Weigh Safe Weight Distribution Hitches

Your trailer may sway more and become harder to control. All of which increases the risk of getting into an accident. You could also wear out your suspension, hitch parts, and tires faster.

Yes, tongue weight can change even if the trailer looks balanced. Balance and tongue weight are two separate factors.

Tongue weight is the downward force on your vehicle and trailer connection. Balance is how the cargo’s weight is distributed.

As you move things or get rid of objects, the tongue weight can change even if it looks balanced on the outside.

To know if your current hitch setup is distributing weight correctly, you need to do two things: Check your tongue weight and ensure it’s between 10–15% of your total weight.

Then, check the overall balance of your trailer and vehicle; if either is lifting or seems to push down, there’s a problem.

You can also test-drive your setup by driving around at slower speeds and ensuring there is no swaying.

Technically, weight distribution hitches aren’t required for certain trailers or towing setups. However, it’s heavily recommended for use with RVs, campers, car towers, and any heavy cargo.

No, a weight distribution hitch shouldn’t be difficult to install or adjust. If you follow the included directions, you should finish it easily.

Sometimes, one weight distribution hitch can work across multiple trailers if they share the same weight capacity, sit at the right height for level towing, and are of the same size and built.

Yes. With the True Tow you can back up with the hitch fully attached — there’s no need to disconnect the spring arms first. Just take it easy on anything with a sharp change in grade, like a steep driveway, since that puts extra strain on the arms. For normal backing into a campsite or parking spot, you’re good to go.

No — a weight distribution hitch doesn’t add to your trailer’s tongue weight. It redistributes the tongue weight that’s already there, moving it off your tow vehicle’s rear axle and spreading it across the front axle and the trailer’s axles for a level, balanced tow. The weight of the hitch itself simply counts toward your Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR), like any other gear you carry. And because every True Tow has a built-in scale, you can see both your actual tongue weight and your Distributed Tongue Weight (DTW) and set it correctly every time — no guessing.

Yes. The True Tow works on both steel and aluminum A-frame trailers. It’s built to fit 3″, 4″, 5″, and 6″ tall frames up to 2.5″ thick — so the largest A-frame it fits is 2.5″ x 6″. Two exceptions worth knowing before you buy: it isn’t compatible with surge brakes, or with frames taller than 5″ that have the coupler mounted to the bottom of the frame (most commonly found on some Jayco trailers). If your frame falls within those dimensions, you’re set.

Absolutely — air bags and a weight distribution hitch do two different jobs, so they pair well together. The True Tow returns the weight that gets lifted off your front axle when you hook up; it isn’t meant to remove every bit of squat in the rear. If you’d like to level out that remaining squat in the back of your tow vehicle, air bags (or another anti-squat system) make a great companion. Just be sure to re-check your Distributed Tongue Weight (DTW) on the built-in scale for each tow, whether or not the air bags are engaged.

Yes. Like all our ball mounts, the True Tow draw bar can be flipped and run in the rise position for taller setups. Just remember that every draw bar gains 1″ when inverted — so a 4″ drop becomes a 5″ rise, a 6″ drop becomes a 7″ rise, and so on. That gives you the flexibility to sit level no matter how your truck and trailer pair up.