Hitch Weight

cdevidal wrote:
There is some good news though, since you're butting up against the payload rating like I am. A weight distribution hitch, if you use one, will transfer anywhere from 20-30% of the tongue weight to the trailer's axles. Since I am planning conservatively, I calculated 20%.

So my formula looks like this:
Trailer weight loaded (max GVWR) / 100 * 10 = Tongue weight
Tongue weight / 100 * 80 = Final tongue weight on the vehicle

I forgot to mention, you also need to add the hitch weight to your vehicle's load, since most of the weight from the hitch, except the chain mounts/snap-ups, is on the vehicle. So every pound saved on your hitch goes a long way. If you have a lighter vehicle, the Andersen hitch is a good choice, at less than 60lbs. So is a Harbor Freight hitch. There are pros and cons to these hitches though; I encourage you to read the forum threads on this item before making that decision.

Be forewarned though, asking which hitch is best is kinda like a religious debate, or Packers vs Patriots vs Seahawks ;)

Any actual experience with a Harbor Freight WDH?
Anderson Hitch

Harbor Freight hitches use a friction device, so read this too:
Friction anti-sway device use in rain or wet roads

Just be careful ... while a WDH system will help reduce the non distributed TW total as it concerns the TV payload it WILL NOT reduce the TW that goes against the TV receiver TW rating or TV TW limitation if so specified in your owner's manual.

Also I think you will find a 20% transfer back to the TT axles to be overly optimistic, but the only way to tell is by actual scaled measurements.

A final word of caution is that if you are having to jiggle numbers like you seem to be wanting to do IMO you are already too close for comfort and need either more TV or less TT.

Larry