Jeep Mojave with out max Tow, Airstream 16ft

[zebest]

Question, I just bought a jeep Gladiator, finally! I also bought a 16 foot Airstream Caravel. I just ordered a break controller for it and now I am wondering if I should get a weight distribution hitch. I don't have any experience driving a trailer and Airstream told me it was a good idea. From all the reviews I have watched it seems like it wouldn't hurt if I did. I am looking at the Weigh Safe. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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[Texbaz]

Any pictures of the Gladiator hooked up to the Airstream?

I will add that the stock Mojave has a fantastic ride. But with any Peewee truck the Gladiator,it has a very low payload number.
For total cargo including: Driver,passengers,cargo,tongue weight. My truck payload is only rated for1030lbs Doesn't leave much.

How close are you over? are you under?. Weight Distribution riggs are primarily designed to theoretically shift the weight more forward when a trailer is attached.
The reason to shift it forward is to allow the front wheels to be more loaded. if your truck looks like the front end is unloaded you might want a weight distribution hitch. Or, a better solution if you are going to tow alot is change the rear springs. Or, try some cheap air bags.

I installed some cheap airlift 1000s and im getting ready to take my Casita on its first trip of the year.

Even with only 4-5 psi in the bags the Mojave ride is definitely changed

The picture (pre-air spring} shown does not have all the gear in my bed, missing generator, gas cans, cooler, and about 200 not onboard the trailer

My Mojave now has a distinct rake to allow for squat. hopefully will be pretty level now fully loaded. only need like 5-10psi for the air springs when loaded.

 

[Rahkmalla]

My Mojave (manual and quite spartan) showed up from the factory with only 1085# of payload. assuming yours is automatic, that's at least 22# less payload available.

airstream 16 shows an expect dry hitch weight of 350#. 1085-22-350 leaves you with 713#. Based on the dry weight and the dry hitch weight, it looks like you tongue weight % is 12.2% (pretty standard number). But that means if you're carrying close to the trailer's GVWR your tongue weight (assuming proper distribution) is now up at least 70 pounds. 643 left.

I don't know about you guys, but i weigh 210. wife weighs about 150. That leaves 283#. My kids are little, so 48# and 25# (estimated). 210# left, but small kids means car seats, so subtract 15x2 leaving 180. We all wear clothes=170. phones, keys, tablet, snacks, diaper bag, general vehicle travel crap. You've still got around 150lbs left.

Still completely doable! you bought a light trailer after all. My only suggestion is don't let your kids grow up, and if legal, keep your luggage in the trailer.

That being said, with all the above math, you can see how quickly people get themselves into trouble with larger trailers on these trucks. The math above assumes you're slightly over half the tow cap and you barely have any payload left.

And yes, go with the weight distribution hitch. Will reduce sag AND sway.

FYI: Mojaves never have maxtow

 

[zebest]

Thanks for all the help so far. I don’t have the airstream yet, it is getting delivered on Tuesday.
As far as the weight. I am just under 200 pounds, wife 140 and two dogs combined weight is 25 pounds.
mid I get the weight distribution hitch, should I also get air bags for the rear springs?

thanks

 

[Jaxmax]

Get a weight distributing hitch with sway control , see how it goes, you can add airbags later if needed. I have a Blue Ox sway pro with 500 pound rated bars and am very happy with it. A lot of people including dealers just sell you a weight hitch and don’t factor in all the weights of trailer and tongue , and a lot make the mistake of , if a set of 500 pound bars is what’s needed the 1,000 pound bars are better. The bars are what help with sway and they need to flex to work , a heavy bar won’t really flex. There is nothing wrong with looking used, I bought a used 1000 pound hitch for $150, and then a set of 500 pound bars. Sounds you have chosen a lightweight camper to start with , so many get caught up in getting a real nice big camper then are unhappy with the experience….Jack

 

[legacy_etu]

Thanks for all the help so far. I don’t have the airstream yet, it is getting delivered on Tuesday.
As far as the weight. I am just under 200 pounds, wife 140 and two dogs combined weight is 25 pounds.
mid I get the weight distribution hitch, should I also get air bags for the rear springs?

thanks

Weigh safe hitches are a great concept. Being able to see your tongue weight at a glance is a great way to keep things safe.

 

[CyberShanks]

I have a blue-ox sway-pro I'm wanting to sell. 2-5/16 ball, 1200 lb bars, you would obviously need lighter bars.

I used to have a real pickup and the new motorhome has 21k towing w/o weight distribution and my only trailer won't work with weight distribution anyway.

Jim

 

[Jrgunn5150]

My Mojave with a WD hitch, without aibags, was still a swaying mess.

Adding Airlifts at 30 psi changed it into a proper, if slow AF towing experience.

 

[berb]

Weight Distribution is a MUST. I had an F250 and pulled a 33 foot trailer. I had a trailer blow out and didn't even notice because of the weight distribution kit.

 

[MudderNuker]

Adding on what everyone already said, a WD hitch with friction bars, NOT chains, works better at sway dampening. Also, the WD hitch has to be properly setup. There are videos on YouTube that help. You will have to move up or down the ball and also the brackets where the bars sit compressed when under load to attain the perfect balance. Here is a video that might help you.

Also, Airlift 1000 bags are a must to help with the rear sagging.

 

[zebest]

Seems the medium weigh safe will handle. “You can choose between spring arms for trailers up to 8,500 lbs or 12,500 lbs”

8,500 is double the weight I need, will this be a problem? From reviews people really like the weigh safe. I also like the analog weight display.

I am fine with installing airbags also, so I will order those for the rear springs.

 

[zebest]

Picture of my jeep

 

[legacy_etu]

STOP!
You need a weight distributing hitch flat out. Read your owners manual, WDH required above a pretty low weight which you are above. The Weight Safe is a nice idea for what the are showing on videos loading up equipment on a trailer or possibly balancing a load as putting it on, you can do all that by looking at or measuring your hitch height as you place say a tractor on a flatbed. The Weight Safe is just a scale it is not a weight distributing hitch or a sway control hitch, you need something that does both. I have towed a bunch of trailers including six campers in my time and used Anderson, chain and solid bar and about five different brands. I have used chains with friction brake control system and chains like Blue Ox sway pro and also solid bar set up . I’m a chain guy and got a quality setup. The WDH is not the place to save money.
So I think you need to change direction from the Weigh Safe…..Jack

Weigh safe offers weight distributing hitches that are also combined with their built in tongue weight scales. This appears to be what the OP is talking about getting.

I personally wouldn't jump right into a WD hitch for a 4500 lb trailer without trying it without first. I probably would wind up with one, but I'd want to try it first. I know towing my 2600 lb camper tends to give me a bit of squat when all the gear is loaded in. Another 2000 lbs probably would wind up with the headlights off the road and a fair bit more squat. Editing this based on Jrgunn5150 comments of bad sway with a 4500 lb trailer.

https://www.weigh-safe.com/product/true-tow-weight-distribution-middleweight/

 

[legacy_etu]

My Mojave with a WD hitch, without aibags, was still a swaying mess.

Adding Airlifts at 30 psi changed it into a proper, if slow AF towing experience.

Curious what was the weight of the trailer you towed that led to this "swaying mess"?

 

[Jaxmax]

Oops missed that , I’ll delete !…..Jack

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