Troubleshooting Unlevel Towing Setup with 8K Trailer and 2010 Chevy Suburban

Question:

I’m out west towing an 8000lb travel trailer with my 2010 2500 4WD Chevy Suburban. I’m using a Husky Tow Centerline TS WD hitch with a drop shank. With the max lift that I can accomplish I’m still a couple inches squatted in the rear. I’m wondering what options I have to lift the rear slightly and provide a little more stability?

asked by: Dave J

Expert Reply:

We can definitely help you get your towing rig leveled out!

There are a few things to look at when we are approaching this situation; do you have a shank that allows you to position the hitch ball at the proper height, is your trailer loaded so that the tongue weight is 10-15% the weight of your trailer, and that your weight distribution system is rated properly for your setup.

To assist with all of this I'm attaching a link to a helpful article about ball mount height, you can use our etrailer Tongue Weight Scale # e99044 to make sure you have the proper tongue weight, and you want to make sure that the loaded tongue weight plus any weight behind the rear axle of your 2010 Chevy Suburban falls in the middle of the tongue weight range of your Husky system.

For example, a trailer that weighs in at 8,000 lbs should have a tongue weight of about 1,040 lbs (13% tongue weight). If you have say 100 lbs behind the rear axle of your Suburban then you're looking for a tongue weight range that 1,140 lbs is in the middle of like the Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution System # EQ37140ET with a tongue weight range of 1,000 lbs - 1,400 lbs.

If everything checks out and is loaded properly but you're still seeing sag then we can start looking at alternative options like air bags or other suspension enhancement options. You'll likely want to check your OEM suspension on your Suburban though as well just to make sure it's in good working order.

Let me know if anything above is out of place with your setup and I'll be more than happy to haelp you figure out how to adjust things to make it work!