Is Sway Control Needed to Tow 4000 Pound Rockport Travel Trailer with Chevrolet Silverado 5.3  

Question:

Expert Reply:

First, connect your truck and trailer (with the trailer in a full-loaded, ready-for-the-road condition) and note whether there is significant suspension sag at the rear of your Silverado. Then, do a test run in worst-case conditions, such as a run on the highway on a windy day. If the handling of the truck and trailer is satisfactory under these tough conditions then you, like the previous owner, may not feel a sway control kit is necessary.

This being said, given the size and weight of your trailer, I feel you would benefit from using a weight distribution system. If necessary, we offer WD systems that incorporate sway control. WD is highly recommended when the weight of the trailer is more than 50 percent of the tow vehicle weight.

In order to choose the correct system you will need to determine the tongue weight of the fully loaded trailer (with all gear, supplies and full water and propane tanks) plus the weight of anything in the truck bed that is behind the rear axle. I have included a link to an article that explains how to determine tongue weight. The trailer tongue weight should fall in the middle of the effective range (or below the maximum) of the system you choose.

Assuming your trailer tongue weight is approximately 450 pounds, the Pro Series # PS49901 system would be a good entry-level choice. This provides good weight distribution and modest sway control resistance.

For moderate trailer sway the Reese SC system, part # RP66151, would be a good choice for trailers with tongue weight up to 600 pounds. Both of these systems include the shank, but the appropriately sized trailer ball with 1-1/4-inch diameter shank is sold separately. For 2-inch ball use # A-90; for 2-5/16-inch use part # 19286.

If you confirm that your trailer tongue weight is more than 600 pounds, please let me know and I can make other recommendations appropriate for your trailer.

expert reply by: Adam R

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