Looking for Towing advice for a first time tower

[zipybug14]

So we have our astro with it's 5000 pound capacity. We are going to use a 2 horse trailer and tow that from Colorado to Maine. I plan to get familiar with the towing setup and start with the empty trailer (about 2000 pounds is my best guess based on what I've found online), then add more weight (Maybe some sandbags and/or a few boxes of books). Does anyone have any recommendations as too whether to use weight distrubution and sway control, this is the one I'm looking at http://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Reese/RP66082.html, but $500 is quite a bit of money. I also will be installing brakes (colorado law) so if anyone knows of a good welding shop in Colorado Springs, that would be helpful.

To recap:
Towing a trailer that is half the GVWR of the tow vehicle when empty. Is weight distrubution with/without sway control worth $500?
Welding shop in Colorado springs that can do a good install of the square four hole mounting flanges on the trailer.

Thanks!

[Lumpy]

From my notes...

Towing Trailer Dead Weight -

Under 2000 lbs =
Non load distributing hitch
Tongue weight should be 10% of trlr dead weight

2000 - 6000 lbs =
Load distributing hitch required
Tongue weight 12% of trailer dead weight

Max trailer curb weight (dead weight) = 6000 lbs
Max tongue weight = 750 lbs

[Leeann_93]

$500 may seem like a lot of money until you're on the highway with that loaded horse trailer and it sways like a cheap ho sashaying for a trick.

With that weight, there is no question you need weight distribution and sway control. And a transmission cooler and a brake controller.

[zipybug14]

Thanks for the info and recommendations, have ordered the weight distribution. Thanks for the advice.

[T.Neff]

The load leveling bars don't know what vehicle is using them.So CL might be a good source or Ebay to find used ones for a deal.BUT those towing limits go far beyond tongue wt.Brakes,sway,and no less the material in the rear of the van and if the hitch will tear out of that section of the van all come into play.It is a huge problem if while going down the road should the hitch tear away and then the safety chains and all take off.Remember the towing capacity is inclusive of the wt your carrying in the van too.Also the load bars do move the wt forward of the rear end,it does also puts strain on the hitch to do so as does turned up trailer brakes do.That all leads back to the material the hitch is bolted to in the rear of the van.

[smokinjoe]

Whatever you do, DONT SPEED. I was right next to a guy on the highway who was going over 70 & got a death wobble. The ocillation got worse and worse til smoke was coming from the tires and the whole rig rolled, crashing him into a 50 ft highway lighpole (bringing it down accross a 3 lane highway).

It was a really bad thing to see. I was the last (only) car to make it under the falling tower, wife crying in the passenger seat.

I would opt for more stability over less.

[Lumpy]

...Remember the towing capacity is inclusive of the wt your carrying in the van too...

I don't believe that to be correct.

Trailer "Dead Weight" is the weight of the trailer if it was sitting on a scale by itself, not connected to a tow vehicle. That 6000 lb dead weight limit is just that, not inclusive of the weight of the van or the load contents of the van. The van has it's own load limits and weight distribution factors.


Lump

[camperman]

For ANY welding give Gary a call at IAT Welding Works, on Chelton Loop in CO Spgs. He welded the superstructure for my custom slide-in camper. Might be the best welder in the Springs.