Towing Issues: Tahoe Towing Car Trailer, tandem axle trailer, weight distribution hitch

Question
Greetings,

I am planning a trip to Moab Utah this fall to do some Jeeping.  I am planning on towing my Jeep CJ on a tandem axle trailer (7000 lb cap.) with my 99 Tahoe.   The Tahoe is rated at 5,500 lbs tow.  Hitch is rated at 5000 or 10,000 with weight distribution hitch.

Best guess is that my load will be right at the 5000 mark.
I have electric brakes already installed w/controller.

My main question is:  I am thinking about adding a weight distribution hitch and noted that some have built is sway control (i.e. Equalizer brand) but are much more expensive.  Since the trailer is dual axle it has tracked well when I have towed lighter loads but since I am going to be towing in the mountains with a heavier load I am not sure.

Answer
I am a big proponent of the load equalizing hitch.  I have also had a Tahoe at one point, and with that slightly shorter wheelbase (compared to a suburban or pickup truck) an anti-sway attachment is nice if the trailer is over 18 feet long and especially if it is tall like a camper or enclosed car hauler.  

I have and highly recommend the Reese double cam anti-sway attachment.  They last a lifetime and really work.  Not all that hard to hook up, take a little time to set them up right, but once done, they don't need fiddling with.

Be sure to put at least 10% of your total trailer weight on the hitch ball.  Here is a site with a good diagram on how to measure it with a bathroom scale.

http://www.easternmarine.com/em_store/hitches/

Also, if you haven't towed this much load in a long time (or ever) take the time to really read your electric brake manual.  There are usually two adjustments, one sets the "level" of the unit since most are mounted at an angle under the dash.  The other sets the force.  You need to set it so that when you apply the hand controller alone, at 15-25 mph, you can almost slide the tires.  Also, you should be able to feel the trailer grab very slightly when applying the brakes, but not a LOT.  Take the time to experiment on a deserted road at increasing speeds till you are comfortable with how the brakes and load react.  When you haul the trailer empty, you will have to reduce the trailer brake force some.   I always fiddle with my brake controller on trips, trying to get it to feel perfect, that has saved my bacon more than once in a panic stop situation!

Don