Can you have too much hitch?

[jimmie2gunns]

I just purchased a 2013 outback 260fl and am towing it with an F250 7.3 diesel. Plenty of suspension and power for this trailer. I'm looking at an equalizer 4 point hitch for this rig. The shipping weight of the trailer is 6641#, carrying capacity is 1559#, making the gvwr 8200#. If I'm reading these threads correctly, I need a 12,000# hitch to tow an 8200# trailer because of the tongue weight. Isn't it possible to have a setup that's too stiff by doing this? I drove the trailer home from the dealership without the WD bars on my old hitch(the tech said "it tows so good you don't need to use them" when what he really meant was I don't want to move your brake disconnect to install the bracket). Anyway, I had no problems towing 100 miles but dont want to risk it with the trailer loaded for vacation. Do I go with the gross trailer weight or the 12 to 15 % tongue weight when buying my new setup? Open to all opinions.

Thanks

[SteveC7010]

Reese's standard is 12,000/1,200 these days. That's the rating on the shank and ball platform. You can still select lighter rated weight arms which will fit in the ball platform if your rig had a fairly light tongue weight. But.....

15% of your trailer's GVWR is 1,230#. You probably ought to just get the 1,200# weight arms and the 12K/1,200# shank and ball platform.

The heavier than you think you need shank and ball platform has ZERO effect on the "stiffness" of the towing. It's partly the weight arms and partly how much you snug them up.

You were pulling a 5,500# GVWR trailer with 1,200# weight arms, you'd probably have too stiff a setup. I'd recommend 800# arms for that anyway.

[jimmie2gunns]

Thanks Steve,

I thought I was reading it correctly, but wanted to make sure. I'm going with the 12k equalizer so I don't need to add a sway bar. It towed home really well without weight distribution, should be a dream once I add it. Ready to get the season started and take this TT on it's maiden voyage.

[jrb988]

I was just wondering the same thing about what size Equalizer to get? My TT is an Outback 272RK with a shipping weight of 5980 and a GVWR of 7800. Last time I weighed the TT it came in at 6785 ready to camp. Tongue weight at 13% is 880. With roughly only 100 lbs until I hit 1000 lbs tongue weight should I go up to the 12K Equalizer just to be safe?