Weight Dist Hitch Setup

Etrailer.com has a good video on seting up the Dual Cam.

Based off those numbers it looks like his trailer weight is between 7400-7500 lbs, which would give a TW range of ~900-1100 lbs (12-15%). Because there is no bars removed weight the TW is probably higher than the 1100 lbs shown. I think you have a receiver failure or new TV in your future.

Adding to much weight to rear of TT pulled with light vehicle can lead to dangersly unstable rig.
Frank.

As Ron said, there are some discrepancies with the weights. Maybe you were inside the truck on one of the weights?

Your TW is at least 1100 pounds if the first two weights are correct. With 885 pounds dry TW, adding 200+ pounds is common. As mentioned, that puts you over the receiver and GVWR besides the rear axle rating.

Start moving things in the TT from in front of the axles to behind to target closer to 900 pounds of TW. You are somewhere in the 15% TW range. 900 pounds will be about 12% which should still be stable.

tkoden wrote:
Truck empty:
Front: 3450
Rear: 3350

Trailer worst case load before adjusting chains:
Front: 3370
Rear: 4530
Trailer: 6330

Trailer normal load after adjusting chains:
Front: 3600
Rear: 4390
Trailer: 6120

Your axle load measurements show some results which are not physically possible -- assuming the TV and TT loads did not change during the three weighings.

The indicated tongue weight was (3370+4530)-(3450+3350) = 1100#

The GCW "before adjusting chains" was 3370+4530+6300 = 14230#
The GCW "after adjusting chains" was 3600+4390+6120 = 14110#
The two GCW values should be the same (within the accuracy of the scales).

The load removed from the front axle, when hitched with no WD, was 3450-3370 = 80#
The load added to the rear axle, when hitched with no WD, was 4530-3350 = 1180#
That result is physically impossible. For your TV, the load added to the rear axle should be approximately three times the magnitude of the load removed from the front.
A TW of 1100#, with no WD, should have caused about 550# to be removed from the front axle and about 1650# to be added to the rear.

The data show the load on the trailer axles, with WD applied, was 6330-6120 = 210# LESS than with no WD.
This also is physically impossible. The load on the TT axles must increase when WD is applied.

The data show that application of WD caused
3600-3370 = 230# to be restored to the front axle, and
4530-4390 = 140# to be removed from the rear axle.
This also is physically impossible. For your TV/TT combination, the load removed from the rear axle will be about 1.4 times the amount added to the front.

If the scales data are reasonably accurate -- then the loading of the TV and/or TT must have changed in the course of obtaining the three sets of weights.
If the loading of TV and TT did not change -- then the scales data are not correct.

I suggest you take another three sets of axle loads, making sure that the loading of TV and TT is the same for all three sets.

Ron

X2. If you need to add more weight to the front of the TV, in excess of the unloaded weight, to get rear within specs then you have too much tongue weight or not enough tow vehicle. Something has to give.

Great advice. To the OP there is even more. You need to check your receiver to be certain it can handle the tongue weight. If not you might need to go to a higher rated aftermarket receiver.

A weight distribution hitch will not increase your payload, in fact the weight of the hitch can reducte payload of the TV by 75 -100 pounds or more. Also, a properly tensioned WD hitch, if the rear axle is still over it's rating, then the TV is not up to the towing demands. The hitch can only do so much, it cannot increase payload, axle or gross weight ratings. What a WD hitch does do, is to transfer about 20 percent or so of the tongue weight back to the trailer axles and some back to the front axle. Beyond that it is not magically making something work that is over axle or payload ratings. My last comment- never go by brochure weights or dry weights. If the brochure tongue weight is provided, it likely is at the dry weight. Use gross weights for your calculations. Going to the scales is the right thing for you to do. A 6300 pound trailer should have a tongue weight between 630 and around 900 pounds, not more. 750 pounds would be near ideal. Your hitch will never set right until the tongue weight is within range.

I am going to get a tongue scale and see what the actual tongue weight is. That will help me a lot. Another idea I have is moving the batteries to the rear bumper. Right now I have 2 GC2 and 1 Group 24 batteries on the tongue which probably adds almost 200 lbs of weight.

If I can get the tongue weight under control the trailer is well within the tow capacity of the expedition.

If I am reading your numbers correctly you are transfering weight to the front axle, too much in fact. Only put back what your vehicle's towing guide says should be restored from the tongue weight. Some vehicles add back 50 percent of the weight taken off by the tongue some 100 percent but I am not aware of any vehicle that should have more than 100 percent of the front axle weight restored. If I read your numbers correctly you are restoring more than 100 percent, probably not good at more than 3450 pounds and you are at 3600. Back off the tension on the weight distribution bars until you are at least 3450 or less.

X2. If you need to add more weight to the front of the TV, in excess of the unloaded weight, to get rear within specs then you have too much tongue weight or not enough tow vehicle. Something has to give.

Weigh the front axle without the TT, then weigh the front axle again with the TT and no bars. What you removed from the front axle is all you need to put back, your adding more back then was taken by the tongue weight.

tkoden wrote:
I can't imagine a 6300 lb trailer having 1200 lbs tongue weight.

Just to interject, I would be skeptical of that too. Our Eagle is 35' and around 8500-9000 lbs. when loaded, and the tongue weight is approximately 1250-1300 lbs. with that.