tongue weight range of 200 pounds to 600 pounds and will suit your needs better.

expert reply by: Lazer S