Weight Distribution

[meganjoe]

Hi everybody..

We are planning on buying a Coachmen Clipper 17FQ. The GVWR is 3518 lbs. and the tongue weight figures to be about 300 lbs. +

We will be towing it with a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. which is rated for 6200 lbs.

Do I need Weight Distribution and Anti-Sway stuff?? Of course the dealer says yes but I've been reading conflicting reports online.

If I do need it can you guys and gals give me some recommendations??

Thanks, Joe

[Stormrider151]

300# on the ball. Probably won't need it. I had a Coleman pup that weighed more than that and only used a friction sway controller. Keep in mind that 300# may be dry weight. Add propane and a battery plus what you load for camping and the weights go up. If it were me I would probably wait to see how my TV reacted to the weight and go from there. But I would for sure install sway control.

[caper]

Loaded you will be well over 4000# and tongue weight will be around 400# I would be using a WDH with sway control.

[Herk7769]

I have heard that "the rule of thumb" for "Do I need a WD hitch" is:

Yes, if the trailer "loaded" is more than 150% of the tow vehicle's curb weight.
No, if it is less.

No empirical data to back that up; just what I have read.

http://www.jeep.com/en/jeep-capabili...dCherokee2Tab*
Here are the 2015 numbers.

Looks like just one rating...

[asquared]

Look at your hitch receiver. Somewhere stamped on it will be weight ratings for load bearing and weight distributing. If the predicted loaded hitch weight is over the load bearing weight then yes get a wdh. With that size tt, a friction sway bar should be fine for sway control.

[Evo2700]

Our first trailer was 2008 Fun Finder x160 that weighed about 3300 pounds when we were fully loaded. We towed it with a Jeep Cherokee. We didn't have a WDH, just a sway bar. Although we didn't "need" the WDH, it would have been really nice to have and would have made the drives much better. Looking back I wish we had WDH back then.

Although the Jeep can tow, they are not designed for that type of use so anything that will make it easier on the Jeep is best.

[bikendan]

most owners manuals have a towing section, which usually has a number that requires using a WDH.
as was said, the hitch receiver should have a label or stamp that gives a minimum number needed for a WDH.
you're pulling a single axle TT with a short wheelbase vehicle, HECK yea you should use a WDH.
not sure what "conflicting opinions" you're talking about.

i love my Equal-i-zer and there's no drilling needed.

[meganjoe]

Originally Posted by bikendan

most owners manuals have a towing section, which usually has a number that requires using a WDH.
as was said, the hitch receiver should have a label or stamp that gives a minimum number needed for a WDH.
you're pulling a single axle TT with a short wheelbase vehicle, HECK yea you should use a WDH.
not sure what "conflicting opinions" you're talking about.

i love my Equal-i-zer and there's no drilling needed.

I'm gonna take YOUR opinion and get one...Thanks, Joe

[Fluffywhitedogs]

We just picked up our 17bh this past weekend. It's only about 800lb more than our old trail runner but it does put quite a bit more weight in the hitch of my Toyota 4Runner and I really felt it. We'll be getting a weight distributing hitch for sure.
If the dealer was being straight, it will also help a bit with gas mileage?