Does Weight Distribution System Weight Have to Factored Into Total Tongue Weight Calculation

Published 02/07/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(1022)

$247.00

Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution w/ 4-Point Sway Control - No Shank - 6,000 lbs GTW, 600 lbs TW

(858)

$628.07

Question:

i have a Toyota highlander 2018. the tongue capacity is 500LB. So lets say the trailer tongue weight is 400LB and 20 LB propane weighs about 37 LB and may be a 60LB battery installed on the Hitch, so the total weight of the hitch comes to 400+37+60=497 which is the limit for the vehicle. so if i add a weight distribution hitch lets say it weights 100 LB to the hitch it will take the weight of the hitch to 400+37+60+100=597 597 which is above the vehicle tow rating. so am i going over the limit or should i not add the WD hitch weight when calculating the hitch weight.

asked by: Kris

Expert Reply:

The actual weight of a weight distribution hitch system does NOT have to be added to the total tongue weight calculation the way things like trailer-mounted accessories do, or the way behind-the-rear-axle cargo in the vehicle has to.

So long as your trailer hitch is rated for use with weight distribution/sway control (WD/SC) you can use a system that is rated correctly for your actual total TW. The Curt hitch # C13200 you referenced is rated for use with WD so if you have this hitch we can get you going.

You will want to confirm your total loaded tongue weight (TW), which is the loaded trailer's actual TW as measured with scale like # e99044 plus the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle in the tow vehicle. This total TW should fall in the middle of the operating range for the system you select.

For example, if your total TW were 500 to 600-lbs you could use the Reese Strait-Line # RP66087 since it works effectively over a TW range from 400 to 800-lbs. If it ends up being more like 400-lbs then instead a better fit comes from the Equal-I-zer system # EQ37061ET which works over a lower weight range, 200 to 600-lbs.

Both of these systems include built-in sway prevention, which will provide superior performance to the stand-alone devices like # 83660 that only work once the trailer has started to sway. Another advantage of the built-in sway control systems is that they'll allow you to back up the trailer without having to get out of the Highlander to disconnect the friction bar. Friction bar sway devices will be damaged if you forget to deactivate them before reversing.

Please feel free to tell me your actual total TW figure (trailer plus cargo) and I will be happy to fine-tune a recommendation for you.