Weight Distribution choices

[hldurham]

I have a 2005 Chevy Surburban 2500 3/4 ton. I just purchased a 2004 Forest River Travel trailer, specs are out of the user manual as follows: hitch weight 775 lbs, total dry weight is 5120 lbs, length is 28- 9. I need help in choosing a WDH for my vehicle and TT. I dont think these weights take in account for propane tanks,Battery,extra weight , etc. Not sure what TW and GTW system I need.Would the 1200 TW and 12000 GTW be the best? Can anyone relate?

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by hldurham

I have a 2005 Chevy Surburban 2500 3/4 ton. I just purchased a 2004 Forest River Travel trailer, specs are out of the user manual as follows: hitch weight 775 lbs, total dry weight is 5120 lbs, length is 28- 9. I need help in choosing a WDH for my vehicle and TT. I dont think these weights take in account for propane tanks,Battery,extra weight , etc. Not sure what TW and GTW system I need.Would the 1200 TW and 12000 GTW be the best? Can anyone relate?

1200 lb. bars will probably be a good fit for that trailer. Get a WDH with integrated sway control such as a Equal-i-zer 4 pt., Reese Straight Line Dual Cam, or Blue Ox Sway Pro.

Anderson is another up and coming WDH with integrated sway control, but the jury is still out on how well it distributes the weight, especially with a projected tongue weight in the 1000 lb. range.

[thebrakeman]

Without giving us the GVWR of the trailer, I would have to guestimate 5120 + 1000 for the loaded trailer weight - 6120 lbs. *12.5% = 765 lbs approx loaded TW.
Then again, your unloaded TW is already 775 lbs (WOW!). So either you have a lot of storage in the rear of the camper (which would offset the battery, LP, etc), or your TW will be much higher than the average 12.5%.
6120 * 15% = 918 lbs. That would have things too close to the limit of a 1,000 lbs WDH system.
So, yes, I think the 12,000/1,200 lbs Equil-i-zer (DC, etc) would do you well. Even if the TW stays down in the 800 lbs range, it's well within the usable range for a 1200 lbs system.

[mogman]

We had a 2004 29ft FR Surveyor and it came with a 12000lb Equal-i-zer hitch. I threw it on the back of a 95 Dodge 1500 4x4 and in the 4 years we used the rig it never swayed once including numerous trips across the Chesapeake Bay bridge Tunnel.

My vote is Equal-i-zer every time.