There is a big difference between a boat trailer and a travel trailer, not only in terms of frontal area, sail area, and aerodynamics, but also in terms of where the weight is positioned on the trailer axles, and where the trailer axles are located on the trailer.

Ford offers trailer towing guidance in Ford's 2019 RV and Trailer Towing Guide , which Ford publishes every year, in addition to the information Ford provides on towing in the 675 page Owner's Manual.

As I read and understand these published resources, Ford suggests that a weight distributing hitch be used with Class IV trailers weighing over 5,000 lbs.

Given that the OP's expected trailer weight is 8,000 lbs, a weight distributing hitch appears indicated.









I have the same weight distributing hitch that Ford shows as an example above (I superimposed the hitch identification information over the image found in Ford's guide). After using my Reese Strait-line Dual Cam High Performance Trunion style weight distributing and sway control apparatus for nearly 20 years, I can say that it has done the job of both redistributing weight, and controlling sway.

One advantage of this system is the ability to change spring bars to a lighter or heavier rating, according to the tongue weight of the trailer. Notice I didn't say according to the weight of the trailer, but according to the tongue weight... because in a cargo trailer, the weight on the tongue can vary substantially depending on how the trailer is loaded, and sometimes, the shapes of the cargo dictates weight placement, despite best efforts to concentrate weight over the trailer axles, but not behind them.


Various ratings of spring bars... 800 lb, 1,000 lb., 1,200., lb, 1,500 lb., and 1,700 lb are all available with the Reese Dual Cam Trunion head weight distribution system.


Storing the bars on the bottom shelf of the curbside cabinet in the bed.

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Equil-i-zer here also. Highly recommended.

 

My 2012 hitch had two ratings, with and without an equalizer hitch. My 2020 does not, rating is the same either way.

 

Another thumbs up for Equalizer! I use the E4 hitch I bought for the old F150. Just finished a 3700+ mile RT to Yellowstone/Tetons/Black Hills and it worked great on the new to me 2018 F250. I am going to need to get a new adapter or new shank as the Ford 2 to 2.5 adapter leaves to much slop.

 

Equalizer has a 2.5" shank option. I got one when I got my current truck, bought it from Etrailer. I hated using that spacer.

 

Equalizer gets my vote. I don’t really need weight distribution, but sway control is priceless when your towing a 32’ sail behind you in windy conditions.

 

Yeah, but I part with $$ like Scrooge...I’m probably ordering a new shank.

 

Better to have it and not need it than the other way around!
Been a few travel trailer crashes in my area this summer already and I’m betting they all could have been avoided with proper towing techniques and equipment.
I have the Equalizer and have no complaints, but most of them are better than nothing.

 

I tow a 32’ travel trailer with my ‘19 F-250, runs around 8500lbs and I use the Husky Centerline TS hitch. The truck will handle the tongue weight fine but I prefer the solid feeling the weigh distributing hitch provides as well as the sway control. Towed in some descent cross winds last month running down the interstate and saw plenty of smaller Rvs getting blown around, mine was solid as could be with absolutely zero sway.

 

Well all the input solidifies my buying of a WD hitch no matter what my trailer weight ends up being. Equalizer seems to be a top contender. I initially was sold on the simplify of the Andersen but had seen quite a few review of it not being the greatest for heavier trailers...i.e. 7500+. Any specific input on that aspect?

 

Have you looked at the new weigh safe true tow system. I use there normal hitch, works really well, nice to always now the tongue weight and the adjustability comes in handy with my multiple trailers. Their weight distributing hitch and app calculate where to set the preload to get the right weight distribution setting, and then you set it using a socket wrench, rather than playing with chains. I don’t know about the anti sway performance, reading people’s threads on weight distributing hitches the anti sway seems to be what people really value. But it might be worth a look.

 

Equalizer 20x, 25x whatever. Have used with our AirStream for ~ 20 years.
I can’t imagine what a WD hitch that cost 3x or 4x more could do any better as the Equalizer has been perfect.

 

I ended up ordering an Andersen this week for my trailer. I will let you know how it goes.

I wanted an Equalizer, but they don't have a 3" shank out (Yet). I did email them, and they said they have one in the works, but no ETA on delivery. If i'm going to spend $800+ on a hitch, I'm not going to buy something that I still need a sleeve for...

 

Good!

The second thing experienced folks who tow might like to convince you of is knowing, not guessing, your weights. A 3 platform scale (such as a CAT certified scale, but certification is not needed) is good for this, where there are three (or more) segregated platforms to weigh steer axle, drive axle, and trailer axle(s). This will be invaluable for proper set up of your weight distributing hitch, as you will know how much weight your hitch is actually distributing, once engaged.

I find a tongue weight scale is quite convenient. A clever machinist solved the problem of determining trailer tongue weight a couple of decades ago by inventing the Sherline scale, which is a small hand hold able hydraulic device that has a piston surface area that is exactly 1 square inch, along with a 0 to 2000 psi gauge. Place the device under the trailer coupler, and read the pounds per square inch on the gauge, and voila, tongue weight. Actual tongue weight, not some 10% assumption... which can be grossly inaccurate once a trailer is loaded with personal belongings.





The Sherline scale is certainly much easier and simpler and quicker to set up and use... than the complicated contraption of using a bathroom scale with a bridge board, rollers, block, and calculator (see example below) since bathroom scales generally do not read up to 1,500 lbs..





When it comes to selecting from the many weight distribution systems out there, I would focus on the systems that have a "homing" mechanism for pulling straight.

The Curt TruTrack, for example, has ball bearing detents in the trunnion castings, that big ball bearings in the trunnion head "home" in on when the tow vehicle is pulling the trailer straight. With the ball bearings homed into the detents, the gushing influence of semi trucks blowing by in the opposite direction, creating a rush of wind in their approach and wake, must overcome the resistance of the seated ball ball bearings before swaying the trailer. However, if the tow vehicle initiates a turn, that is enough force to unseat the ball bearings from their homing position, enabling the articulation of the trailer during driver intended turn maneuvers.

The Reese Dual Cam Strait Line hitch that I have uses dual cam arms that each spring bar "homes" in on. The spring arm itself is formed with a cam seat at the aft end, and this cam seat nests nicely over the cam to keep the trailer in a straight line, hence the name Strait Line. The nesting of the crook of the spring onto the round of the cam arm is under pressure... the same pressure that distributes weight. So it takes a great deal of force to unseat the spring from the cam. More force than a gust of wind from a passing semi. However, when I want to turn, the tow vehicle's turning permits the spring bars to ride off of the cams, and then home back in on the cams once again when the turn is complete. This system does not rely purely on friction to resist sway. Rather, it relies on mechanical advantage... one shape homing or nesting into another... where once seated, a greater force is required to unseat the two nested parts.

Some weight distribution systems, like the popular Equalizer, rely on multiple contact points of friction to reduce sway. But at least the Equalizer's friction control of sway is integrated into the spring bars, rather than requiring a separate friction bar, like some other designs (whose names I cannot list, because I don't keep up with products that I would never consider, and I would never consider a weight distribution system that did not incorporate integrated sway control, rather than separate).

Anyway... consider getting a tongue weight scale. One doesn't have to get a Weight Safe brand hitch to get a good handle on knowing (not guessing) tongue weight.

 

Our Equalizer was $399 on-line.