A weight distributing hitch won't increase a towing vehicle's maximum
capacity. Some ratings assume a WD hitch. Others list the capacity
with and without a WD hitch.

Here is a good source of information to check the towing capacity of
cars, truck, vans, and SUV's.

http://towrating.trailerboats.com/

You can omit the vehicle information and just enter the parameters for
the capacity and it will list all vehicles that fall into that range.
There are notes regarding fuel, WD hitches, auxiliary cooling systems, etc.

Dan


Stu wrote:

What about a weight distributing hitch for this problem? Draw-Tite makes the
claim in their catalog that my 2001 Chevy Venture LS with the towing package
would jump from 3500 lbs. capacity to 5000 lbs. with a weight distributing
hitch. This seems far fetched to me. Some of the tongue weight would go to
the front wheels, helping with traction and handling; but you still have to
start, stop and move the vehicle at speed, which seems to me to be putting the
same stress on the engine, transmission and drive train.

Regards,

Stu



The biggest concern I would have is your front wheel drive. If you get
2-300lbs toung weight you will unload your traction wheels. A few years
back I tried to pull a "pick-up bed" trailer with a fwd Taurus wagon, in the
rain and at 55mph with 70% gone tires, lost traction up the xway hills.
I've also seen fwd vehicles unable to pull a boat/trailer out of the water.
LD