How Weight Distribution Hitches Work In RVs

When you're towing a trailer with a standard rear-mounted hitch, your trailer's tongue weight is shifted to the rear axle of your tow vehicle. The possible outcome may be that the back end of the vehicle may be forced lower and the front end raised. If this happens, your vehicle's rear axle will bear the weight of not only the trailer, but much of your tow vehicle's weight as well. Less weight on the front axle of your vehicle can cause diminished performance in terms of steering, traction and stopping power. It can also increase trailer sway and your view of the road may be limited due to the awkward angle. Even if your overall payload isn’t over your limit, that doesn’t mean you can’t be overloaded on one of your axles. If possible, load your RV fully and take it to a weigh station that can measure your axles individually. As much as possible, you should aim for around 10 percent of the overall total weight to be placed on the tongue, meaning that if your trailer’s total weight is 7,000 pounds, you will want the weight at your hitch to be right around 700 pounds. Too much tongue weight in relation to your GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) can badly affect your ability to maneuver in a safe manner.

You would benefit greatly from a weight distribution hitch system such as:

• If the trailer weight (GTW) is more than 50 percent of your vehicle's weight (GVWR)
• If the rear of your tow vehicle flops when the trailer is hooked up.
• If you feel your trailer sways.
• If your tow vehicle's headlights points upward.
• If you find it difficult to steer or stop your rig.
• And finally, if you want to tow to the highest capacity allowed by your vehicle's trailer hitch.

There are many different types of weight distribution hitch systems you can find on the market and each has different features. Before you pick which of those features you'd likely need to know what you need to have for your trailer. Capacity is key when you want to tow right and you must know which weight distribution hitch system will work best for your towing setup.

In choosing a weight distribution hitch system, you must first identify and know the following:

Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) weight of the fully loaded trailer in its actual towing condition.

• GTW is measured by placing the fully loaded trailer on a vehicle scale.
• Rating of weight distribution system must match or exceed your GTW.

Tongue Weight (TW) the tongue weight of your trailer plus the weight of the cargo that sits behind the rear axle of your vehicle.

• Trailer TW is measured using a tongue weight scale
• Weight of cargo behind the rear axle can be measured using a commercial scale

When the load is not secured or possibly caught in high winds, using a weight distribution hitch will always alleviate the load on your vehicle’s axis making the weight to have less reliance on your vehicle. The road will be under great control and making you safe together with the people around you on the road when you have a weight distribution hitch system for your RV.