What size Equal-i-zer Hitch Do You Use?

[TomW]

Originally Posted by Chris

...then the A-frame is NOT bent (or cracked)...I invite members to review my logic, and perhaps perform the test for themselves and report back results...

The A-frame can be cracked without being bent.

Modulus of elasticity is one thing. Cracks are another.

Thanks for the invite. I will express regrets now.

Tom

[tyggeln]

True point, I guess I extended the assertion a bit far. I'll leave it as NOT bent.

Chris

[L911]

We use the weight distribution hitch (ball mount) without the bars and a single sway bar. 2001 Suburban towing a 73 Ambassador 29 (25' in reality). Electric brakes on trailer.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by L911

We use the weight distribution hitch (ball mount) without the bars and a single sway bar. 2001 Suburban towing a 73 Ambassador 29 (25' in reality). Electric brakes on trailer.

Not a good setup.

Andy

[BillTex]

Originally Posted by L911

We use the weight distribution hitch (ball mount) without the bars and a single sway bar.

???

[L911]

Actually it works great, Its no different than just using a standard 2" slide ball mount, except that it gives you the option of using an anti-sway bar.

[LFC]

25 ft. Safari, 800 lbs bars...I've got a single sway bar but have never noticed a need for it.

[Short563]

After 16,000 miles of trouble free towing with a 6,000 lb Equalizer, I replaced my 25ft trailer with a 30 footer. Specs are similar - old at 4,300 lbs / 470 lbs hitch weight vs new at 4,700 lbs / 400 lbs hitch weight. Yet I experience a lot of bouncing at 55 mph; it goes away at 65 mph. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Short563

After 16,000 miles of trouble free towing with a 6,000 lb Equalizer, I replaced my 25ft trailer with a 30 footer. Specs are similar - old at 4,300 lbs / 470 lbs hitch weight vs new at 4,700 lbs / 400 lbs hitch weight. Yet I experience a lot of bouncing at 55 mph; it goes away at 65 mph. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

How old is the 30 footer?

Andy

[Short563]

It is a 2012 - I have to come clean here - it is not the right time for me to own an Airstream - it is an SOB.

[gandttimes]

Originally Posted by dbradhstream

Randy - I suspect I know what happened to you and I suspect its the same thing that happened to me. I bought my AS and Equalizer at Bates AS near Tampa, I suspect you did too. The shop manager told me NOT to grease the Equalizer so we took 3 or 4 trips with the AS creaking and groaning like a worn out old battleship. It was so loud folks would look weird at us as we pulled into the campgrounds.

Please see the Equalizer website or owner's manual. It expressly says that you SHOULD grease the hitch and that you MAY grease the bars themselves. Do that and you'll be towing in peace and quiet. I use a marine grade hitch lube that works great.

Brad

We just traded up from our 08 20ft Safari to a 25 International and the dealer gave me a tube of equal-I-zer grease that is recommended by Equal-I-zer to use on the ball and the bars. When I asked what the difference was to regular grease he laughed and said that mainly is washes out of clothing much easier. I don't hear any noises now. I am using 1000 lb bars with an HD 1/2 GMC.
No sway at all and toes much better than the single axel.
George

[kscherzi]

I have a 27FB. I'm using the 1,200 bars. It does a fabulous job redistributing weight. Yet to have porpoising problems. I've not greased the bars and you can hear me coming. Its a trade off, messy to me or noisy for others.

[m.hony]

1,000# bars-
Creaking and groaning-
I don't bother to grease it because of getting grease on my hands and clothes.
I might try the bracket jackets to quiet it down some.

[gandttimes]

Originally Posted by m.hony

1,000# bars-
Creaking and groaning-
I don't bother to grease it because of getting grease on my hands and clothes.
I might try the bracket jackets to quiet it down some.

As I said in a previous post . Equal-I-zer makes a special grease that comes in a handy tube with a small tip that makes it easy to apply to the needed areas . It works a lot better than the other lubes I have tried, and cleans up easily.Should be available anywhere that sells the hitch.
George

[TomW]

Originally Posted by m.hony

...Creaking and groaning-
I don't bother to grease it ...

This thread is so big that I neither remember what I posted in it to be included in the "new post Tom!" list nor am I inclined to look it up.

But, depending on the hitch, a certain amount of noise is okay from any friction-based hitch until one is down the road a bit. That is certainly the case with my Reese Dual-Cam.

Greasing everything for noise abatement is not always the best initial course of action.

Tom

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by m.hony

I don't bother to grease it because of getting grease on my hands and clothes.

That's what disposable gloves are for, to keep grease off your hands. You can buy boxes of 50 or 100 surgical gloves in the pharmacy department at Walmart. As you remove a glove, turn it inside out by gripping the cuff and pulling it off, rather than gripping the fingers to pull it off. With practice, you can remove both at once, with both gloves inside-out, one inside the other. Neat and clean.

As for keeping grease off your clothes, an inexpensive barbecue apron will work wonders.

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by kscherzi

I have a 27FB. I'm using the 1,200 bars. It does a fabulous job redistributing weight. Yet to have porpoising problems. I've not greased the bars and you can hear me coming. Its a trade off, messy to me or noisy for others.

1000# bars modded to ~800# bars for a bit more flex...making it easier on our Int.LE 25 EB A-frame...suggest that you try the EQ pads/jackets on your L-brackets ... much quieter and no grease needed.

I can only ask ...at an elevated retirement age and with 15+ of my early years "greasing" in the automotive industry ... what is special about EQ brand grease...other than it responds differently to water / detergent ...LMAO. Likely not the best "lube" in an area with frequent rain / moisture - you want grease to stay in place and not be displaced or removed with water!

By design, the EQ brand hitch uses friction to control sway; so, some friction is necessary to get the job done. Frequent cleaning (with some sort of penetrating oil) and re-greasing of the ball and lubing the pivot points of the arms is also our regular regimen before departure and is suggested. Ask your maintenance folks (auto or RV) to pump some grease into a plastic (we use a yellow med type) jar for you... apply to your ball / coupler with a screwdriver ... wipe off screwdriver with a rag or towel ...grease never touches your hands. One small jar will last for many years as you don't need globs on the ball, just an even coating.

We also use a larger vitamin pill jar with the neck cut off to cover the ball when unhitched ... they are cheap and disposable but -amazingly, the surface tension of the grease on the ball will keep the "pill jar" on the ball when driving down the road unhitched. I have two spares, but rarely have to replace the pill bottle ball cover. Toss the ball cover into a plastic sack between uses and throw away the sack when it gets too soiled for your preferences.

[gandttimes]

My experience with the EQ grease was limited to my last and initial trip with our 25fB and during the 15 days on the Oregon and Washington coasts we had 4 days of moisture and 11 of rain. I found that the EQ grease mostly stayed where it was put with just 2 touch ups and unlike the regular HD grease I had been using didn't seem to pick up every bit of airborne dirt and sand. I still use the nitrite gloves, but don't notice near the mess on them, and can often use them over again till they tear.
Not trying to sell it, just mentioning it as an alternative that I found after 22 years of trailering, that I would recommend as an alternative to squeaking and groaning of the bars.
Also after 50 mi on the I 5 in pouring rain with transport trucks all around and not the best road surface I can attest to no loss of dampened sway control and no porpoising.
just my 2c

[Short563]

As a follow up to #108 - I spoke with Steve at Equal-i-er and he told me that transferring a bit more weight to the tow vehicle would help. Originally I had zero change in height (as measured by the wheel wells) - now I am about 1" which is within their guideline. Tows great now with no bouncing at any speed!

[Don.44]

Look at the Hensley hitch