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Will Weight Distribution System Handling Be Choppy Without Proper Tongue Weight  

Updated 11/13/2017 | Published 11/11/2017

Question:

Hi. I purchased this hitch based on your recommendation with my trailer purchase, and the dealer installed it. It seems to be the right one, but i need your advice if its set up properly. I drove the trailer home about 1500 miles, with very little weight. Future camping will include between 600-700 pounds of weight in the bed and a fully loaded trailer. Generally, it towed fine, but I did encounter some periodic bouncing and choppy ride, specifically when the pavement wasnt so great. Im sending some photos of the set up. Primary Question: once the trailer is connected, I then have to Jack the trailer up so I can get the round bars on. I try to get it up close to level, then use the cheater tool to pry on the round bars, which requires some torque on my end. This just seems odd. Is this how its suppose to work? Thanks.

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Expert Reply:

When a weight distribution system is installed but the trailer is not yet loaded to the actual tongue weight (TW) for which that system is rated, it is not unusual to find a jumpy or choppy ride quality. These systems are tongue-weight-sensitive and they will typically deliver a too-stiff ride quality when the truck/trailer TW is not within the stated operating range for the system.

The Fastway e2 system # FA94-00-0600 works over a TW range of 400- to 600-lbs. If the actual TW is less than this due to the trailer being unloaded then the ride quality will indeed be choppy, even with correct installation, until the actual TW load is in place. Since the trailer frame looks to be level the setup appears to be correct.

In an instance like this with initial transport of an unloaded trailer and no cargo in the truck bed the system spring bars can be removed and stored until the trailer is loaded.

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Adam R
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