Weight Distribution Recommendation for a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Towing a 29 Foot Travel Trailer

Expert Reply:

The best way to select a weight distribution system for towing your 29 foot travel trailer with your 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 truck is to weigh the trailer when it is fully loaded and ready to tow. When weighing the trailer you will need to determine the gross trailer weight and the gross tongue weight, and add the weight of anything you may need to load behind the rear axle in the bed of your Ram to the tongue weight. Any time the gross trailer weight is heavier than 50 percent of the trucks gross weight a weight distribution system is recommended.

With this information you can select a weight distribution system that has a tongue weight capacity and gross weight capacity that is safe for use with your setup. We have an informational article, see link, that has weight distribution system information and explains how to weigh your trailers tongue weight.

As an example, if your trailer is 6,500 lbs gross weight when fully loaded and ready to travel and you do not have any weight behind the rear axle in the bed of the truck then the Pro Series RB2 Round Bar Weight Distribution Kit, # 49570, would be a good choice. This system is good for tongue weights from 600 - 1,200 lbs.

I recommend the round bar system for your truck because ground clearance should not be and issue on your truck and round bar kits are a bit more economical. The 49570 system comes with a weight distribution shank, and the only additional item you will need is a hitch ball with a 1-1/4 inch diameter shank, like the Tow Ready ball # 19286.

Sway control can be added if you find that trailer sway is an issue when traveling in high winds or when passing 18 wheelers on the highway. The Pro Series weight distribution system will accept a Friction Sway Control Kit, # 83660, which will help control sway in many cases.

If you wanted to upgrade to a system that is compatible with friction sway control or the dual cam sway control system, you could go with the Reese Weight Distribution System, # RP61009, and could then add Dual Cam Sway Control, # RP26002, if you find that more aggressive sway control is needed for your trailer.

If you would like to just go with weight distribution and dual cam sway control from the start, you can go with the other part you referred to # RP66074.

Normally trailer sway can be corrected by properly loading the trailer, so if you experience trailer sway when you are just driving on the highway and no adverse conditions are causing it, you should check the trailer tongue weight. Most of the time weight will need to be added to the front of the trailer to stop sway in these circumstances.

expert reply by: Bob G