Recommended Weight Distribution/Sway Control for 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche Towing 7500-lb Trailer
Updated 03/24/2016 | Published 03/22/2016
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Question:
Weight distribution system you recommend for hitching camper to an avalanche Chevy 2007. Weight of camper is about 7500 lbs but dont know weight at tip of tongue. Thanks
asked by: Arturo F
Expert Reply:
We can help you select a weight distribution/sway control system for your 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche and 7500-lb camper trailer.
The key to choosing a weight distribution/sway control (WD/SC) system is to know the trailer's actual fully-loaded road-ready tongue weight, with all gear and supplies in place. To this you'll add the weight of anything in the truck bed that sits behind the rear axle, such as a loaded cooler or generator. The linked article offers ways to measure TW, including a tongue weight scale like the etrailer # e99044. Usually, TW ends up being about 15-percent of the gross trailer weight when a trailer is loaded properly.
With your actual total TW known you can choose a system rated appropriately to give you the weight shift forward that you're looking for, but without being so stiff that is creates weird handling from the trailer. Ideally your total TW will fall right in the middle of the system's operating range.
The Reese Strait-Line # RP66084 that you referenced works for TW between 600- and 1200-lbs. With this system a TW of 900-950-lbs would be an ideal match. If your TW is 15-percent of the 7500-lbs (1125-lbs) then this system would not be the best option. The similar system # RP66130
would be a better match since it works for TW between 800- and 1500-lbs. All you need to add is the hitch ball, like 2-5/16-inch # C40086, and a shank, like # RP54970. The Strait-Line system works fine for electric trailer brakes and allows you to reverse the trailer without having to disconnect anything. If your trailer has surge brakes, then you can let me know that when you advise your total loaded TW.
The first thing you'll want to do is check your owner's manual to confirm that both your particular Avalanche, and the hitch installed on it, have the required towing capacity for the weight of your fully-loaded trailer. Your hitch's safety sticker must specifically state the hitch can be used with WD systems. I checked the towing capacity of the 2007 Avalanche and it varies from between roughly 7000 to 8000-lbs depending on how it is equipped. Your owner's manual, or your local dealership, should be consulted to confirm the vehicle can safely tow your trailer's actual loaded weight.
