That can make the distribution unpredictable and dangerous. You want to make sure both of those ratings are above the amount you're looking to tow - but not too far above it.įor example, if the weight distribution system has a 1,000 pound (454 kilogram) tongue weight capacity but the trailer is loaded with only 300 pounds (136 kilograms) of tongue weight with 50 pounds (23 kilograms) of cargo in the trunk of the towing vehicle, you're about 650 pounds (295 kilograms) under the rating. Weight distribution systems are rated in two ways: the gross trailer weight they can haul, and the tongue weight they can distribute. The most important thing to keep in mind when picking out a weight distribution system is the weight of the load you'll be towing. So how do you know which one to get? On the next page, we'll delve a little deeper into what you should consider when picking out a weight distribution system. Plus, once you reach certain gross trailer weights, a weight distribution system is required by law anyway. Usually if your trailer weighs in at more than 50 percent of the towing vehicle's weight, you'll need one of these hitches. As the gross trailer weight creeps up on the scales, a weight distribution hitch might start to look a lot more attractive. If you're looking to tow a smaller load, generally you can get away with a weight carrying hitch. Also, don't forget the tow vehicle's axles each have a gross axle weight rating - adjusting the weight distribution system can help distribute the weight appropriately. With that leverage, everything balances out and driving performance increases dramatically. A weight distribution system is important because it eases the situation by spreading some of that increased tongue weight off the rear axle of the tow vehicle and onto the front axle, as well as the axle (or axles) of the trailer. You still need to carefully keep the same ratios of tongue weight and gross trailer weight in mind with a weight distribution hitch, but when you have a heavier load you have to consider how much more tongue weight that actually entails. On the next page, we'll take a closer look at how this is possible. Weight distribution hitches can help prevent those dangerous conditions and improve a vehicle's ability to turn, brake and steer, especially in the case of large loads, which can be hard to maneuver in a safe and controlled manner. Because of these two factors, you can see why finding the delicate balance between tongue weight and gross trailer weight is so vital. In those situations, a trailer will be more prone to sway, and it can swing back and forth out of control. The opposite is also true of too little relative tongue weight. Obviously, if your tow vehicle dives too far, such as in situations when you need to brake quickly, you'll loose braking traction and steering control of the wheels on the front axle, which can be very dangerous. Having too much tongue weight in relation to gross trailer weight can cause the hitch of the trailer - and the rear axle of the tow vehicle - to dive, meaning the front of the trailer will head toward the ground, bringing the front of the towing vehicle off of the ground.
So if you plan on loading up the trunk, you'll need to factor that in. Tongue weight (or TW) also includes any weight that's behind the rear axle of the towing vehicle. Tongue weight is the portion of the load (generally between about 10 and 15 percent of the gross trailer weight) that's far enough forward in the trailer that it presses down on the hitch. The first one is gross trailer weight (or GTW), which, as you can probably guess, describes the total weight of the trailer, including cargo, fuel and anything else you've got in there. To understand how a weight distribution system works, we need to familiarize ourselves with two terms.
One way to help ensure disaster won't strike, especially if you're pulling a very large load, is to use a weight distribution system. Most people who've driven a trailer have experienced at least a few heart-pounding moments when their trailers started to sway and they worried they might lose control of the vehicles.
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