Weight Distribution/Sway Control Setup for 2017 Tacoma Towing 5000-lb Cargo and Travel Trailers

Updated 01/24/2019 | Published 01/23/2019

Products Featured in This Question

1-7/8" 12pt Shallow Socket - 3/4" Drive - Chromium-Vanadium Steel

(279)

$20.06

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

(840)

$718.65

Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution System w/ 4-Point Sway Control - 10,000 lbs GTW, 1,000 lbs TW

(840)

$697.12

Replacement Sway-Control Bracket for Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution - 6,000 lbs to 14,000 lbs GTW

(239)

$82.97

Question:

Have 2017 Taco AccCab v6 with factory tow 650/6500.. Am looking at this for towing a tandem axle enclosed trailer 6x14 max trailer plus contents weight 5000 lbs and a future travel trailer not to exceed 5000 lbs. I do want sway and weight distribution and backup features with standard capabilities. My question is.. do I need to drill holes in the trailer frame for this and then drill holes in the travel trailer for use there?.. I would rather not have to drill holes everytime I use a different trailer.. Is there a kit or some other method or a differnet company/system that will delivery the quality?

asked by: Karen

Expert Reply:

We do have weight distribution/sway control (WD/SC) systems that can install on your enclosed cargo trailer (and future travel trailer) without need to drill into the trailer's frames. These use bolt-on lift brackets. Such systems do include both sway control and weight distribution functions and will allow you to back up the trailer without having to take anything apart. The specific Reese Strait-Line system # RP66082 that you referenced does require frame drilling for mounting its cam assemblies but I have good no-drill solutions for you.

Step 1 for selecting a WD/SC setup is determining the actual loaded trailer tongue weights (TW). What matters most when choosing a system is knowing the total TW, which consists of the actual measured TW of the loaded trailer (you can use a scale like # e99044) along with the weight of anything in the Taco that sits behind the rear axle (like a generator or big loaded cooler) since that behind-the-axle cargo will appear like trailer TW to the system. This total combined weight figure should fall near the middle of the system's operating range.

Typically a 5000-lb trailer will have TW in the range of 650- to 750-lbs if it is loaded correctly (this is about 13 to 15% of the 5K gvwr). So for a no-drill system suited to this TW the USA-made Equal-I-zer system # EQ37100ET is ideal. The brackets are shown in the included photo.

This setup includes the shank, 2-5/16-inch hitch ball and bolt-on lift brackets that will install on the frame 27- to 32-inches behind the hitch ball. It also has a 4-friction-point anti-sway function to keep the trailer in line behind the Taco and it allows backing up. The linked review and demo videos will take you through the design, installation and operation of the setup. A thin-walled 1-7/8-inch socket like # ALL643216 will make it easier to install the hitch ball. You can order a second set of bolt-on brackets # EQ95-01-5600 for the second trailer, if you like.

For tongue weight of 400-500-lbs their system # EQ37060ET will be appropriate.

Please feel free to email me back if you have any other questions.