Equalizer 10,000 or 12,000

[Hoagie]

Hello All,

We pick up our new 2017 Classic in about 2 weeks. The dealer will install an Equalizer for us. We will be towing with a 2017 F250 HD 4x4, Crew Cab and the 6.5 ft bed if that matters.

Not really interested in the Hensley or Pro Pride as we plan on doing a lot of camping in undeveloped sites. friend of ours has the Hensley and I've watched him struggle to get the stinger realigned on hookup. Plus, I just don't want to spend the money. So please let's just stick to the Equal-i-zer.

I went on the Equalizer website and input a GTW of 7800 and a Tongue Weight of 886. I know the GTW will go up with full propane tanks, food and supplies, and when towing with anything in the holding tanks. Equalizer comes back with the 10,000 Hitch. If assume 1,000 lbs extra in the trailer it stays with the 10,000 model.

The 3rd variable on the Equalizer site is the Cargo Weight in the tow vehicle, specifically behind the rear wheels. Normally this will consist of a few hundred pounds of firewood, maybe a camp stove if camping with a group, etc. But I may add a shell to the truck. Or put bikes in the back. Someday maybe there's a kayak on top or an ATV in the back.

Add just a couple hundred pounds Equalizer changes to the 12,000 hitch.

I see a lot of discussions on hitches: brands, configurations, models, changing spring bars, etc. What I'm wondering is what Equal-i-zer configurations are other owners of the 30ft Classic using. 10000? 12000? What has your towing experience been like? Any issues? Wish you had gone with the heavier hitch?

TIA

[Farmer Dan]

Hoagie, I've towed a 30' Classic, 25' Excella and my current '17 26U with 1,000# Equalizer. The 1,000# version did well. Hitch weights varied from 650# - 840#. My TV was an F150 SCrew 4X4. One with the 5.4 V8 and currently a '15 F150 w / 3.5 EcoBoost.
I put the bracket jackets on the hitch and have very little noise except when the bar pivots in the head get a bit dry. I like the Equalizer.

Dan

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Add up what you will be hauling and look at your TV. Unless you are getting a very unusual TV, there's a pretty limited amount of "stuff" you can put in it. Anything over a ton on top of passengers and tongue weight is a bit over the top. Most would tell you that a ton is a bit much. Having any significant part of 2,000 lb past the rear axle is unlikely.

The "rating" on the hitch is not how much it will safely haul. What they are talking about is what the springs are targeted at. Keeping it close to your normal target is the best bet.

Since this is about hitches. I'd expect to hear a bit about alternatives .....

Bob

[Captain Hank]

Hoagie,

I would get an accurate tongue weight scale and weight your tongue, with the trailer loaded. Then you will know exactly what you are dealing with, you are not guessing. Once you have the tongue weight, make sure to consider truck bed weight behind the axle. Especially if you are adding a shell or carrying other items in your truck bed. The specs are not always accurate. My tongue weight was more that the specs. Just as my other Airstream. You do not want your spring bars at the max. (Ex: TW 990, 1000 spring bars)

I currently have a 2017 Classic and use a 12,000 Equalizer hitch with 1200 lb spring bars. Make sure the hitch is set up correctly. I have seen many hitches not set up correctly, even from dealers. The book with the hitch gives you the set up procedure and torques.

I am towing with a Dodge Ram 2500, Cummins.
I have tried other types of hitches, but come back to the Equalizer. Easy to set up, Rugged, easy to hook up and unhook. Good customer service.
If you want more details you can send me a PM.
Henry

[m.hony]

I have 1,200# bars for my Classic 30, but I have a 1/2 ton pickup.
You may be able to use the 1,000# bars with your 3/4 ton pickup to get the same results.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Hoagie

Hello All,

We pick up our new 2017 Classic in about 2 weeks. The dealer will install an Equalizer for us. We will be towing with a 2017 F250 HD 4x4, Crew Cab and the 6.5 ft bed if that matters.

Not really interested in the Hensley or Pro Pride as we plan on doing a lot of camping in undeveloped sites. friend of ours has the Hensley and I've watched him struggle to get the stinger realigned on hookup. Plus, I just don't want to spend the money. So please let's just stick to the Equal-i-zer.

