2018 Chevy Colorado Z71 3.6L V6 Weight Distribution for Lance 2185 Trailer

Published 12/14/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Strait-Line Weight Distribution System w/ Sway Control - Trunnion Bar - 12,000 lbs GTW, 1,200 lbs TW

(171)

$856.63

2-5/16" Hitch Ball - 1-1/4" Diameter x 2-3/4" Long Shank - Chrome - 12,000 lbs

(2597)

$19.84

Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

(6450)

$179.89

2" Hitch Ball - 1-1/4" Diameter x 2-5/8" Long Shank - Chrome - 10,000

(3793)

$16.19

Question:

Looking to tow a Lance 2185 Travel Trailer with my Chevy Colorado. Max tow capacity is 7,000lbs but only thing I could find on maximum tongue capacity said 1,000lbs. Not sure if that’s right. The Lance Travel Trailer Dry Weight is 4500lbs and tongue weight of 750lbs. Will my Chevy be safe handling this trailer if I add one of your weight distribution hitches? If so which one? I also think adding a trailer brake controller would be wise? Thanks for your help and advice.

asked by: Jeff Y

Expert Reply:

The most your trailer could safely ever weigh is 6,000 lbs according to the specs I found on your Lance 2185. This is under the weight capacity of your truck but a weight distribution system would be a very wise choice to help you tow safer.

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.

Typically tongue weight is between 10 and 15 percent of the total weight of the trailer so you'd be looking at most likely a tongue weight range of 755 like your specs list as dry weight or up to about 1,000. So for a weight distribution system I recommend the Reese Strait Line part # RP66084 which has a tongue weight range of 600-1,200 lbs and features the best sway control available that works 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.

For a brake controller I would recommend the Prodigy P3 Brake Controller part # 90195. This is our best selling brake controller because of how well it works and how easy it is to setup. This is a proportional brake controller that senses the amount of braking the tow vehicle is applying and applies a proportionate amount to the trailer brakes. This will be the last brake controller you buy. It can easily be transferred to future vehicles as well.

To install this in your truck basically just requires you to hardwire the controller to the wires under your dash like you can see in the attached install video.