Weight Distribution System Parts & Components Breakdown

A Weight Distribution Hitch is an optional system which can be added to most rear mounted trailer hitches.  The system includes supplemental equipment such as spring bars that work to distribute trailer tongue loads to the trailer axle(s) and the tow vehicle front axle.  Use of weight distribution systems enhances handling and braking and in some cases increases the trailer towing capacity (only if the hitch has a weight distributing capacity from factory.)

What are the weight distribution parts of a Weight Distribution Hitch System?

	1. Trailer hitch receiver from the vehicle.
	2. Weight Distribution Adjustable Shank is the piece that slides into the opening of the hitch and provides an attachment point for the equailizer head. A shank comes in different lengths, drops, and rises and allows you to adjust the height that your trailer sits at.
	3. Equalizer Head (Ballmount) is the head unit that the spring bars go into, holds the ball and attaches to the weight distribution. Equalizer Head's vary in weight distribution systems. Each system should have its own parts breakdown which should supply a part number if you need to replace the head. Refer to our Weight Distribution Parts category.
	4. Spring Bar Assemblies attach to the equalizer head. There are two types of spring bars, round and trunnion. The round style bars slide up into the head and are held in place with clips. The trunnion style bars slide into the head from the side or back. Like Equalizer Head's, spring bars vary by weight distribution systems - look at your systems parts break down for part...

Trailer Ball Diameter:
The ball size is determined by the size of the trailer coupler.

Trailer Ball Shank Size:
The ball mount determines the ball shank (hole that ball goes into) diameter and ball shank length. The shank sizes are determined by the class of trailer hitch you have.

• Class I & II: 3/4" Diameter

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Hitchweb now carries a great selection of Hitch Mounted Bike Racks, but what happens when you find the bike rack you want but it just wont fit into your hitch receiver? Or what if you want to tow a small utitlity trailer behind your camper? Hitchweb carries Receiver Hitch Extensions and Receiver Hitch Adapters that can help!

When getting ready to tow your trailer the most important thing to do is make sure the weight capacities of your trailer does not exceed the the Gross Towing Weight (GTW: the weight of the loaded trailer). This is done by calculating what your tongue weight is. Tongue weight is important to know, and easy to adjust. But what exactly is it and why is it so important?

What is tongue weight?

(TW) The downward force that is exerted on the hitch ball by the coupler. The tongue weight will vary depending on where the load is positioned in relationship to the trailer axle(s). To measure the tongue weight, use either a commercial scale or a bathroom scale with the coupler at towing height, or find out what your Gross Towing Weight is and figure out 10% of that number. Most experts agree that an acceptable tongue weight for any trailer is somewhere between 10 and 15 percent of the Gross Towing Weight. If the tongue of the trailer does not use enough downward force on the tow vehicle's hitch ball, trailer sway could result.

What is trailer...

Hitch mounted bike racks slide into the hitch receiver on the back of your vehicle. Different sizes are available for different receivers (1 ¼” and 2”), and different models that fold, tilt or swing away leaving you access to the rear of your vehicle.

When choosing a Hitch Mounted Bike Rack it is important to consider the below information:

YOUR HITCH RECEIVER

• Class I hitches typically have 2,000lbs capacity, 200lbs tongue weight.
  Recommend no more than 2 bikes

• Class II hitches typically have 3,500lbs capacity, 350lbs tongue weight.
  Recommend up to 4 bikes

• A Class II only bike rack will not fit a Class I hitch

• Class III hitches typically have 3,500lbs - 12,000LBS towing Capacity. 
  Recommend up to 5 bikes

 YOUR BIKE RACK CARRIER

• Tray style hitch carriers are lower, easier and faster to load than other rack styles. These hitch carriers fit more...