Weight distribution with a single axle trailer?

Check the owner's manual. Many single-axle trailers can't use a WD hitch because the tongue is built too light to take the force.

He will definitely want a WD hitch on a tandem axle trailer running 4600lbs dry, though. His truck's receiver is only rated for 500lbs tongue weight without one, and this trailer will easily exceed that when loaded.

Some of the smaller cars and SUV's that tow only have 200-350 lb tongue weight rated receivers and need a WDH to tow their limit. The F150 should be fine up to 500 lbs. I used to tow a 16' Scamp behind both my Mazda trucks (1982 B2200 and 1989 B2600i). The first one was off the step bumper and the second one was off a Class III, but neither required weight distribution or sway control. The Scamp had surge brakes, so it only required a flat 4-pin and dedicated charge line on an oversized bullet connector.

Buddy of mine has a similar truck and trailer size, he only uses a friction sway and had zero issues.

He may very likely had little or no tounge weight on the ball, or worse, negative tounge weight due to loading something heavy toward the back

The worst case of sway I ever witnessed was from a small, light single axle trailer. It was a rental from a military base. It was being towed by a half ton truck with the ball on the hitch and nothing else. I came up behind this guy going about 45 and he started to speed up. At about 50 I saw a small sway and it got much worse as he approached 55. He slowed down to 40 and it straightened out. I dropped back and followed until he turned off the road.

The truck was sitting level so he didn't "need" any WD but he did need something for the sway. Some posters have said you won't need any sway control with such a light trailer but I would question that. Properly loaded, proper percentage of tongue weight and you are good to go. What about a passing semi, a gust of wind or an emergency maneuver at high speed? Hmmmmm, I think it is better to get a properly matched hitch that combines both WD and built in sway control. There are many good ones to choose from.

I do not need one with my Coleman CTS 16 FB, Single axle, I did install an anti- sway control tho. I even used one with my PUP's.

There should be no need for WD since the hitch weight won't make the truck squat much or take much off the front axle.

I have not found single axle trailers to be more prone to sway than tandem axle trailers. A 20' TT probably would not need sway control, provided the hitch weight is in the proper range of 10%-15% of total TT weight. However, there is nothing wrong with having sway control, and it would provide an added layer of safety. An Andersen would work well for that rig. Added benefit would be the smoother ride, less porpoise bounce.

The longer the TT, the more the tail can wag the dog. However, even a short trailer can sway if hitch weight is too light. Long ago when I was young and naive, I towed a 4'x8' utility trailer (about 11' overall length) with negative hitch weight (a steel part hung out the back end)... and after 3 uneventful hours of towing, it suddenly swayed violently when I slowed down to make a turn.

We went to look at that trailer and it was too small for his liking, plus we are both just over 6ft tall and had to tilt our head to the side to keep from hitting the ceiling.
He did however, find a Jayco 264BHW that is 29ft, and weighs in at just under 4600lbs dry. I did check the weight on the door sticker on that trailer.

Tvov wrote:
A 20ft travel trailer that weighs 2600lbs that is single axle? Do you know what make and model? I am just curious.

Mine is 21ft, considered "ultra lightweight", 2 axles, and weighs 4600lbs.

It is a Jayco 184BH
Those are the weights that are listed on the dealer website for that trailer. The dealer website is qualityrv.net.

Ours is 3680# on the CAT scales with two weeks of supplies and no water. Single axle and tongue weight is 500+. We use a WDH. It is 20 foot closed down. Dry weight from the manufacturer is 3212#. I don't think 2600# is correct; our pup weighed that with two weeks of supplies.