Determining if Weight Distribution System is Being Overloaded

Question:

Have an Eaz-Lift Elite hitch rated 14,000 and 1,400 lbs round bars are rated 600 lbs. When travel trailer is loaded w/ ~ 1/3 fresh water, food, clothes, etc. the tongue weight measures ~ 650 lbs. The hitch weighs ~ 50 lbs, and usually will have 100 or more lbs of dogs and miscellaneous in pickup bed behind the rear axle Ford 250 super duty 4x4..diesel. Can adjust this so there will be only 100 lbs back of rear axle. Q. Do I need heavier rated spring bars? If so, will 750 or 800 lb bars suffice? Another Q. Are your PRO spring bars the same as the Eaz-Lift Elite bars? Thank you.

asked by: Allan P

Expert Reply:

I'm a bit confused by the description of your set up. You mention that the Eaz-Lift set up is rated at 14000 towing/1400 tongue weight, but then go on to say the bars are rated at 600 lbs.

If your spring bars are rated at a maximum of 600 lbs, it means that the tongue weight of the trailer plus the weight of anything stowed behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle cannot exceed the rating of the spring bars. It's vitally important that you're aware of the total tongue weight of your set-up. I'll link you to an article that shows a few methods of confirming your trailer tongue weight.

Weight distribution system usually are effective over a certain range of tongue weights. The Reese # RP66542 Trunnion Bar system for instance is rated for tongue weights ranging from 600-1200 lbs. Ideally, you'd want your trailer's total tongue weight (trailer TW plus weight of cargo in tow vehicle behind rear axle) to fall pretty close to the center of the effective range, about 900 lbs in the case of this system, but as long as you're not below 600 or above 1200 lbs, you'd be okay.

The Pro Series brand you mentioned is the Reese entry level line-up. Pro Series spring bars probably wouldn't be compatible with an Eaz-lift weight distribution head. So, if I'm reading correctly, it sounds like your total tongue weight is exceeding the capacity of your spring bars. If you'd care to determine your total tongue weight as shown in the article I linked to, and reply with that amount, I'd be happy to make some recommendations.

expert reply by: Mike L