Weight Distribution System to Provide Best Possible Ground Clearance

Updated 04/04/2016 | Published 03/31/2016

Products Featured in This Question

Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution System w/ 4-Point Sway Control - 4,000 lbs GTW, 400 lbs TW

(840)

$800.00

Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution System w/ 4-Point Sway Control - 6,000 lbs GTW, 600 lbs TW

(840)

$825.00

Thin Walled Socket for Equal-i-zer Hitches

(100)

$90.07

Question:

Regarding W/D hitches: I tow a Flagstaff A-Frame camper 3000# loaded with a 2014 Acura MDX tow capacity 5000#. Above 62 MPH it is prone to some sway. so I expect a WDH will help. My concern is that the bottom of the receiver on the MDX is only 11 inches off the ground unloaded. Since the trailer coupler is 16 inches high, the shank will be in the UP position and not create a clearance problem. I am worried about the spring bars being too low and dragging on dips. I saw a WDH yesterday that had L-shaped spring bars coming from the top of the head rather than the usual bottom exit. The attachment clamps on the trailer frame connected to the spring bars up near the top of the trailer frame. Thus the spring bars were never below the frame. My question: do you sell such a system? Thanks.

asked by: Len C

Expert Reply:

With weight distribution/sway control (WD/SC) systems the best ground clearance generally comes from trunnion-style setups like the Equal-i-zer # EQ37040ET that you referenced. These systems' bars do connect to the side of the head assembly, rather than up into its bottom surface like round-bar systems such as Pro Series # PS49901. This is where their better clearance comes from. We do not offer any system whose bars attach to the top surface of the head assembly although one of my associates has seen one going down the road.

It is important that your trailer frame remain level when it is hitched to your WD set-up. As long as you can adjust your head on the shank so that the trailer remains level when hitched a trunnion system should be your best bet.

The key to choosing a WD/SC system is to know your trailer's fully-loaded, road-ready tongue weight (TW) including filled water and propane tanks and all supplies and gear loaded up. To this measured TW you need to add the weight of anything in the MDX that sits behind the rear axle, say a loaded cooler. With this total TW known you can choose a system rated properly, such that it will give you the weight shift onto the front axle that you're looking for, but without being so stiff that it creates weird handling from the trailer.

The easiest way to measure TW is the etrailer scale # e99044 but other methods are outlined in the linked article.

You'll want to choose a system such that your total TW figure falls right near the middle of the system's operating range. For example, the Equal-i-zer # EQ37060ET works for a TW range of 200- to 600-lbs, meaning that if your total TW figure were in the range of 400-450-lbs then this system would be a good choice. Thin walled socket # EQ70-00-4800 (sold separately) is recommended for hitch ball installation.