Hitch rated for two different weights?

[birdsNboards]

We picked up a new TV last fall and I wanted to give the hitch a good "going over" before we start the camping season. To do this I decided to totally remove it, remove all the rust, repaint it all, and replace all the hardware with fresh nuts and bolts. I won't go into detail on that job but if you're interested, here's a link to the Toyota 4runner forum I'm on. Tow Hitch Rehab

The part of the job that brought me over to IRV2 is the spec sticker on the hitch. It has different weight guidelines under two different headings. The text is faded on one side but I can make it out. Maybe someone here can help determine the difference between "weight-carrying hitch" and "weight distribution hitch" as it is labeled here. The numbers for the 'carrying hitch' are what I'd expect with the tongue weight being 10% of the total towing capacity (7300/730). I'm not sure what the 'weight distribution' info is for. It's listed as 7300 total weight with 1095 max on the tongue. Does using an external WDH increase the possible tongue weight by over 300lbs? That doesn't quite seem right.

In case your wondering, the TV is a v8 4runner.

[kcmusa]

A good read to explain the WDH

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-...on-systems.htm

[birdsNboards]

Originally Posted by kcmusa

A good read to explain the WDH

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-...on-systems.htm

Thanks! What an informative read. I especially like the Price Is Right reference.

I'm posting a lot of info about the hitch rehab job over at a 4runner forum and when this question came up, I said right away, "I"ll post this question over at an RV forum I'm on and I'm sure to get an answer". Sure enough, the first reply is a definitive article on the entire topic. Between YouTube videos and friendly folks on internet forums, lazy folks are running out of excuses for not gettin' the job done!