Quote:
Originally Posted by Serenity
Is there a specific name for that measurement and/or will it be included somewhere in the product info for a weight distributor?
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Fair question, and I don't know a specific name. The springbar length is often given, though not always. I would have done better to say that the dimension that matters is the distance from the hitch ball to the suspension point near the end of the bar, which is maybe an inch less.
I went to etrailer.com and took a quick look at the Reese Pro. E-trailer does not do a real good job of laying out descriptions and specs, but it is a start.
The good news is that the lift bracket position is adjustable. Nominal is 27-1/2" back from center of coupler, but it can be moved forward as much as 3 inches to 24-1/2 inches "to clear objects on the frame". This three inches of adjustability doesn't do you any good? I'm surprised - it is a narrow (front to back) bracket.
It comes with a 2-5/16 inch ball. You will need to change it to a 2" ball - no big deal.
Max tongue weight is 600 pounds. Although not a catastrophe, that is a bit skimpy. A rating of 800 pounds would have been better.
My personal preference - and note that it is MINE, not everyone's - is for hitch bars that lift with a chain. The chain allows for the lift bracket to be moved fore-and-aft a bit (in other words, the chain is not precisely vertical), which might help with your positioning problem. Is that more than the 3 inches on your Reese Pro? I don't know. It also allows easier raise and lower operation. Instructions for this hitch, as well as others of this kind, suggest (but do not require) you to use the trailer's tongue jack to attach and remove the spring bars. It is also easier to fine-tune the amount of lift.
Although the specs are kind of ambiguous, it appears that the available springbar strengths for the Reese Pro are 300, 400, and 500 pounds. I think this refers to the springiness (stiffness) of the spring bar. If too springy, the hitch area (and hence the back of the tow vehicle) will be bouncy, which is uncomfortable. Several our members have reported that 600 pound bars are a bit too light, and 800 pound bars were better. You can find a lot of info and experience by Googling "weight distributing trailer hitch spring bar stiffness".
I note that Curt offers what is called a "short arm hitch". It is beefier than the Reese Pro, maybe too beefy. The specs lift the spring-bar length as 28-3/8", so the attachment point at the end of the spring bar will be maybe 1" less than this. In other words, just about what you Reese Pro offers. But maybe "short arm" is a Search term you can use.
Finally, many of these hitches include a friction sway control. Bad idea to use one. Review the following from our towing expert, Rocky Mtn Ray.
https://www.trailmanorowners.com/for...ead.php?t=2923 and
https://www.trailmanorowners.com/for...ead.php?t=2922
Bill