If any sway is experienced when not using a weight-distribution hitch, that’s a good sign that an upgrade is needed.Īlong with restoring weight to the front axle, weight-distribution hitches reduce the amount of rear suspension sag when towing. When towing this kind of trailer, it’s highly recommended to use a weight-distribution hitch with sway control at almost any weight. They also have a higher center of gravity than most other trailers, so uneven road surfaces can cause them to rock or sway more than a trailer with a low center of gravity. The high sides of travel trailers are very susceptible to wind gusts and bow waves from passing vehicles. This comes into play when towing high-profile trailers, especially ones designed to be lightweight.
#Travel trailer equalizer bars driver#
Sway control decreases the tendency of a trailer to move side to side behind the tow vehicle in wind, poor road conditions and when the driver makes an error. Many weight-distribution hitches also provide sway control. As a baseline, it’s a good idea to consider using a weight-distribution hitch when the trailer being towed weighs 50% or more of the tow vehicle’s weight. Most manufacturers don’t list a requirement for using a weight-distribution hitch when towing with a three-quarter-ton or larger truck however, this doesn’t mean that one should not be used. The heavier a trailer in relation to the weight of the tow vehicle, the greater effect it will have on the tow vehicle. We recommend following the vehicle’s owner’s manual, but below, we‘ve broken down the manufacturer recommendations for each half-ton truck.
Trailer-Axle Weight Change From Baseline (Pounds) Rear-Axle Weight Change From Baseline (Pounds) Weight-Distribution Example of Weight Change With 1,000-Pound Tongue Weightįront-Axle Weight Change From Baseline (Pounds) It shows how adding a weight-distribution hitch will restore weight to the front axle. Here’s a chart that shows what happens to a truck’s weight distribution when you connect a trailer with a 1,000-pound tongue weight to a half-ton truck. This loss of traction can cause the tow vehicle to spin or otherwise lose control. When this happens, the rear wheels might lose traction when turning, accelerating or braking. But you can go the other way, too, by not having enough weight distribution on the rear axle.
This ensures proper handling and braking characteristics while towing. The idea behind the FALR method is to return 50-100% of the weight that was lost from the front axle back to it. The load placed on these bars can be adjusted by changing the angle of the hitch head, which determines how much weight is transferred back to the front axle. In most cases, to create this lever action, a weight-distribution hitch will use bars, often called equalizer bars or arms, that extend out toward the trailer and attach to the trailer A-frame 25-35 inches from the coupler. In the towing industry, they use the term front-axle load restoration (FALR). Weight-distribution hitches combat this by restoring load to the front axle of the tow vehicle by creating a counteracting lever action. 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 | photo by Aaron Bragman What’s happening is that a fulcrum-and-lever system is being created: The tow vehicle’s frame acts as a lever with the fulcrum being the rear axle. All of this decreases stability and, ultimately, safety. If too much weight is removed from the front, then steering will be light, braking won’t be as effective and the rear axle could be overloaded. When attaching a trailer to a tow vehicle, weight is removed from the front axle and transferred to the rear axle. What Does a Weight-Distribution Hitch Do? As part of my work, I test various pieces of trailer towing equipment including trailer hitches. in Utah, makers of the Equal-i-zer hitch and Fastway Flash ball mounts. This leaves an obvious question: Why?įor my day job, I am a product engineer for Progress Mfg. Half-ton trucks like the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 typically recommend a weight-distribution hitch for any trailer over 5,000 pounds and/or any tongue weight over 500 pounds, which might seem low considering these trucks have maximum towing capacities of over 12,000 pounds. Many pickup truck manufacturers recommend using a weight-distribution hitch when towing over a certain trailer weight.
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