Travel trailer and weight distribution question

[alex800]

Hello all,

I’m a new member here and need to run something by the community. I recently bought new 35ft travel trailer and towing it with 2011 Expedition EL limited. The trailer is Wilderness 3150DS. The dealer installed a Equalizer hitch for me but I don’t think it was setup properly. I had about 3” squat in the rear axle and had some sway issues on the way home from the dealer. I did some adjustments on the hitch and would like to get some opinions.

Here are my measurements. (Done without any passengers)

TV only – no Trailer
Front wheel well height – 35 ¾
Rear wheel well height – 35 ¼

TV and TT – No weight distribution engaged
Front wheel well height – 36 3/8
Rear wheel well height – 33 3/8

TV and TT – With weight distribution engaged
Front wheel well height – 35 ¾
Rear wheel well height – 34 1/8

I also decided to drive 40 mi to CAT scale and here are my weights with passengers.

TV only – no Trailer
Front Axle load – 3240
Rear Axle load – 3560

TV and TT – No weight distribution engaged
Front Axle load – 2700
Rear Axle load – 5060
Trailer Axles load – 6480

TV and TT – With weight distribution engaged
Front Axle load – 3180
Rear Axle load – 4380
Trailer Axles load – 6660

According to my calculation I have the following:

TV weight = 6800
Gross Combined Weight = 14240
TT Weight = 7440
Tongue Weight = 960

According to the above weights I’m about 70lbs over the hitch limit and about 130 lbs over the Rear axle limit.

My next move is to try to adjust weight distribution and move more weight to the front axle.

Any thoughts?

 

[Bedrck47]

what I normally do to set up a WD hitch is to be on level ground and with the trailer level measure the distance to the top of the coupler. Whatever that distance is it should also be the same for the top of the ball on the receiver. OR very close. Then I hook up and adjust the equalizer bars so that the trailer is sitting level. If you then check your measurements you will find them to be very close to what they were before you hooked up.

There are some very good videos on youtube on this subject.

Keep in mind the hitch head I use is an adjustable head so I am able to adjust the ball height. This comes in handy if you haul different trailers.

Also weight distribution of the load inside the trailer does help. Try to keep any heavy items over the axels and also low to the floor

Good sway control will help.

Also the method I use works well for me, and there may be others that either agree or disagree. I have also used the above method for over 30 years and it saves me from taking all the other measures that others recommend.

How long have you been towing?

 

[alex800]

Hi Roxy, I already did pretty much what you suggesting and everything looked great until I went to the scale. I only have about an inch squat in the rear and front looks the same as unloaded. Trailer looks leveled too. My rear axle and hitch is overloaded so I think I need more weight distributed from the rear axle. I will try to rise L brackets tomorrow.

Regards...

 

[Bedrck47]

what I referred to as the hitch head is also the ball mount
From the sounds of your reply it appears you need to adjust you equalizer bars a little bit more. I use a Reese system which may be different than what you use.

 

[Static54]

Little off topic but how does the expedition tow such a large (35') TT such as yours. I'm looking at them and was curious how it'd tow such a long trailer.

 

[alex800]

Little off topic but how does the expedition tow such a large (35') TT such as yours. I'm looking at them and was curious how it'd tow such a long trailer.

I don't have much experience towing such a big trailer but I did tow it from the dealer about 200mi and few local trips. I thought Expedition handled pretty good. I did experience some sway when semi was passing me though. That’s why I’m trying to adjust my hitch because I think the dealer didn’t do a good job.

 

[tkoden]

Little off topic but how does the expedition tow such a large (35') TT such as yours. I'm looking at them and was curious how it'd tow such a long trailer.

I tow a 35' trailer with my 07 4x4 EL. I towed over 4500 miles this year towing a 35' Keystone Passport 32FB. I have a reese dual cam weight distributing hitch with sway control. Fully loaded, with fuel, propane, 4 adults and 1 baby I was 500 lbs over on my rear axle.

I towed from the SF bay area to Yellowstone to Bismark, ND. The expedition pulled great. Some of the passes in the Sierras and Rockies were a bit slow but it did well. There were some nasty cross winds going though the plains but the sway control took care of that and didn't push me around.

All that being said, I have been pulling car and equipment trailers for years so I am not new to this.

 

[alex800]

Tkoden, thank you for your reply. It gives me some conference. How heavy is your TT?

 

[tkoden]

It is about 6800 lbs empty.

 

[alex800]

Mine is about the same....

 

[Goats]

You need to try and get more weight over the front wheels. Cause once you start loading the camper up it will get a lot more heavy. I hope you also have load range E tires on the expedition. I also have a TT I have a forest river 30 bhbs and it's about 7800 empty but I use my super duty to tow it.

 

[bamabrit]

Hate to say it but the Dealer "Gotcha". They maxed you out with an Empty Trailer. You can Expect to load 1500lbs+ giving you 8300lbs gvw or 1080lbs tw.

My '04 has the same capacity and I'm looking to purchase a TT in the 5000-5600lb range.

Also buy the LT tires in Load D/E

 

[tkoden]

I hope you also have load range E tires on the expedition.

Also buy the LT tires in Load D/E

Put E rated tires on it. I towed my trailer a few times the the SL (C rated) tires and it sucked. As soon as I put E rated tires on the truck was a whole new animal. Ever empty it is much more stable and responsive. One of the best things I have done. I went the the Michelin LTX M/S tires.

 

[alex800]

Silly question. How do I know what tires do I have? I looked at them but didn't see the rating code. What am I looking for?

EDIT

I have Pirelli Scorpion STR P275/55R20 Here is more info...

Also can you recommend E rated tires that will be good for Expedition?

 

[tkoden]

Silly question. How do I know what tires do I have? I looked at them but didn't see the rating code. What am I looking for?

EDIT

I have Pirelli Scorpion STR P275/55R20 Here is more info...

Also can you recommend E rated tires that will be good for Expedition?

Are those aftermarket wheels? The standard wheels that came on my expedition were 265/70R17 which is a very popular size for e-range tires.

 

[alex800]

No. These are standard OEM wheels on limited trim.

 

[alex800]

I did some more digging around and unfortunately there are not many options for my tire size. The only tire that I was able to find is BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA KO2 LT275/55R20/D which is D rated. They are not cheap either. My current Pirelli have less then 1k mi on them.

 

[alex800]

Any opinions regarding BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA KO2 LT275/55R20/D?