How to Select Best Match in Weight Distribution System

Updated 08/22/2016 | Published 08/20/2016

Products Featured in This Question

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

(2634)

$18.95

Question:

Hello, Im questioning which WD hitch would be best for my application. I currently go camping with friends that have purchased there WD hitch with their TT from the dealer. Two independent dealers sold them both 1500/15,000lbs WD round bar hitches even though our TT are within 1000lbs of each other. My thoughts were the dealer may have sold them to heavy of a hitch to ensure WD satisfaction? Thus why I would like to ask the experts and not the sales department of our local TT store. My question is I have a TT with a UVW @ 4666, GVWR @ 7700 and dry hitch weight @ 604. Maximum TW with a fully loaded trailer fresh water, propane, battery with a percentage of the extra weight added ahead of the axle and added weight in the box of the pick up behind the rear axle is calculated at 1000lbs. MAX I thought my calculation seemed high but I rather that then too low. The current tow vehicle is a Silverado 1500. I purchased the trailer used and it came with a 550/5500lbs EAZ_LIFT WD round bar hitch, which I know is not heavy enough for the job. I don’t have any issues with sway and am more interested in WD only. Also, which is best round or trunnion style? Thank you

asked by: Shawn D

Expert Reply:

For a weight-distribution-only system (with no anti-sway feature) I suggest a trunnion system since they provide better ground clearance. Systems with round bars that enter the head from below tend to provide less clearance that trunnion bars that enter the head assembly from the side.

Selecting a WD system that will provide the handling improvements you want without causing any undesirable side-effects requires knowing the total effective tongue weight (TW) of the system, which includes cargo weight in the bed, as you noted. Ideally this total TW falls right in the middle of the WD system's operating range.

If your total effective TW is 900 to 1000-lbs then a trunnion system like Reese # RP66022 is a perfect choice. All you need to add are the shank and hitch ball, like # RP54970 and # 19286.

expert reply by: Adam R