Determining Weight Distribution System Appropriate for Trailer Tongue Weight and Vehicle Cargo

Published 09/14/2018

Question:

Thank you so much for putting on your site so much of educational content! Ive learned more about towing from your site than all the other sites out there combined. The question I have is in regards to weight distribution recommendations I have read on your site. You recommend to include the weight of cargo loaded behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle along with the trailer tongue weight to determine the maximum tongue weight capacity of the weight distribution system of course along with the GTW. I dont understand why youre including the weight behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle in that limit. I would understand it if you wanted to redistribute the weight from the vehicle to the trailer, but doing so could overload the trailer axle along with the tow vehicle hitch. This would be especially dangerous if the trailer tongue weight is near the tow vehicle hitch capacity. Additionally, the weight distribution system instructions that I have read describe a process how to achieve the distribution of the additional weight imparted by the trailer tongue weight onto the ball of the vehicle between the front and rear vehicle axles. To distribute additional weight of the tow vehicle sitting behind the rear axle would require additional spring loadinginch of the tension bars and other adjustments, but this is always discouraged. So it seems to me that including the additional weight in the limit may lead to choosing a heavier duty system than is ideal, which could result in a rougher/stiffer ride and in placing undue stress on the tow vehicle hitch. It is completely possible Im missing something as Im not an expert. Im merely try to understand the topic to make well informed choices. Thank you so much for your time!

asked by: Robert D

Expert Reply:

Thanks for the question. The cargo weight behind the rear axle of the towing vehicle will apply weight that does have an effect on the weight distribution hitch. It is weight that will impact the level transport of the truck and trailer, so distributing that weight is needed so you don't have additional sag at the hitch.

The total tongue weight you are describing is the loaded tongue weight of the trailer as well as that cargo weight. That combined weight needs to be within the total tongue weight range of the weight distribution system and ideally would be toward the middle of the range versus the low end which could cause a rigid ride or the high end which could border on not enough load support.

Overloading a trailer hitch without using a weight distribution system is far more of an issue than having a weight distribution system that is too large for your trailer which would actually alleviate some weight on the hitch but cause too rigid a ride on the trailer.

There are different setups that assist the specific trailers as head tilt and bracket locations make a difference too. On each product page the distance to the brackets will be mentioned but the head tilt and if the system has adjustable bracket height or chain links will also make a difference.

I hope that helps, but I've also attached an article that may assist.

expert reply by: Jason S