Weight Distribution Hitch Instructions

Nothing throws off the balance of your rig like a heavy trailer tongue causing the rear end of your tow vehicle to sag. This takes weight off of the tow vehicle's steering tires and adds it to the rear tires, which could cause you to lose control of the whole rig. A properly set-up weight distributing hitch solves this problem by placing the trailer's tongue weight equally on all four corners of your tow vehicle, thus creating a more balanced and safer towing experience.

• 1

  Park the trailer and tow vehicle on a flat, level area such as a paved driveway. Make sure the tow vehicle and trailer are in line with each other, but not coupled together.

• 2

  Level the trailer using the tongue jack to raise or lower the front of the unit. Observe the trailer's built-in level indicator to ensure that complete levelness has been achieved. Measure from the ground to the top of the inside of the trailer hitch coupler. Make a note of this measurement.

• 3

  Install the correct size hitch ball for your trailer into the mounting hole of the shank for the weight distributing hitch. Tighten the retaining nut on the hitch ball to the torque specifications of the hitch ball manufacturer. Insert the square end of the shank into your tow vehicle's hitch receiver. Secure the shank with a locking pin (included with the hitch kit).

• 4

  Measure from the ground to the top of the hitch ball. Move the adjustable shank up or down as needed to obtain a measurement that is approximately one inch higher than the trailer coupler height measurement.

• 5

  Measure the height of each corner of your tow vehicle at the bumpers and make a note of the measurements. Insert the two spring bars into their receptacles on the hitch shaft and secure them with the cotter pins provided. Attach a length of chain provided with the hitch kit to the end of each spring bar with the clamps and nuts provided.

• 6

  Back the tow vehicle up to the trailer so that the hitch ball is directly under the trailer coupler. Retract the trailer jack fully. Attach the two snap-up brackets to each side of the trailer tongue with the hardware provided. Position the brackets so that they are directly under the ends of the spring bars. Hold the chain up to the bracket--the chain should be plumb.

• 7

  Raise the trailer tongue with the trailer jack. Keep cranking on the jack until the rear of the vehicle raises slightly. Place the third link down in each chain into the hooks on each snap-up bracket. Place the snap-up bracket tool into the protruding stud on the bracket and raise it up until it snaps into place. Repeat for both brackets. Retract the trailer jack fully.

• 8

  Measure each corner of the vehicle again. Verify each measurement has reduced equally. Raise the trailer jack again and move the chain links to the next highest or next lowest link if the measurements have raised or lowered unequally at the front or back of the vehicle. Repeat the procedure until all four corners on the tow vehicle lower equally.