Looking for suggestions for weight distribution hitch/sway bar for tacoma?

Approx 3000 lb camper, looking for a good weight distribution hitch or sway bar for tacoma? Also i have no idea what it really does, just that i need it...

 

You probably don't need one. When you connect a trailer to the tow vehicle the weight of the tongue is felt almost entirely on the rear axle. It also takes away weight off the front wheel due to the leverage of pushing down at the back (think of it like a seesaw). Too much tongue weight and you run into the issue where the vehicle sags too much in the back and steering/braking is less effective due to the decreased weight felt by the front wheels. A WDH uses some type of springbars to make the connection of the hitch more rigid, therefor the weight of the hitch more evenly applied to the remaining axles (trailer and steer axle). It also in turn helps make the tow vehicle and trailer more level. It's all about maintaining stability and control for heavier trailers.

I think your model comes with the tow package, correct me if I'm wrong. Toyota says in the owners manual that they recommend a WDH for a tongue weight above 500 lbs. Your dry trailer weight doesn't mean much. What is its GVWR and the tongue weight. I'm gonna guess the tongue weight is between 300-450, so you probably don't need one. Doesn't mean you can't use one and it wouldn't be beneficial, but I can attest a Tacoma will tow a 3500 lbs pop-up camper fine without one. Also at that weight your trailer might not be able to use one, so that's something to double check.

What kind of trailer do you have and what are the weights? That would help people give you a suggestion one way or another.

And just so I answer your original question, it sounds like

$770 ANDERSEN HITCHES | 3380 | Weight Distribution Hitch | 2" Shank, 8" Drop, 2-5/16" Ball, 14K GTWR, 3/4/5/6" Brackets | Bounce and Sway Control | Towing Accessories

something like this would be a good fit. This hitch does the trick and is lightweight compared to most WDHs, which helps with the Tacoma's limited payload.

 

I have seen a few posts the last few weeks from you re: what is a brake controller and do I need one, towing capabilities of the tacoma, and what is a weight distribution hitch. Leverage this forum as much as you can for sure, please don't take this as me discouraging you from continuing your research here -- what you are asking are good, basic questions that should and need to be answered before purchasing a trailer.

You may find that going to a dealer and walking the lot with a salesman and asking general questions about brake controllers and weight distribution hitches and other, non-Tacoma specific questions related to towing will be beneficial. You are not the first or last person to have these questions. After you go to 3 or 4 lots and talk to the sales people you will have a solid idea of the basics or where to go to find more information. Always ask them for resources and sites or magazines that may be helpful.

A quick google search will net you results re: what a brake controller is, the purpose of a weight distribution hitch, etc. I'm happy to chime in with my experience towing a 3500# gross travel trailer and Tacoma specific questions -- but you have google at your fingertips and there are so many resources within a click or two. I am also of the opinion that at 3000# (if that is wet) you will not need a distribution hitch.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/

Not sure if anyone has posted this link for you in any of your threads but there's a plethora of information in here.

You could probably find many answers by searching the forums. Maybe condense all of your posts into 1 thread and list all of your unanswered questions there.

 

I run the andersen. https://andersenhitches.com/product/weight-distribution-hitch/

Its my first WDH so i dont have anything to compare it to. The main reason I bought it was weight and no grease. They are much lighter than traditional designes.

My camper is only 2,000 lb so it a little over kill to run one but I like it for the anti sway and I see less sag in the rear when using it, the tacoma leaf springs are weak. For the money Ill take any towing advantage I can get. 2 adults, 2 kids a dog and gear all in the Tacoma!

 

thanks for info. i am looking at jayco slx 154bh. Gvwr is 3540, dry hitch weight is 250

 

thank you, sorry for the questions. as mentioned above the trailer is gvwr 3540. weight with me and anticipated cargo in truck is 5000-5100 context. My gvwr is 5600.

 

thank you, im sorry for the questions.

 

Try EZ Hitch. I had one when I had my Jayco 154BH. Dry weight 2,700lbs. if I remember correctly. It's supposed to provide a couple of functions other weight distribution hitches don't normally do.
Worked well for me. Sold my trailer after only 3 trips and bought a 2016 Minnie Winnie 22r. My 06 Tacoma with the 5 speed auto just did not like towing.

 

And yes, you need a weight distribution hitch!

 

Eh, he still doesn't need a WDH just for weight distribution, but the manual does recommend sway control for trailers over either 2000 or 3000 lbs. That would probably be a good idea considering its a larger box-framed camper. Most WDHs will have that built in.

I'd still recommend the Anderson hitch mentioned earlier. Reason being it has sway control built in without any permanent modifications to the frame and again is lightweight. The only thing is that it recommends a tongue weight of at least 300 lbs, but I think this trailer would make that threshold.

 

The EZ Hitch weight distribution unit I had worked to address both to address "squat" and sway. My unit allowed for backing up with out disconnecting. I understood not all units did the same?

 

That's the plus of this forum. I've learned a lot from my fellow Tacoma owners over the years. And which Moderators to avoid!

 

Can you give a link for the hitch? I tried googling it but get several results. The hitch that comes up for "EZ Hitch" isn't a WDH (not the one I think you're referring to), so I can't compare them. Most of what I see are basic 2-point WDHs, which can work but likely weigh more. The only WDH I'm aware of that you can't back up with are the ones that use a separate sway bar. Systems like 2-point and the Andersen hitch don't require you to disconnect before backing up.

 

thank you all

 

Go to: Fastwaytrailer.com or etrailer.com
One of the 2 sites has the ability to enter your make/model/year of your Tacoma. The e2Hitch Trunnion model looks very similar to what I had. Good luck.
You won't be sorry you made this choice for the safety of you and your family when towing. You have an under bumper hitch mounted? Believe it or not, I had mine installed and wired at U-Haul. My 06 Tacoma did not have an under bumper hitch when I bought it nor the wiring. "EZ Hitch" didn't come up for me either. Maybe they got bought out? I purchased mine close to 3 years ago.

 

Got it. So the basic trunnion bar 2-point hitch.

According to the Amazon specs it weighs just shy of 60 lbs, so its around the same ballfield as the Andersen hitch. Same rough price point too. Its rated around the trailers TW, so I'd agree it would probably be a good option. He could probably go either way and be fine. Those are probably going to be the more economical options that include sway control, which I believe he needs more than he does weight distribution alone.

 

Yes, that's what I recall my unit looked like. Were you also asking about a Brake Controller?

 

No that was OP in another thread.

 

I'm running the equalizer. According to my truck specs I should be able to pull my 3600# camper without it. But, it makes a big difference pulling with it. Virtually no sway and my truck sits level pulling it. Dealing with stiff winds is no problem now. Increased stress levels went down for me towing with it. Even though it's fairly expensive I consider it money well spent.