How to Pick Out a Weight Distribution System for a 2001 Chevy Suburban Towing a 30 Travel Trailer

Question:

I own a 2001 Chevy Suburban. We tow a 30foot travel trailer. Will the Straight Line Trunnion Bar part 66074 work? Also which shank should be purchased with it?

asked by: Marla

Expert Reply:

The most important factor to consider when picking out a weight distribution system for a setup is the loaded tongue weight of the setup when it is loaded and ready to tow. You should note that this includes the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of your tow vehicle. I attached an FAQ article on determining tongue weight for you to check out.

If you determine that the tongue weight of your setup falls in the 600-1,200 lb tongue weight range of the Strait-Line Weight Distribution w Sway Control # RP66074 that you referenced then this would be an excellent choice for a weight distribution system for you.

Now to pick out the right shank you are going to need to know what the correct rise/drop you will need for your setup. I attached an FAQ on this, but basically you want to end up with the correct height range so that your trailer tows as level as possible.

The most common shank that gets purchased with this system is the Reese Weight Distribution Shank part # RP54970 which has a range of 2 inches of drop to 6-1/2 inches of rise. If you need a larger range you could go with the Reese WD Shank part # RP3215 which has a range of 6-3/4 inches of drop to 11-1/2 inches of rise.

expert reply by: Jameson C