weight distribution question

Fairly sure its 1200 marked on my bars so I think I have thiswould I be correct in assuming as long as I have 700 lbs of tongue weight im fine to use this hitch?

Jebby14 wrote:
Fairly sure its 1200 marked on my bars so I think I have thiswould I be correct in assuming as long as I have 700 lbs of tongue weight im fine to use this hitch?

If your trailer indeed does gross ~ 5500 lbs loaded & ready to camp then just 700 lbs of gross tongue weight (~ 12.7%) is on the light side. My previous KZ Spree's GVW averaged ~ 5500 lbs so I tried to run at least 750 lbs of gross tongue weight, 13.6%. At the time I was using an Equal-i-zer and because 600 lb spring bars would have been too light I had to run the next size up 1000 lb bars. Most round bar chain systems you linked to though offer 800 lb spring bars and that's what I would run in your case as 1200 lb bars are just too heavy for this size of trailer. My current Coachmen averages ~ 4800 lbs gross with an average gross tongue weight of ~ 625 lbs (13.0%) so the 800 lb trunnion bars I'm running are perfect.

“What is the risk of running too strong weight distribution bars”

My rig “porpoises” when I try a setting overly tight...fourth link in my case.

I realize what is ideal, what I have is 1200 lb bars which depending on where I look give the minimum tongue weight at 600 and 700 lbs. im curious if either of these are correct and if not where to get the correct information to see if I really need to purchase new bars (I suspect I don't)

The hitch bars (if 1200) you have are for a max TW of 1200 lbs. 1200 lb isn't the only TW you can use them for. If your TW is within the range use them. The low number may vary depending on what brand hitch it is.
Examples are:
800 lb bars are rated for TW between 400-800 lb
1200 lb bars are rated for TW between 600-1200
1500 lb bars = TW between 800-1500

WD hitch bar rating

1200# bars for a 600# tongue weight is pushing it a bit.
If they're too heavy, you will find the back end bouncing a bit at times. Otherwise, if it handles fine and you don't get the springyness in the back when you hit dips, you're probably OK.

thinking I will be ok. im going to get a fresh real world tongue weight when she comes out of storage but I think im going to go this route. 700 lbs should be easy enough to hit and is in the range. just trying to wrap my brain around it all. the concept of how it all works is a bit hard to picture especially the idea of a situation where the truck and trailer need to bend upwards (start or bottom of a hill)

Make sure your trailer doesn't have restrictions on the size of the weight transfer bars. I have a 27-foot "lightweight" trailer with a frame to match, and it is rated for no more than 1000 pound bars. In such cases, frame damage can result from bars too large.

Your best indication will be to set up the WDH and see how it feels. Like ScottG said, 1200 lb bars on a 700 lb tongue weight may seem very stiff. All WDH bars are not the same. Best to experiment, it won't hurt a thing.

I don't know how CL or online ads work where you are but my local CL usually has a number of hitches for sale. Cheap.

picking are slim here for hitches so that's not likely to bail me out but if I need to buy new bars so be it. as for the trailer its an almost 30 year old trailer from an out of business supplier that has been signifigantly modified. The axles are heavier than the originals, the rear has a custom bumper/rack/bike carrier/shelf that is all welded into the frame and the a frame has been reinforced. I hightly doubt I will find the info. That said it started life as a 1991 Prowler M-19E.