Recommended Weight Distribution Hitch for Rockwood Ultra Lite Camper Towed by 2001 Ford Excursion

Question:

my trailer is a Rockwood Ultra Lite model 2608 WS GVWR 6635lbs. My tow vehicle is a 2001 Ford Excusion 5.4L 2 wheel drive. I figured my tongue wt range at 650lb to 800lb max. Fully loaded I think Ill be at about 6500lbs. So between 10 and 12 Im at about 700lbs tongue wt. Is the RP66083 the correct hitch? I towed the trailer home for 200 miles and my truck sat very low in the rear and had bad sway. My Excursion does not have a rear sway bar. The features I like are the added ground clearance and the duel cam anti sway which allows for full turning radius and backup without disconnecting the anti sway. Is this the most simple system to use? Thanks.

asked by: Walt

Helpful Expert Reply:

When choosing a weight distribution system, it is essential that you determine the Total Tongue Weight (TTW) of your trailer. The TTW is the fully loaded and ready to tow tongue weight of the trailer, PLUS the weight of any gear stowed behind the rear axle in the cargo area of your Excursion. I have linked you to an FAQ article that shows a few different methods of definitively finding the TTW of your trailer.

Once the TTW is known, you can then choose a system. Ideally, you want your TTW to fall as close as possible to the middle of the effective range of the system. For example, say the TTW of your trailer is 600 lbs. The # RP66083 Strait-Line or the # RP66559 Reese Steadi-Flex system would be ideal. As far as sway control goes, these are the two best performing systems we offer. The Strait-Line system would do a better job by preventing sway before it can begin.

As far a backing the trailer goes, it's never a bad idea to disengage the spring bars when backing at a sharp angle, regardless of which system you are using. If the trailer should jackknife, the spring bars could be damaged. Backing the trailer in a straight line or making a gentle turn is perfectly acceptable.

Both systems include the weight distributing shank but the appropriately-sized trailer ball will be sold separately with the Reese system. If you need a 2 inch ball, use part # A-90 or part # 19286 for a 2-5/16 inch ball.

For more information on weight distribution, see the FAQ article I have linked to.