TRAVEL TRAILER HITCH SYSTEMS
Tow Vehicle Hitch (Owner Supplied)
The hitch you choose for your tow vehicle and travel trailer will have
a major affect on towing and handling. There are many types of
hitches on the market, so it is worth your time to study the available
options and discuss your requirements with your dealer.
A travel trailer requires a frame-mounted hitch. Check with your
dealer to determine the right class and type of hitch for your
particular tow vehicle and travel trailer. Frame-mounted hitches are
rated by the manufacturer to establish their towing and weight
capacity. To choose the right hitch class rating, you need to know
your travel trailer’s GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) and its hitch
weight (or tongue weight).
Equalizing/Weight Distributing Hitches (Owner supplied)
In addition to the pulling weight of a trailer, a tow vehicle must also
support approximately 9-15% of the actual weight of the trailer at
the hitch point. With a 6,000 lb. trailer, this additional weight might
be 700 to 800 lbs. This much weight added to your rear bumper
could cause the car to be out of balance, and reduce traction. This
may result in poor steering control, poor braking control, and can be
potentially dangerous. Use of heavier springs, spring helpers or
stiffer tires will not correct the basic out-of-balance condition. The
problems from this condition are compounded when traveling over
bumps and dips in the road. The balance problem is solved by the
addition of a suitable matched “equalizing hitch,” sometimes called
a “weight distributing hitch.”
The effect of an equalizing hitch is to distribute the hitch load
equally between the front and rear tow vehicles axles and the trailer
axle(s). If the weight at the hitch is 450 lbs., the effect of the
equalizing hitch would be to distribute this weight in approximately
equal portions to both tow vehicle axles and all trailer axles. Thus,
your tow vehicle can remain relatively level. This not only will give
you better steering and brake control, but also will insure that your
headlight beams remain down on the road where they belong.
Equalizing hitches also afford help in sway control.
Equalizing Hitch Load Comparison
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