Are Popping and Creaking Noises When Using a Weight Distribution System Okay

Updated 06/30/2020 | Published 06/28/2020

Question:

Is it ok to use a hitch that is rated higher than the actual tongue weight? Before I did research I assumed that a heavy hitch would be even better. My tongue weight is around 850, I have a 1400lb, 14k rated hitch. It carries everything good but makes loud popping and creeking noises in turns and curves. I have grease the pivot points with zero luck.

asked by: Johnny C

Expert Reply:

Sounds like you have a friction sway control weight distribution (WD) system like the Reese Steadi-Flex # RP66561 or the Equal-i-zer # EQ37140ET. Pretty much all sway control setups use friction and that's what those loud popping and creaking noises are. They can seem a bit alarming but it's very normal and you actually don't want to grease them because then they won't be able to have that friction to help with trailer sway.

It is definitely okay to use a WD that is rated higher than your actual tongue weight (TW), although you don't want it to be rated too excessively as that will make your towing rig really stiff. The best way to choose a WD system is to take your loaded TW and add that to the weight of any cargo that you will have sitting behind the rear axle of your tow vehicle as that counts as TW as well when it comes to a WD system.

Some of our systems actually have a pretty substantial TW range like the Steadi-Flex which is 700 lbs - 1,400 lbs so you might already be within the
TW range of your current system.

From everything you told me it sounds like you have a WD system that is in good working order and that is rated properly for your towing setup.

expert reply by: Jon G