Need Hitch advice

[CindyC-IL]

All, Hope you can help with the following. Looking for weight distribution hitch recommendations/advice with the following criteria.
Have 2021 F150 Lariat 3.5 v6 Ecoboost.
I'm renting a trailer for an upcoming trip (about 1400 mi round trip). Planning to pull 22' trailer with GTW of 4830 and Tongue Wt of 430

The person renting from does not have a Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH). The weight looks to be just under what is allowed for towing without a WDH, I'd rather use one for comfort and safety.

The problem is I will need to purchase one and it has to be one that can be attached to the trailer without drilling holes. We plan to purchase a trailer in the near future, about this size or a little bigger, so if I purchase one and I like it, it would be useable in the future.

Any suggestions, advice, caveats are very very much appreciated.
Thanks
Cindy

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[Outofkontrol]

We have a Husky Centerline hitch. It controls sway as well. No drilling required, and a variety of weights available. We pull a 6150LB trailer with a 680LB tongue weight without issue. All weights from CAT scales. https://www.huskytow.com/husky-towi...DiKaHfZsXIZIE8cYd1qfgKsWB3f7SNMRoCzW8QAvD_BwE

 

[UGADawg96]

For that weight, I'd be more focused on sway control versus weight distribution. <500lb of tongue is manageable. I'd be more concerned with passing trucks with that sail. Is the owner of the TT okay with you bolting bar attachments to their frame ?

 

[Mash150]

All, Hope you can help with the following. Looking for weight distribution hitch recommendations/advice with the following criteria.
Have 2021 F150 Lariat 3.5 v6 Ecoboost.
I'm renting a trailer for an upcoming trip (about 1400 mi round trip). Planning to pull 22' trailer with GTW of 4830 and Tongue Wt of 430

The person renting from does not have a Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH). The weight looks to be just under what is allowed for towing without a WDH, I'd rather use one for comfort and safety.

The problem is I will need to purchase one and it has to be one that can be attached to the trailer without drilling holes. We plan to purchase a trailer in the near future, about this size or a little bigger, so if I purchase one and I like it, it would be useable in the future.

Any suggestions, advice, caveats are very very much appreciated.
Thanks
Cindy

If you have sway control on your truck, you sb fine with that hitch weight for your trip.

 

[Buyer2021]

There are plenty of WDHs that don't require welding or drilling for fittings to the trailer tongue. If you don't have access to a competent hitch-shop then etrailer.com can be a useful resource (call or email for tech support). Three things you need to consider (and know to share with whoever you consult for advice):

• The cross section of the trailer tongue (the 'a-frame'); is it C-channel, rectangular boxed, etc and the height & width dimensions of that metal frame member.
• The distance from the center of the hitch ball to the front and back of propane bottle racks or anything else that would interfere with a WDH bracket which rests over the top of the a-frame (you'll need a 'clear spot' for the WDH bracket in most cases)
• An estimation of the actual loaded-for-travel total and tongue weight of the trailer (NOT the same as the manufacturer's advertised data)

With the above info you should be able to find a suitable WDH - the installation instructions for all WDH's will specify the types of tongue cross-section that they are compatible with and will specify the distance from the ball center to where the brackets should be mounted (that 'clear-spot' you'll need on the a-frame); it's likely not all WDHs will be suitable but you'll find at least one that is.

Keep in mind that there is no benefit and in fact likely detriment in 'oversizing' a WDH - make sure that the WDH is rated for the range of trailer / tongue weight you will actually be towing, not a heavier trailer. Just like vehicle springs the WDHs tension system needs to be rated properly to the load, too-much 'spring' will introduce harshness and may over stress the rig, all to the detriment of towing ease and safety.

A comment about sway ..... the long-proven and IMO best way to prevent a propensity to suffer trailer sway is proper trailer weight distribution. You need no less than 10% of the actual total loaded-for-travel trailer weight on the hitch. This rule, referring to the trailer weight distribution without a WDH engaged, applies even when a WDH is used to correct the 'sag' induced by adequate tongue weight. IME with proper weight distribution and a decently engineered trailer no 'add-on' sway control device is needed.

Hope that helps, Good Luck, Happy Trailering!

 

[notabot]

Open or enclosed trailer? Is it a big box/rectangle or are there any aero features to cut through the wind?

 

[EricR]

The Sway Pro from Blue Ox has been great with our Lance 2285 (22ft) trailer.

We were caught in a severe windstorm in Utah and suffered no sway while driving to where we got off the freeway. The truck and trailer did get blown side to side together, but acted as a single unit.

https://www.blueox.com/swaypro-weight-distributing-hitch/

Features:

• Evenly distributes weight over axles of the tow vehicle and trailer
• Noise-free sway prevention never stops working, even in rain or snow
• Caster in the hitch head constantly centers the trailer
• Spring bars augment the suspensions of the tow vehicle & trailer
• Rotating latches with clamp-on brackets for quick and easy setup
• Powder-coated steel construction

 

[SuperRaptor]

If you're driving through flat areas towing that little weight I'm going to say you're going to be just fine. A 22' trailer isn't very long either.

 

[kevdog0710]

I have Equalizer brand on my camper. No drilling at all. Its a little noisy, but has sway control built into the weight distribution system. Once it's set up there are no further adjustments like you may have with a chaim style system.
I agree with a previous post, you probably don't need anything for the weight and length of your rental.

 

[CindyC-IL]

Open or enclosed trailer? Is it a big box/rectangle or are there any aero features to cut through the wind?

It's a travel trailer. We are driving from Minneapolis to Eastern Montana in mid October.

 

[notabot]

Length is only one factor, you also need to consider the frontal area and how much sail area is on the side. My travel trailer is 29' long and the stability of the tow is manageable with a WDH. When trucks or other large vehicles pass on expressways, the TT catches a lot of the wind and usually does start a wiggle. No expressways? IMHO, no issues.

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