Adjusting Weight Distribution System Used on 2009 Yukon with Auto-Leveling Air Bag Suspension

Updated 07/27/2012 | Published 07/25/2012

Question:

Denali has factory rear air suspension as well as the autoride electronic shocks on all 4 corners. When hooking up my 2012 Vintage 23foot V-node enclosed race car trailer using my Reese Dual Cam WD with trunion bars, should I let the GMC air up the rear airbags before connecting the spring bars? Or should I leave the key off, use the WD to get everything level, then turn on the GMC and let the air suspension air up? Id think that airing the air suspension first would provide firmer rear suspension but that would seem to negate some of the usefullness of the WD. Total weight of trailer with race car and other misc is 6500-6600 with 800-900 tongue weight, measured on scales. Using 1200lb trunion bars with the Dual Cam setup. Thank you.

asked by: Ed

Expert Reply:

I spoke with our contact at Reese who suggested that the best way to use the weight distribution system and an automatic leveling suspension system at the same time is to first start your vehicle and put a slight load on the rear of the vehicle to let the air suspension begin to level the vehicle. Then you will want to measure the distance from the ground to the top of the front wheel wells. Next you will want to hitch up your trailer and set up your weight distribution system according to the the instructions that came with it. Finally, you will want measure the height of the front wheel well above the ground again.

As long as that distance has gone down any where from a quarter of an inch to roughly a half an inch, you should be properly set up for hauling that trailer. You will need to observe that measurement decreasing as confirmation that weight is being put on the front axles.

In the event that you misplaced them, I have provided a link to the user guide for the 1200 lb TW Dual Cam system.

After you set up your trailer like this once, you will be able to just hitch up and go from there on out. If you were to pull a different trailer or haul a different amount of weight in this trailer you would have to repeat the steps above to achieve the appropriate set up.

expert reply by: Mike L