View Poll Results: Was your Equal-i-zer Brand hitch installed incorrectly?
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Yes, it is installed incorrectly
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18 |
54.55% |
No, it is installed correctly
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15 |
45.45% |
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06-16-2007, 08:32 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2007 23' Safari SE
San Diego
, California
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,495
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Equal-i-zer installed incorrectly?
Incase you missed it, there is an Equal-i-zer Question thread that raises a concern that many Airstream owners may have had their Equal-i-zer brand weight-distribution hitch improperly installed, even if it was done by an Airstream dealer!
Equal-i-zer’s Customer Support representative, Josh Jones, sent rgodfrey a detailed description of the problem along with the solution, which is found in post #17, page 2, of this thread:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464/equalizer-question-32805.html
(Copy & paste the entire quote from Josh onto Word to see all of the words).
My curbside Equal-i-zer Sway Bracket was installed incorrectly by my Airstream dealer just 6 months ago when I purchased my Safari. As you can see in my photo in post #24 of this same thread, the lower bolt went under the propane line and through the lowest hole on the bracket. According to Josh, the propane pipe should have been lowered enough for the bolt to pass through the holes just under the A-frame, enabling the bracket to hold more securely.
I’m not sure yet what I’ll do about it. Some say that by the time I get done writing about this, I could have fixed it myself. My cautious side tells me that moving the propane line might void my 2-year Airstream warranty!
Josh says there may be many people out there with incorrectly installed Equal-i-zer Hitches.
Is your Equal-i-zer brand weight-distribution hitch incorrectly installed, and if so, what do you plan to do about it?
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06-16-2007, 11:05 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,369
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Right Now Nothing
Hi, SilverGate. My hitch was installed by the selling dealer exactly like yours. My trailer is close to three years old and has many thousands of miles on it with out any problems except that the left side "L" bracket came loose. I have cured that problem. I believe at this time I will just leave it as is.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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06-16-2007, 11:59 PM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member
2007 30' Classic
Pleasanton
, California
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 31
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Was faced with the same problem, I just gently worked the LP line until I had a nice curve that the bolt would fit through without touching, now the bracket is nice and snug with no problems to date.
__________________
______________________________________
Scott
2020 Caravel 19CB - "The Silver Pearl"
2028 Ford Expedition
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06-17-2007, 06:13 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
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Mine is installed correctly....that is....UNDER the frame and ABOVE the LP line. It was installed by.......ME! IIRC, the install manual was very specific about NOT putting the bracked around the LP line, and common sense also dictates this.
Bending the LP line (it's copper) is not difficult. I added a small section of rubber hose to itto prevent additional chafing. The hitch works flawlessly!
__________________
lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
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06-17-2007, 10:30 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2010 25' FB Flying Cloud
Currently Looking...
Laramie
, Wyoming
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 829
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Looks like mine has been installed incorrectly, with the bolt below the lp line on all three trailers, twice by the dealer and once by me. But no problems over 8 years and thousands of miles.
However, on the second trailer, the fittings on the trailer were installed too far aft. So during a tight turn the long rod slipped free of the "L" bracket. I had to move the brackets forward.
__________________
Antique Pedaler
2021 Caravel 20 FB
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06-17-2007, 12:25 PM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
2007 25' Safari FB SE
Aptos
, California
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 84
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My Equalizer was installed by the dealer, but instead of trying to thread the bolt between the propane line and the frame they simply moved the brackets forward of the hose clamp, shortening the lever arm of the weight bars by about 10". The distance from the center of the hitch to the center of the brackets is supposed to be 32", which I moved it to after I got home.
There really isn't much space between the propane line and the bracket bolts. I check this all the time to see if there is any interference. So far so good.
Terry
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06-17-2007, 08:47 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2014 27' Flying Cloud
Viera
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,296
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Wrong Installation Here
Yes mine is wrong too. Three rivets hold the LP line close to the frame, so the installer put the bolt through the bottom hole instead of re-routing the gas line. You can clearly see the plates are bowing, and I have been having problems with the square headed bolt that holds the L-bracket, loosening.
Since the trailer is still under warranty, right now my plan is to wait until I get to Jackson Center in October and have the factory fix it. I'll be checking that square bolt at every reststop until then.
Lewster: Please post a picture of your installation so we can all see how you did it with the pipe bend.
Randy
__________________
Randy & Pat Godfrey
Florida Airstream Club (027)
ACI# 1212 - AIR# 17017
2014 27FB Flying Cloud - SilverCabin II
2018 F-150 Platinum - unnamed
The best part of any trip is when you pull away from home.
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06-17-2007, 09:09 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Huntington Beach
, California
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,293
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Another bone-head installation
Quote:
Originally Posted by rgodfrey
Yes mine is wrong too. Three rivets hold the LP line close to the frame, so the installer put the bolt through the bottom hole instead of re-routing the gas line. You can clearly see the plates are bowing, and I have been having problems with the square headed bolt that holds the L-bracket, loosening.
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Mine was done exactly the same way with the bracket bowing at the bottom. AS Dealer installed..of course. I always check and tighten all hitch hardware before each tow...so I never had a problem with the bracket or bolt loosening.
