Towing a trailer heavier than the truck

[Artum_Snowbird]

This question is about equalizer hitches, and what size to purchase.

The trailer is going to weigh about 20 to 25% more than the truck with this setup and I wonder whether there is any concern about having an equalizer hitch equal to the trailer weight, or if the equalizer hitch should be rated higher than the trailer weight?

My gut feeling is to stay over the trailer weight, but not as heavy as 25% over, and I would like to hear from people that tow heavier weights.

What would be the best handling set up?

[Artum_Snowbird]

Well, after considering all the options, we went with 800 pound bars instead of 600. I called Reese this morning and talked to a technician there that knew his stuff, and he confirmed what I thought, having the extra to tighten things up if need be was better than having just enough, with nothing left. Thanks for your posts.

[Bedlam]

If your bars are rated for more weight than your current tongue weight, you can decrease the preload in the bars to help the ride quality. If your bars are undersized, you may may not get sufficient equalization. You need actual tongue weight or assume 15% of your gross trailer weight to size the WDH properly.

[badercubed]

I have towed my 9000lb TT (roughly 1,200lb hitch weight, scale verified) with both 1,000lb and 1,500lb spring bars. You should definitely "up-size" the bars.

[trail-explorer]

Artum Snowbird wrote:
OK, I will call it a weight distributing hitch.

.....

I could go to 6000 pound, 7000, 7500, 8000. The question is, do I want to go stiffer, or go lighter when the tail wags the dog somewhat? What would offer the best handling?

Weight distributing Hitches (or, WD HItches) are generally rated by the stifness of the spring bars, like 750, 1000, 1400...etc.

For example, on Reese's website: Reese Round Bar WD Hitch
they are listing their hitches as 600, 800, 1200

How big is the trailer you are looking at buying/or bought? What's the advertised tongue weight?
I'd go one size up in the spring bar weight rating verses what the claimed tongue weight is.

How much tension you put on the chains also affects the ride and handling characteristics while town.

[WE3ZS]

If it's a 6000lb travel trailer that has 600lbs of tongue weight I would try to increase that tongue weight to 780lbs (13%) or more and run either 800 or 1000lb spring bars on the WD hitch.

[campigloo]

Your actual hitch, the part that bolts to the frame of the truck, and the ball, should have a capacity higher than the weight of the trailer. It will not have any bearing on handling unless it breaks. The spring bars should be rated kinda close to the tongue weight. 800lb TW would need 1000# bars, 1000# TW would need 1200# spring bars and so on.

[Artum_Snowbird]

OK, I will call it a weight distributing hitch.

But again, put differently: I have read that the hitch should be upsized somewhat for better handling, but not too much. Maybe 25% more than tongue weight. With the same trailer weight exactly, would it be better to hold at 125% of tongue, go to 110% of tongue, or go to 135% on tongue with a lighter truck.

We are talking about a 6000 pound trailer and 600 pounds of tongue weight.

I could go to 6000 pound, 7000, 7500, 8000. The question is, do I want to go stiffer, or go lighter when the tail wags the dog somewhat? What would offer the best handling?

[handye9]

Equalizer is a brand name for a weight distributing hitch. There are others made by Hensley, Propride, Curt, Andersen, BlueOx, Reese, etc.

Your question appears to be about sizing a weight distributing hitch, and not necessarily an Equalizer.

Weight distributing hitches (including Equalizer) do come in different weight ratings, and those are based on the trailer's loaded tongue weight.

If you can give more specifics (UVW, GVWR, Make / Model, etc) on the trailer, we can give you a better idea of what to look for.

[WyoTraveler]

The equalizer hitch bars should be purchased for tongue weight not TT or truck weight.