Weight Dist Hitch Setup

Ok, If I back off one link it will take me back to about 3450

What you are doing is extremely hard on your hitch and weight distribution bars. Start with this: weigh the trailer by itself fully loaded for camping; then weigh the tongue and load or reload the trailer to have between 10 and 15 percent of the trailer's weight on the tongue. 12-13 percent is ideal. Then, start the weight distribution process with the hitch and the tow vehicle. It should go much better if your trailer's weights are known and the tongue weight is within 10-15 percent. It should not be a fight to get the hitch dialed in properly. Then find out what Ford recommends for returning the tongue weight back to the front axle and use that number. All should be well then.

Ok, If I back off one link it will take me back to about 3450.

jmtandem 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

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.

Passport 32FB Specs

Shipping Weight 6310
Carrying Capacity 1890
Hitch 885

That shipping weight and hitch are Dry weights, straight from the manufacturer - not ready for camping. You can have up to 1150# in TW for a 14% load.

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

You are overloading your Expy in RAWR (max. 4250#), receiver capacity (max. 875#) and probably payload (1650ish?). At 3600#, you are at 100# from max. front axle capacity (3700#).

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

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.

It definitely feels more stable / better steering when I had the extra 150 lbs on the front end. I can't imagine a 6300 lb trailer having 1200 lbs tongue weight.

I guess I just need to get a bit more creative on how I load the trailer. I have a big storage area under the bed in the read so I plan to put heavy items like canned goods, bottled water, etc in there to help alleviate some of the tongue weight.

If you have the hitch that has washers to make the ball tilt, add more washers to tilt the ball more. Then adjust your bars. The bars should be level. There is a link somewhere that discusses how to do the setup

The purpose of getting the front weight back up to the unloaded weight is to get the steering geometry back to specs. To little weight on the front and the steering will feel light. Too much weight and the steering will feel sluggish. Tire wear will be excessive.

I think your tongue weight is closer to 1200#

I am towing with a 2007 Expedition EL 4x4 with tow package. I need to get more weight on my front axle since my rear near or at capacity.

If you are having to use a cheater bar, you're doing it wrong. A friend lost a finger fighting it. Let the jack do the work. Good luck.

tkoden wrote:
I am measuring with the axle scale at my companies distribution center so I know the weights are pretty close (+/- 10 lbs) I follow the same procedure. I am using about an 18" cheater bar / pipe that came with the hitch.

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

Looking at your weights. The idea is to replace the weight on the unloaded front axle (3450) with the WDH hooked up. It appears that you are tranfering more weight than you need. Reduce the adjustment on the chains until you have the front weight equal to the unloaded weight (3450)

What are you towing with?