Best Weight Distribution for 2013 Ram 1500 and Coleman E3 Popup Trailer with Varying Tongue Weight

Question:

TV is a 2013 Ram 1500 Express Crew Cab 5.7 Hemi trailer is 2011 Coleman E3 with a tongue weight of 500 lbs dry. GVWR on trailer is 4,400 lbs, GAWR is 3,500 lbs. With a deck on the front of the trailer for loading supplies, dirt bikes, generators etc the togue weight will vary depending on load and how it is loaded, so looking for a WDH that will work. Deck has a 800 lb load capacity. Will travel on some dirt and uneven roads at times, so need something that will have some flexibility.

asked by: Jim

Helpful Expert Reply:

To choose a weight distribution system you will need to go by the total tongue weight of the set up. This is calculated by taking the tongue weight of the trailer, when loaded and ready to tow, and adding to that the weight of anything loaded behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle.

Since the tongue weight is going to vary even a rough estimate of the range will help to determine the best option.

In terms of flexibility I recommend either going with a system that does not include sway control or, even better, a system that uses dual-cam sway control. The only systems on the market now that use dual-cam sway control and that we carry are the Reese Strait-Line systems.

They come in different tongue weight capacity ranges:

200 to 600 pounds tongue weight, # RP66072
400 to 800 pounds tongue weight, # RP66077
600 to 1200 pounds tongue weight, # RP66074
800 to 1500 pounds tongue weight, # RP66130
1000 to 1700 pounds tongue weight, # RP66075 (requires a 2-1/2 inch hitch to achieve max)

The spring bars on these systems will ride on the centers of the cams when going straight but when turning or even on bumpy terrain they will move along the cam as needed. In the event that the Coleman camper has items mounted on the frame that might get in the way of the snap-up brackets you could use chain hangers # RP58305 as alternative brackets that bolt to the sides of the frame.

I have included some links to the right on weight distribution, sway control, and determining tongue weight for you.