Weight Distribution and Sway Control Recommendation for 2004 Keystone Outback 26RS

Question:

Hello, My current tow vehicle is a 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71. My camper trailer is a 2004 Keystone Outback 26RS 26foot length, 600lb empty hitch weight, 4480 dry weight, 1520 cargo weight. The trailer hitch on the Outback is attached to the top of the trailer tongue, so WD hitch clearance is also important during tight turns. We plan on doing a significant amount of driving around the country in the near future with this setup, including crossing some mountainous regions. What weight distribution and sway control hitch setup do you recommend for this combination? Thank you.

asked by: Uriah

Expert Reply:

The best way to pick out a weight distribution system is to base it off of the loaded tongue weight of the setup when it is loaded and ready to tow. This figure also includes the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. I attached a help article on determining tongue weight for you to check out as well. You will want the loaded tongue weight of your setup to fall right in the middle of the tongue weight range of the system you use.

Since your unloaded tongue weight is 600 lbs and you plan to carry 1,500 more lbs of cargo that would put your tongue weight right at 750 lbs. The Reese Strait Line System part # RP66084 would be what I would recommend then as it has a tongue weight of 600-1,200 lbs and features the only sway control on the market designed to fight sway before it starts.

For a 2 inch ball you would want part # A-90 and for a 2-5/16 inch ball # 19286.

All weight distribution systems available will limit how tight you can turn. In most turning situations where you are moving forward you would be fine though. It's the super tight situations you can get in while in reverse. If you jackknife the trailer too hard the bars might fall out. This is true for every system including the Strait Line.

expert reply by: Jameson C