I went on the Equalizer website and input a GTW of 7800 and a Tongue Weight of 886. I know the GTW will go up with full propane tanks, food and supplies, and when towing with anything in the holding tanks. Equalizer comes back with the 10,000 Hitch. If assume 1,000 lbs extra in the trailer it stays with the 10,000 model.

The 3rd variable on the Equalizer site is the Cargo Weight in the tow vehicle, specifically behind the rear wheels. Normally this will consist of a few hundred pounds of firewood, maybe a camp stove if camping with a group, etc. But I may add a shell to the truck. Or put bikes in the back. Someday maybe there's a kayak on top or an ATV in the back.

Add just a couple hundred pounds Equalizer changes to the 12,000 hitch.

I see a lot of discussions on hitches: brands, configurations, models, changing spring bars, etc. What I'm wondering is what Equal-i-zer configurations are other owners of the 30ft Classic using. 10000? 12000? What has your towing experience been like? Any issues? Wish you had gone with the heavier hitch?

TIA

For you consideration.
Whenever I change anything in my set up I have gotten into the habit of weighing my TV empty and loaded. The TV Trailer rig I weigh WD engaged and not. It will give you the hard numbers needed to get it all dialed in correctly. It isn't always convenient but worth the trouble.

[EarlM]

I had a 2015 Classic 30 and used 12,000 bars and I tow my 33 foot classic with them also

Congratulations on your new trailer

Earl

[pteck]

I personally would do 1k load bars. Reason being is that the one major con to the Equilizer is the inflexibility of the WD bars. 1,200 bars will translate into more stress on the AS tongue, especially when paired with a 3/4 ton pickup.

Sure, the 1,200 bars will translate more weight to the front axle and slightly more stability, but with more stress on the hitch and tongue, especially when entering and exiting uneven roadways (i.e. driveways).

[tyggeln]

Why make a distinction for Equalizer, and 1000# bars vs 1200# bars? Seems like brand doesn't make a difference as 1200# is 1200#.

[davidrrand]

Is your truck gas or diesel? Payload significantly different between these two with 250. Like my Equalizer but my rig is different from yours.

[Holy Grail]

I have a 12000 lb. Equalizer with my 28 ft. Flying Cloud and Ram 2500 Cummins. It is a perfect combination as far as I'm concerned. I originally had the same hitch and trailer on a Ram 1500 and my 12000 lb. Equalizer hitch head began to crack at the welds. Equalizer gave me a new hitch head and all is well with my heavier Ram 2500.

[tyggeln]

Bit off topic, I had a cracked set of welds on my equalizer hitch that I discovered while camping at Disneyland. Worse yet, the welds had broken on the way down from NORCAL. Not to worry, Equalizer customer service is second to none, they had me hooked up with a local dealer and I was back on the road a day late but safe.

They told me to make sure that the attachment bolts from head to receiver are properly torqued to avoid any problems...but they replaced for free anyway.

On the topic, I measured my tongue weight as 1080# on my 28' CCD, and therefore have the 1200# bars which gives a bit of margin, but not much (90% of rated). Would prefer the 1400# bars with that high a tongue weight (77% of rated) to avoid stressing the welds.

[jcanavera]

I've got a 30' Classic Slide Out that is rated at 1280 lbs hitch weight. Dealer suggested the 14,000 lb rated hitch with 1,400 lb bars. Been towing with it for 14 years now with no signs of problems with the hitch or undue stress to the trailer. The 14,000 lb hitch is Class V rated which did require a replacement of my factory OEM receiver on my van which was rated a Class IV.

[dmbecke]

I have 25FB and the prior owners dealer sold him a the 14k hitch with 1400 bars pulling with a Ram. 1500

[pteck]

Originally Posted by tyggeln

On the topic, I measured my tongue weight as 1080# on my 28' CCD, and therefore have the 1200# bars which gives a bit of margin, but not much (90% of rated). Would prefer the 1400# bars with that high a tongue weight (77% of rated) to avoid stressing the welds.

