Recommended Blue Ox Weight Distribution System for 5000 lb Travel Trailer

Updated 05/07/2021 | Published 05/06/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Blue Ox SwayPro Weight Distribution w/ Sway Control for 2" Hitch - 7.5K GTW, 750 lbs TW

(498)

$924.69

Blue Ox SwayPro Weight Distribution w/ Sway Control for 2" Hitch - 10,000 lbs GTW, 1,000 lbs TW

(500)

$806.08

Question:

I’m just getting into the Rv life and am trying to learn everything I can. I heard through a friend that the Blue Ox is the way to go for various reasons, and reviews I’ve read seem to back that up. In researching, I see that my soon to be purchased trailer 2021 Keystone Springdale 220BHWE has a tongue weight of 570lbs, which falls within the range of this stock number. Am I reading that right? I’ll be using a 2017 Chevy Colorado Z71. What ball stock number would you suggest to fit this? Is there anything else I need to consider? Thank you!

asked by: John M

Expert Reply:

The 570 lb figure you mention is the dry tongue weight, but in order to choose the correct weight distribution system for your needs you'll need to determine the travel trailer's tongue weight when it's loaded up as it would be when you tow it, complete with gear, propane, water tanks, etc. You'll also want to add the weight of anything carried in the bed of the truck behind the rear axle to that figure, which is the amount of tongue weight you'll be asking your W/D system to handle.

I'll link to an article that lists a couple of methods of determining the trailer's tongue weight, but the easiest method would be to use a tongue weight scale like the etrailer part # e99044.

Given the 540 lb dry tongue weight, which would be the absolute minimum and around 1100 lbs being the maximum (about 15% of the GVWR which would be the maximum safe amount the travel trailer and its contents could weigh), the # BXW0756 SwayPro would work if you find the fully loaded and ready to tow tongue weight is below 750 lbs. If the loaded tongue weight is between 750 and 1000 lbs, use # BXW1006.

Since it's pretty unlikely you'll tow your travel trailer loaded all the way up to the GVWR, one of the systems mentioned above should cover you just fine, depending on the as-loaded weight of your travel trailer.

I've linked to some product videos that you might find beneficial, as well as to a help article that goes into detail about how weight distribution works.