Weight Distribution System

To the OP. Like I said, there will be those that give recommendations without real numbers to consider. There are half ton pickups that will be overloaded with family and even a trailer as light as yours or not even at half their capacity with the version in Mitch's signature. The difference? Some so called half tons have payloads in the 1,000-1,200 pound range while one like Mitch's is probably over twice that. The badge means about as much as the color when it comes to payload, in other words. If one does not want to get real scale weights, the yellow door sticker will give the best guess as to payload and the other vehicle ratings. If all else fails, look in your owner's manual to see what GM has to say on the subject.

nagel wrote:
Truck is a 1/2 ton 4x4. GMC Sierra. GVWR 7000 pounds

So, it sounds like the information I will need is weight of trailer (5400 pounds).

In your first post you said - "Trailer is 22' Wildwood Xlite weight 3500 pounds", now you're saying it's 5400 lbs ... which is it? :h You could make this a lot easier by telling us the make / model / year of this trailer ... in fact if it's accessible to you just tell us it's stickered dry weight as it left the factory - usually a yellow sticker on the front street side of the trailer. Is this intended to be used by just an adult couple or kids as well? This is about weight that will all contribute to the trailer's actual GVW, loaded & ready to camp, which in turn will then determine what it's average gross tongue weight should be, ALL of which will determine what size of weight distribution system you should be using. Two pages of guessing ought to convince you that before anyone can offer sensible suggestions we need to know the specifics of the particular trailer you want to tow. And FWIW, as one who has been towing with a variety of 1/2 ton GMC trucks for a dozen years now I wouldn't tow any travel trailer without the benefit of weight distribution ... so yes, regardless of the final numbers you want to be using weight distribution.

TomG2 wrote:
You are about to be bombarded with page after page of opinions and prejudices concerning hitches. Happens every time the subject comes up.

ALL because the OP didn't provide any specific information about either his truck or his trailer, which is actually surprising for someone who is not exactly new to the game. :R If he does that there's no need for "opinions and prejudices". ;)

SoundGuy wrote:

TomG2 wrote:
You are about to be bombarded with page after page of opinions and prejudices concerning hitches. Happens every time the subject comes up.

ALL because the OP didn't provide any specific information about either his truck or his trailer, which is actually surprising for someone who is not exactly new to the game. :R If he does that there's no need for "opinions and prejudices". ;)

Exactly what I said. All you had to do was include my complete quote and save yourself the effort of rewording it.

If you have a full sized truck a weight dstribution hitch is probably not necessary. It would be good to have a simple sway bar of sway dampening device that is much easier to hook up.

If you go with a WDH make sure you install it correctly, and get the right tension on the bars. Lots of Youtube videos out there from different manufactures

TomG2 wrote:
You are about to be bombarded with page after page of opinions and prejudices concerning hitches. Happens every time the subject comes up.

SoundGuy wrote:
ALL because the OP didn't provide any specific information about either his truck or his trailer, which is actually surprising for someone who is not exactly new to the game. :R If he does that there's no need for "opinions and prejudices". ;)

TomG2 wrote:
Exactly what I said. All you had to do was include my complete quote and save yourself the effort of rewording it.

This isn't a competition Tom :R, I'm just adding my own view that determining which size of WD system is suitable would be quite easy if the OP would have provided specific information about this truck / trailer in his original post. :)

SoundGuy wrote:
This isn't a competition Tom :R, I'm just adding my own view that determining which size of WD system is suitable would be quite easy if the OP would have provided specific information about this truck / trailer in his original post. :)

You are more than welcome to contribute but clipping part of what I wrote is censorship without improvement. My statement stands on its own merit. Just like yours should. Are you a competitor? I think we both know the answer to that.

SoundGuy wrote:
This isn't a competition Tom :R, I'm just adding my own view that determining which size of WD system is suitable would be quite easy if the OP would have provided specific information about this truck / trailer in his original post. :)

TomG2 wrote:
You are more than welcome to contribute but clipping part of what I wrote is censorship without improvement. My statement stands on its own merit. Just like yours should. Are you a competitor? I think we both know the answer to that.

Yeah, seems you want it to be. :R

SoundGuy wrote:

Yeah, seems you want it to be. :R

You win. We ALL know how you like to have the last word. It is NOT a competition. Write what you want. Still don't know why you included part of my post unless you were competing with it. You win.

The weather must be lousy there. It is perfect here in South Texas and I will leave the forum to SoundGuy.