Capacity is one way to look at it. And is generally an easy way to size the Equilizer hitch/bars. In practice, another useful way is to question how stiff do I want my WD bars? From that point of view, less might be more. Why beat up a 1000# hitch weight class of trailer with 1400# bars?

In the OP's case, he has a beefy F250. It's going to be stable with relatively less weight transfer. That's part of the reason why people go to larger vehicles in the first place? It's also not going to 'give' much and all the ride harshness and stress is going to be put on the AS.

But there are camps that say a truck is relatively longer and harder to transfer weight to the front axle. In this respect, 1200# bars would be more useful.

I personally prefer a balanced setup that is not too little or too much. I don't think the OP will go wrong with 1000# or 1200# bars in this case. But I would lean towards the 1000# hitch.

[Moflash]

We have pulled a 28ft International with a 2012 F350,2015 F350 and now a 2017 f350.I use a Airsafe hitch along with a Equilizer 4 point.The trailer rides smooth and independent of the tow vehicle.No jerk back on bumps.The truck also rides as smooth as you could ever ask for.Much better than the ride a maxed out on payload F150 does.(Ask me how I know this)I would not tow my trailer without the Airsafe.We pull close to 20,000 miles per year in all conditions.

[Gneiss Guy]

We tow our FC 30 with a long box, 2016 F250. It has a fiberglass cap on which we carry two kayaks. In the cap are two bikes, bike and kayak accessories, ladder, chairs and various tools. We use 1K Equalizer bars. I know your Classic is heavier, but I can't see the need for the 1200 bars.

[GM Airstream]

Acually... your not going to like this .. but even the 1000 lb bars are way to heavy for the PU and trailer.... I went from 1000 lb bars to the 750 and still don't get much actions out of them... If I were you.. I'd stick with the 1000 lb bars... and then if the ride is too rough... buy the lighter ones later on... The reason being is that the PU rear axle wt is way higher than what a car would be... and the tires on the PU are much thicker and higher plys too... thus not much soft ride in it for the trailer... and airstreams need soft rides... the only reason you go heavier is to take care of the sway control... But, towing with a 3/4 pickup is different than a normal vehicle... due to the weight ability of the bed... and while you put stuff in the bed.. its carried both forward and rear of the rear axle... so it should balance out to weight over the r axle... only... as to the weight on the hitch on the back of the truck... you arn't even close to what the back of the truck can carry... so you really won't need much up lifting from the eqlizer bars... and I would not try and take the 800 lbs off of the ball by them either... Been pulling a 30 ft'r now with my 3/4 t pu for years and I found that you can damage the trailer by over hitching... Their used to be a guy on here ... andy.. from inland RV... in calif... he is actually the one that you should be talking too... as he has been around almost as long as Reese and airstream have... Have fun with the trailer.. and when you get to where your going.. I usually take the bars off.. makes for easy backing and turning sharper... as a suggestion...

[paiceman]

We run the 12,000# along with 1,000# bars on our 2015 F350 with a 2017 30' Classic. We also used the same hitch on two previous 30' Flying Clouds. All total probably about 100,000 miles - ONLY issue has been eventually the ball moves about 1/8". So two years ago I RED lock-tight it and not moved since. Other than that I take the head apart each December, check it over, grease it and put it back together with proper torque.

Bud

[Hoagie]

Thanks everyone for the very informative replies.

I appreciate the comments about weighing the set up to better make a decision, but this is a brand new trailer that I will be picking up next week. I need to decide on a hitch before I go just so I can get the trailer home. No way I can load it and tow it to the scales and then go back to the dealer and say, "Nah, I think I want to go with the other hitch."

The truck we are looking at is the 2017 Ford F250 Lariat Crew Cab 4x4 with the gas engine.

Of course, as I have done with our current truck and trailer, weighing the trailer, the tongue and the full set up once everything is in the trailer and TV is a must.

Based upon what I have read here and what I've read elsewhere, and since the dealer stocks and recommends the 1,000/10,000 combo, I will start with that. If necessary I'll look into lighter bars. I will look closer at the Air Ride hitch. I had read some good reviews on this and it looks like a good option to take some of the jerking out of the tow.

Thanks again.