Weight Distributing Trailer Hitches

Weight Distributing Trailer Hitches

The other day I was on the highway headed to town, when I saw, for the first time ever, a trailer situation that scared me! There was a big white SUV towing an even bigger travel trailer, and the trailer was so heavy that the front end of the SUV was visibly lifted higher than normal, and the hitch and trailer tongue were much too close to the ground.

Clearly, this guy needed a weight distributing hitch.

What exactly is a weight distributing hitch, you ask? Well, in very simple terms, it’s extra equipment, including spring bars, that you use when hitching your really heavy trailer. What it does is distribute the tongue weight of your trailer to the axles of the trailer and the front axle of the tow vehicle to level things out when your tongue weight is too high for your hitch.

How do you know when you need a weight distributing hitch? Without hitching up your trailer and checking your vehicle for level, you can look at the numbers and figure it out. You need to know your tongue weight (TW). Compare the TW of your trailer with your hitch’s TW capacity, and if you are over that number, you need a weight distributing system.

Your receiver hitch (class IV and class V) comes with two weight limits for both TW and GTW (gross towing weight). The lower numbers is are the weight carrying limits (without weight distributing hitch) and the higher numbers are the capacity with weight distribution. Use those numbers to find the weight distributing system that has the capacities you need.

For example, a vehicle that can tow a trailer with up to 750 lbs. TW and up to 7,500 lbs. GTW with a standard Class IV weigh carrying hitch could possibly tow up to 1,200 lbs. TW and up to 12,000 lbs. GTW with a weight distributing hitch. However, please remember that these weights are hipothetical, and your towing capacity depends on your specific vehicle. Consult your owner’s manual for towing capacities of your vehicle.

With a weight distributing hitch, not only will you look a whole lot smarter than the guy with his front end up in the air, but you’ll find your ride is smoother and your braking and steering control better as you get down the road.

Towing Safely and Securely

Several trailer incidents have been in the news this week, reminding us all of the need to tow our trailers safely and store them securely.

In one incident in Washington state, four would-be thieves were attempting to break the lock on a trailer holding two personal watercraft when the noise they were creating woke a neighbor who called police. After a chase into the woods, all four were captured and charged with a list of crimes. That’s the happy story and kudos to the trailer owners who had the sense to use a hitch pin lock and the alert neighbor who took the time to call police.

Less happy news includes a story out of Brunswick, GA where a five car accident started when a camping trailer came unhitched from it’s tow vehicle and crossed the center line into oncoming traffic. The trailer hit a semi which sent it back across the center line where it caused damage to three more cars. Fortunately, no one was injured. In an accident earlier this year, the driver of an SUV who was hit by a utility trailer that came unhitched was not so lucky, she died as a result of the accident and the driver of the vehicle towing the trailer was charged with second degree vehicular homicide.

In Colorado Springs last week, a woman was killed when the trailer of a cement mixer came unhitched and sheared off the left side of her vehicle.

As trailer owners, we all need to make safety a habit. Get a hitch lock and use it; it’s a simple way to secure your trailer and protect your family. And when you are towing, remember to go through your checklist to ensure your trailer is securely hitched. Keep your hitch and coupler equipment in top working order, make sure your lights are functioning, and use those safety chains!

10% Off All Hitch Mounted Cargo Carriers and Bike Racks!

Here at TrailerHitchUniverse.com, we are always striving to make our store a better place for you to shop. We are pleased to announce our new expanded line of hitch mounted cargo carriers as well as hitch bike racks. All bike carriers and cargo carriers are marked down at least 10% in celebration of our expansion!

Check out one of my personal favorites, the Everthere Cargo Carrier in black or silver which folds up and can be carried and stored in it’s own little storage case in the back of your car, van or SUV. If you don’t need something that folds up, try the Hitch Haul Sport which has a Z shaped mount to raise the carrier for added clearance.

If you’re in the market for a bike rack, be sure to look at our new bike carriers. We have several models that carry two bikes securely on a platform attached to your vehicle. Our bike racks can be mounted to your hitch, your bumper, your RV ladder, or on your tow bar as you haul a trailer.

Whatever accessory you need for your hitch, we hope we can help you find it here at www.TrailerHitchUniverse.com

Tow Bar Mounted Bike Carrier

RV Ladder Mounted Bike Carrier