I am buying my first trailer and pick it up Thursday. Can't wait! The dealer wants to install a BlueOX with a rating significantly higher than my tongue weight and I don't know why. Should I go with it?Here is the info:TV: 2015 Expedition(NonEL) GW Measured on CAT scale as I will use it loaded to max 6600 lbsTV: GVWR/ Max Trailer, GCWR 7500/9200/15200TW Max from Ford: 920TW Max I will use do to TV Cargo Weight Limit: About 750 lbsTravel Trailer Dry/GVWR/Expected actual 6100/7500/7100Dealer wants to put a 1500lb Blue Ox on. He has all sizes in stock. I would think I would need a 750, or 1000lb version. Is it common practice to go over to the next size up (or two) on the Blue Ox? What are the pros and cons of doing this?

1000lbs bars should be sufficient. Even if you loaded the tt to GVWR of 7500lbs you'd be under 1k tongue weight on the high end 13 percent (but over receiver rating). 1500lbs bars would be overkill and could give a harsh, stiff ride.Ask the dealer why they want to sell you the higher rated bars. I'd guess to get rid of overstock or it's the only one they have in stock.

Your trailer tongue weight? Is that the factory weight, or does that weight include battery and 2 - 30 pound propane tanks. The battery and 2 - 30 pound propane tanks will increase the tongue weight significantly.I think the 1000 pound system would be a better fit. Is this your first camper? If so, maybe the dealer is thinking in 2-3 years you'll be getting a different tow vehicle and a different trailer, and you will then have to get a heftier weight distribution system. Buy now, save having to by again in 3 years.

Seems to me that “over doing” is as bad as “under doing.” 1000 pound IMO for best ride.

DutchmenSport wrote:Your trailer tongue weight? Is that the factory weight, or does that weight include battery and 2 - 30 pound propane tanks. The battery and 2 - 30 pound propane tanks will increase the tongue weight significantly..Thank for the reply.The dry tongue wt is 598 lbsAdded 110 for battery and 2 full propane goes to 710 lbs.Add 500 lbs of "stuff" into dry trailer gives, loaded correctly, (at 10%) gives another 50lbs to tongueSo Tongue is about 760. I have a Tongue scale, so I should be able to adjust the added TT cargo.I have no plans to get a larger trailer (so I say now anyway ;-)

For your reference: Our trailer is 10,000 Gross weight. We are using the 1500 lb bars on our Blue Ox SwayPro...This set up has been perfect for both leveling and sway control.Keep in mind that the SwayPro must have bar "deflection" to work properly.

Dealer wants to increase Tongue Wt on Blue Ox Rating

18 Replies

mkirsch
Nomad II
Sep 13, 2018
Good luck to you. Sometimes regardless of how you try to "manage" physics can be a cruel mistress. You probably will not like 750lb tongue weight on a 7100lb trailer but you've got enough payload left to max out the tongue weight capacity of the Explorer, so I would not worry about it.
carringb
Explorer
Sep 13, 2018
Hannibal wrote:
hawkeye-08 wrote:
Have you asked the dealer why 1500lb instead of 1000lb? He may have a reason we are not aware of.

I was thinking the same thing. Since the BO relies on spring bar deflection to resist sway, the heavier bars might offer better sway control at the expense of a slightly stiffer ride.

However making the bars too stiff can just cause the receiver to act like a spring instead.
Hannibal
Explorer
Sep 13, 2018
hawkeye-08 wrote:
Have you asked the dealer why 1500lb instead of 1000lb? He may have a reason we are not aware of.

I was thinking the same thing. Since the BO relies on spring bar deflection to resist sway, the heavier bars might offer better sway control at the expense of a slightly stiffer ride.
surfs-up-today
Explorer
Sep 12, 2018
I pick it up tomorrow. Thanks for all your replies. I CAN"T WAIT! Although this is my first TT, and at 10:30 am or so I will be rolling out of the dealer, I am absolutely positive and overconfident that I can state a fact..with zero uncertainty....about the all the weights and percentages....it will never be better!.

In all seriousness, thanks for the inputs. I have chosen a wonderful travel trailer that "needs to managed" weight wise. I get it. I look forward to posting my experiences and tips for others that choose similar set ups (on a new thread).

It will be the Blue Ox 1000 with a target TW on my scale of 750-850 depending on TV cargo load.

Thank You Again
Surfs-up-today.
Huntindog
Explorer
Sep 12, 2018
valhalla360 wrote:
A 7500lb trailer with 15% tounge weight is 1125lb.

Do they have a 1200lb model?

Also is the 920lb Ford max TW with or without weight distributing hitch?

Looks like you might be slightly over your GVWR when you add the TW to the 6600lb base weight
I am a HUGE fan of a high TW percentage.

But in this case, he has a hard limit of 920#.

The 1000 bars are more than enough
hawkeye-08
Explorer III
Sep 11, 2018
Have you asked the dealer why 1500lb instead of 1000lb? He may have a reason we are not aware of.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Sep 11, 2018
There's one universal rule to RVing: It's ALWAYS heavier than you think it is.

You think the tongue weight on the brochure is accurate? It's ALWAYS heavier.

You think you're "only" going to put 500lbs in the trailer? It's ALWAYS heavier.

You think only 10% of what you put in the trailer is going on the tongue? It's ALWAYS heavier, and in this case that's a good thing. Most travel trailers need more than 10% tongue weight for towing stability. More typical is 13%.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Sep 09, 2018
I always say to add 1200lbs to the dry weight. Then figure on 12.5% of that for TW. So 7200lb would be approx. 865lbs TW. Go with the 1000lb system. Bars have ratings for a reason. and too much is not a good thing!
valhalla360
Navigator
Sep 08, 2018
A 7500lb trailer with 15% tounge weight is 1125lb.

Do they have a 1200lb model?

Also is the 920lb Ford max TW with or without weight distributing hitch?

Looks like you might be slightly over your GVWR when you add the TW to the 6600lb base weight
surfs-up-today
Explorer
Sep 08, 2018
Thank you all. I will go with the 1000.