hey everyone. I have a weight distribution hitch im working on setting up. I was led to believe it was suitable for 600lbs of tongue weight but the bars have a larger number (if memory serves me its 1100). How can I tell what I actually have and what is safe to run. My trailer weights in around 5500 lbs with about 700 lbs tongue weight. What is the risk of running too strong weight distribution bars https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Pro-Series/49569.html

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 lb1200 lb bars are rated for TW between 600-12001500 lb bars = TW between 800-1500WD hitch bar rating

weight distribution question | Good Sam Community

SoundGuy
Explorer
Jan 10, 2018
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.
Jebby14
Explorer
Jan 10, 2018
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?

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