Weight Distribution Recommendation for a 7,000 Pound Aluminum Car Hauler Trailer

Published 01/21/2014

Products Featured in This Question

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

(2626)

$23.25

2" Hitch Ball - 1-1/4" Diameter x 2-5/8" Long Shank - Chrome - 10,000

(3881)

$20.93

Reese Strait-Line Weight Distribution w/ Sway Control - No Shank - 12 lbs GTW, 1,200 lbs TW

(76)

$855.32

Question:

Hello, Im in the process of purchasing an open aluminum car hauler that will be used to tow two cars. Im pulling with an 05 f150 with the heavy tow package. The reciever tag indicates it will support weight distribution hitches. Total weight of trailer and both cars will be right around 7000 lbs. The a frame tubes on the trailer are 2x5, and the frame is unobstructed. Im estimating tongue weight at 700-800 lbs, but wont know for sure until I have the trailer custom build Do you have a recommendation for a weight distribution / sway control system for an aluminum trailer? Also there will be times that I will be hauling a single car, and the weight will be much less under 5k Would you recommend leaving the WD in place or default back to the standard ball? The trailer will be 28 feet and triple axle. I plan on moving the single car forward enough on the trailer to ensure it is well balanced.

asked by: Joe O

Expert Reply:

I am glad you mentioned that the tag states you can use weight distribution. With aluminum frame trailers people often have to call and ask if such a trailer can be used with weight distribution. But we can skip that and get to the next step.

When calculating tongue weight for weight distribution you will also need to add the weight of anything loaded behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. Typically trailer tongue weight is 10 to 15 percent of the gross trailer weight. On a 7,000 pound trailer that would be 700 to 1,050 pounds. If you had 100 pounds of stuff in the truck bed behind the rear axle that would take the range up to 800 to 1,150 pounds.

I recommend a system that covers this range and is rated for 600 to 1,200 pounds tongue weight, # RP66074. This system also comes with dual-cam sway control which forces the trailer to ride in a straight line behind the vehicle. This is an active system that stops sway before it starts.

When you are not towing as much weight and the tongue weight falls outside of the range of the system then you can disengage the spring bars and just tow without them. But with no bars hooked up the dual-cam sway control also will not be engaged. I have included a couple of links on weight distribution and tongue weight for you.

This system does not come with a shank because you may need a specific rise or drop to tow the trailer level. I have included a link to the shanks that fit for you.

You will also need to add a properly sized ball such as # A-90 for a 2 inch or # 19286 for a 2-5/16 inch.