Ease of Installation of a Weight Distribution System with Sway Control on a Jayco 22FB Trailer

Published 02/23/2012

Products Featured in This Question

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

(2619)

$24.09

Tekonsha Plug-In Wiring Adapter for Electric Brake Controllers - GM

(483)

$19.50

Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

(2763)

$159.00

Question:

Wow! That's some kind of customer service! Truck is a 2002 Chevy Avalanche 1500 with towing package Thanks again Bob!

asked by: Dann B

Expert Reply:

Installing a weight distribution system with sway control, like the Reese Strait-Line Weight Distribution systems is not all that difficult. I actually feel that if you installed it yourself you would have a better working knowledge of the system and how to properly set it up and use it, because your trailer weight and the weight behind the rear axle in your tow vehicle may change over time and the system will need adjustment.

The proper weight distribution system should be selected to match your trailers fully loaded and ready to travel tongue weight. I did a bit of research on the Jayco 22FB travel trailer and found that the gross vehicle weight rating is 6,500 lbs. Typically travel trailer tongue weights run between 10 and 15 percent of the trailers fully loaded weight. If we use 6,500 lbs as your fully loaded trailer weight that would give us a max tongue weight of 975 lbs. at 15 percent.

If we go with that max tongue weight for selection of your weight distribution system, the Reese Straight Line System with Dual Cam Sway Control, # RP66084 mentioned above would be a good choice. This system will provide weight distribution and sway control and accommodate the tongue weight of your trailer along with some gear loaded behind the rear axle in your tow vehicle.

We have an installation video that should be very helpful.

The only other item you would need is a 2-5/16 inch hitch ball with a 1-1/4 inch shank for the weight distribution head. The Tow Ready Hitch Ball, # 19286, would be a good choice for your setup.

expert reply by: Robert G

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Dann

2/23/2012

Wow! That's some kind of customer service! Truck is a 2002 Chevy Avalanche 1500 with towing package Thanks again Bob!

Bob G.

2/23/2012

Thanks for getting back to me. You are correct about the brake controller install being pretty straight forward. For installation of the Prodigy P2, # 90885, you will need the Plug-In Wiring Adapter, # 3025-P, which will plug into the power distribution box under the dash. We have a video and an informational article detailing brake controller installation of GM trucks, see links. You are pretty heavy for your Avalanche, so you will want to weigh your truck and trailer fully loaded and ready to tow. Be sure to fill the propane tanks, potable water tank, and fuel tank on the truck. I attached an explanation with drawings on how to weigh your truck and trailer at a local scale for you to review. Make sure you do not exceed the gross combined vehicle weight rating of your Avalanche. It looks to me like the weight distribution systems that I originally recommended would work well for your setup.