John
__________________
Travel is in my blood, adventure is my passport, aluminum is my favorite construction medium, and therefore, an Airstream was my destiny.
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06-18-2007, 05:49 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rgodfrey
Yes mine is wrong too. Three rivets hold the LP line close to the frame, so the installer put the bolt through the bottom hole instead of re-routing the gas line. You can clearly see the plates are bowing, and I have been having problems with the square headed bolt that holds the L-bracket, loosening.
Since the trailer is still under warranty, right now my plan is to wait until I get to Jackson Center in October and have the factory fix it. I'll be checking that square bolt at every reststop until then.
Lewster: Please post a picture of your installation so we can all see how you did it with the pipe bend.
Randy
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Will do........as soon as I get a minute. I'm in the throws of last minute prep for the trip!
__________________
lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
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06-18-2007, 11:04 AM
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#10
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,403
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I just added a yes no option poll to this thread.
Mine was installed incorrectly by the dealer.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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06-18-2007, 03:03 PM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
2006 28' Safari SE
Winter Park
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 150
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After reading the initial thread last week I noticed this weekend that mine was installed incorrectly by the dealer also. Although I haven't had any problems with the EQLZR, my L brackets do bow out very slightly from the frame.
I have had terrible service from my dealer so it didn't surprise me to find it done incorrectly. Just one more thing to be disappointed about lately.
__________________
'06 28' Safari SE / '08 Chev 2500HD Duramax
'64 Me / '60's-ish wife / '90's kids / '06 Black Lab / '02 Poodle / oh, and a horse, too.
GO GATORS!!
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06-18-2007, 08:05 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dbradhstream
After reading the initial thread last week I noticed this weekend that mine was installed incorrectly by the dealer also. Although I haven't had any problems with the EQLZR, my L brackets do bow out very slightly from the frame.
I have had terrible service from my dealer so it didn't surprise me to find it done incorrectly. Just one more thing to be disappointed about lately.
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Your dealer's name wouldn't rhyme with 'GATES' would it now?
__________________
lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
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06-18-2007, 09:11 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
St. Cloud
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,280
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lewster
Your dealer's name wouldn't rhyme with 'GATES' would it now?
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Lew -- Microsoft?
Or are you baiting us? My turn...
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06-19-2007, 05:44 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CanoeStream
Lew -- Microsoft?
Or are you baiting us? My turn...
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Why.....I wouldn't THINK of such a thing!?!?!?!?!?
__________________
lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
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06-19-2007, 08:49 AM
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#15
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LEV ZEPPELIN
2004 19' International CCD
Chicago
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,047
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Ours was installed correctly because I watched the installation and I told the installer that I wanted the gas line to run over the bolt instead of between frame and bolt. Did not seem right.
I also added a thick piece of "hose" to the bolt to protect from possible rubbing. The only hard part was drilling a coulpe of rivetts out that hold the support brackets for the propane line, one I replaced.
__________________
Sometimes I wish I were living in the stone age. Then I would know I'm the smartest person in the world.
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06-19-2007, 09:03 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2014 27' Flying Cloud
Viera
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,296
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crazylev,
Post a picture of your installation, so we can see what your dealer did.
Thanks,
Randy
__________________
Randy & Pat Godfrey
Florida Airstream Club (027)
ACI# 1212 - AIR# 17017
2014 27FB Flying Cloud - SilverCabin II
2018 F-150 Platinum - unnamed
The best part of any trip is when you pull away from home.
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06-19-2007, 10:06 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1963 19' Globetrotter
Currently Looking...
Orion
, Illinois
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 714
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Mine is correct because I installed it, I was changing the regulator on my '63 so at the same time I moved the line and added a new rubber hose from the regulator to the line and solved the hitch bracket problem.
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06-19-2007, 03:39 PM
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#18
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3 Rivet Member
2006 28' Safari SE
Winter Park
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 150
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Yes, lewster, I've received of late, from one whose name rhymes with gates, service that I'd generously rate as not so great.
__________________
'06 28' Safari SE / '08 Chev 2500HD Duramax
'64 Me / '60's-ish wife / '90's kids / '06 Black Lab / '02 Poodle / oh, and a horse, too.
GO GATORS!!
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06-19-2007, 03:41 PM
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#19
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3 Rivet Member
2006 28' Safari SE
Winter Park
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 150
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Hey, but it was worth all the hassle because by posting that reply I got my third Rivet! Well, actually, it wasnt' worth it at all ...
__________________
'06 28' Safari SE / '08 Chev 2500HD Duramax
'64 Me / '60's-ish wife / '90's kids / '06 Black Lab / '02 Poodle / oh, and a horse, too.
GO GATORS!!
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06-20-2007, 11:55 AM
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#20
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LEV ZEPPELIN
2004 19' International CCD
Chicago
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,047
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Hi Randy,
I don't have a real good close up of my set-up and my AS is about 22 miles from me. The best I can do is this:
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...4/dsc_2044.jpg
You can see the small bracket on the under side of the frame that supports the gas line. That had to get repositioned slightly.
Jonathan
__________________
Sometimes I wish I were living in the stone age. Then I would know I'm the smartest person in the world.
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