What Are My Options For Needing To Distribute The Weight On My Trailer?

Updated 06/04/2025 | Published 05/31/2025

Products Featured in This Question

etrailer Rubber Hitch Cover for 2" Trailer Hitches - Qty 1

(3309)

$12.86

Curt MV Weight Distribution System - Round Bar - 6,000 lbs GTW, 600 lbs TW

(355)

$340.94

Question:

My tow vehicle is a 2012 Ford Escape with front wheel drive. Its towing capacity is 3500 lbs and a hitch wt of 300 lbs. The camper is a Starcraft 1020 Comet popup. Dry wt is 1705 and max wt is 2450. I generally carry 2100 lbs. My issue is the campers hitch wt is 370 lbs. I cannot significantly shift the weight around to compensate. maybe 30 or 40 lbs The camper pulls just fine, no sway, porpoising or braking problem. Smooth as silk. As an experiment, I put 250 lbs of sandbags in the rear of the camper bringing the hitch wt to 290 lbs. Pulled about 50 miles, smooth as silk. No problems. My solution is to go with an expensive weight distribution hitch or carry 250 lbs of sand bags: Or do I really need to do anything?

asked by: Dan A

Expert Reply:

Hey Dan,

We don't recommend using separate or temporary weights to distribute that weight to the rear. If there is any way to shift the cargo in the trailer towards the rear that is an option to go with.

Your best bet is going to be to use a weight distribution hitch to even all that load out. For your setup I recommend # C17050, the Curt MV system. This is going to be the best way to level out your trailer and reduce that tongue weight. Since you are not experiencing any sway when towing this system just focuses on weight distribution which is exactly what you are needing. You always could use the sand bags, but those always have a chance of shifting which is going to cause the tongue weight to fluctuate when towing. Going with a weight distribution system is going to get it right every time.

Let me know what you think of that setup.

expert reply by: Nick S

Dan

6/3/2025

I removed one of the propane tank and moved the items I had on the front storage deck to just behind the wheel. That did the trick. Unfortunately, the front deck is now empty and that the main reason I bought the popup. Can get along fine now and can still use the PU to pull instead of Escape. But might consider your WDH at a latter date. Thanks for your help.

Nick S.

6/4/2025

@Dan Of course, anytime Dan! Glad you were able to make something work for now. You know what you need in the future, I know you probably don't want to not use that deck full time. You'll have to let me know how that rides after adjusting that.