First Time Towing

[nikhil726]

For anyone who has towed over 5,000 lbs load, was a weight distribution hitch necessary? I’m seeing that it’s required for anything over 5,000 lbs for both the R1S & R1T. If so, what weight distribution hitch do you recommend? Says that the Rivian can tow 7,700 lbs with a weight distribution hitch and 5,000 lbs without, I plan on pulling a load that weighs 5,750 lbs for reference. Towing a U-Haul car trailer from Atlanta to NJ!

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[DetroitRed]

I towed a car trailer about 1800 miles round trip with my R1T. I estimate the total trailer weight was 5000-5500 pounds, and I just used a regular $30 ball hitch without any issues. For just one trip, I wasn't excited to spend $300-400 on a weight distributing hitch. If you'll be towing that weight regularly though, it's probably worth it to follow the manual's instructions.

 

[HaveBlue]

The beauty of a car trailer is you can adjust the tongue weight for performance.

 

[ptupling]

The first video on this page explains the hitch setup process.

https://www.canamrv.ca/towing-expertise/videos/

 

[azbill]

My boat and trailer are 5000 lb empty, and I am sure with gear it is closer to 5500. I cannot use a weight distributing hitch because it has surge brakes.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

I would use a WD hitch. It makes towing as safe as possible. We have the fastway e2 trunnion. They make several different models depending on the weight.

https://www.fastwaytrailer.com/e2-hitch

 

[Thedude]

You can’t use a weight distribution hitch with a uhaul trailer so problem solved. Adjust the vehicle’s position on the trailer to balance the tongue weight better.

 

[nikhil726]

You can’t use a weight distribution hitch with a uhaul trailer so problem solved. Adjust the vehicle’s position on the trailer to balance the tongue weight better.

Yeah that‘s what my concern was or else I was planning on buying this:
https://www.harborfreight.com/10000-lb-capacity-weight-distributing-hitch-system-67649.html
You seem like you have experience with a U-Haul car trailer, do you know if it has mounting points or there are none so that’s why it’s not compatible?

 

[nikhil726]

I would use a WD hitch. It makes towing as safe as possible. We have the fastway e2 trunnion. They make several different models depending on the weight.

https://www.fastwaytrailer.com/e2-hitch

Do you know if it’s compatible with a U-Haul car trailer by any chance?

 

[nikhil726]

Also not sure if it helps with the tongue weight but I plan on towing a Porsche 911 RWD which has a rear engine so the weight might be in the rear to begin with, not 100% sure though.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Do you know if it’s compatible with a U-Haul car trailer by any chance?

Not off hand but you can contact their customer support. They are pretty responsive to inquiries.

You want the weight as close to the tongue as possible. Having a lot of weight in the rear is no good.

 

[nikhil726]

Not off hand but you can contact their customer support. They are pretty responsive to inquiries.

You want the weight as close to the tongue as possible. Having a lot of weight in the rear is no good.

I have called U-Haul customer support but they don’t even know what a weight distribution hitch is. I wonder if I can back a car onto the U-Haul trailer but don’t think that’s possible

 

[nikhil726]

My best option so far for the U-Haul trailer seems to buy this:
https://www.weigh-safe.com/product/fixed-height-ball-mount/#
That way I can make sure my tongue weight is good and load up accordingly. Only question is how do I calculate a good tongue weight?

 

[LivingInKaos]

Most uhaul trailers tow very well, at least in my experience. The tongues are very bulky and there's generally no way to add the sway bars.

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