Will Using Weight Distribution Increase the Tongue Weight of a Trailer when Loaded
Question:
My tow vehicle is a 2013 f150 3.7 v6 with tow package. The max tow weight is about 6300 lbs. My travel trailer is a kz spree excape with a max weight of 3500 lbs, empty weight of 2800 and an empty tongue weight of 400 lbs. If I load the trailer and stay below the 3500 lbs. say 3000 lbs.but tongue hitch weight goes to 600 lbs since the storage bin is in front of the axle, will a weight distribution hitch effect the hypothetical 20 tongue weight? Question 2: if my hitchs tongue weight max is 500 lbs, do I need a weight distribution hitch if my tongue weight is 525 lbs?
asked by: Terry
Helpful Expert Reply:
A weight distribution system will not change the tongue weight of the trailer. It just maximizes the vehicle and hitches capacities if rated for weight distribution (check the sticker on the hitch and the owners manual for your 2013 Ford F-150). The 10 to 15 percent of gross trailer weight when calculating tongue weight is more of a guide to figuring things out. It is not a hard and fast rule. You will know if the tongue weight is too little or too heavy.
Too little tongue weight and the trailer is likely to ride nose up and the chance of sway is increased. Excessive tongue weight tends to make the tow vehicle sag and the trailer will ride nose down because too much of the weight is forward of the axles.
If you think of it like this, a spring, like an upside down leaf spring, is pushing against 2 blocks, one on each end of the spring. On the spring a weight is hanging. The weight is the same whether the spring is pushing against the blocks or not. But the spring is helping support the weight. That is sort of how weight distribution works.
If the hitch maximum tongue weight when used with weight distribution is 500 pounds then you have to stay within that capacity. In order to get the tongue weight down you can move some weight further back on the trailer or forward of the rear axle on the truck.
You will likely benefit from using weight distribution but you also need to stay within the capacities of the hitch and truck. You can get a system that is rated higher than the tongue weight capacities of he hitch and/or truck just as long as the tongue weight of the trailer is still within the capacities of the truck and trailer.
I have included some links on weight distribution and determining tongue weight for you.
Mike A.
7/23/2020
New to pulling a travel trailer so excuse my if ignorance.. I want to purchase a Rockwood mini lite that has Tongue weight of 500 and Total Dry weight of 5004 And get. F150 with towing capacity of 10k and stated Tongue weight of 500. So, I “assume “ the truck will be Ok, in particular with respect to Tongue if I get a Weight Distribution system? Since the trailer with possible additional weight > 500
Chris R.
7/28/2020
Jon G.
8/5/2020
Allan D.
7/7/2020
Read your article/response RE hitch weight and weight distribution. I was looking at the Pro Series RB3 Distribution System. Am I correct in that this distribution system will allow 750lbs of tongue weight - or - is this >really< dependent on my trucks capacity ratings? Right now I have an F150 XL 2.7L ecoboost 2WD. It's rated at a max GVWR of 8,500 lbs and 500 lb tongue weight. I'm really doing my best to understand what I can and cannot pull, and if I can make it better. I'm looking to upgrade my trailer but I'm concerned about safety. Thanks for your time and consideration!