Need recommendation for hitch setup on Long Island

[D44]

Our new F-150 HD payload factory order should be arriving this month.

Need a recommendation for a good shop on Long Island where I can bring the new truck and the FC19 to have the Equal-I-zer hitch set up for the new vehicle.

I could bring it back to Colonial if I had to, but I am thinking I would have to tow the FC19 with the old Ford Explorer and have someone else drive the new truck for the switchover. Also figure I may need a new drop on the hitch as the ball is on the bottom holes as it is.

Thanks,
Walt

[AirstreamJim]

I can't say I've had them do any work, but have you tried Trailer City? They're in Hempstead, Commack, and Riverhead. They sell Equal-I-Zer hitches and they also do work on trailers of all kinds.

Jim

[D44]

Thanks - did think of them - they did all the work with my previous pop-ups. Just wonder if they are up to the task of setting up an F150 and an Airstream.

Maybe I will call Louis and talk with him - thanks!

[Boxite]

Have you tried towing it without a weight distributing hitch?
The FC19 is a fairly light trailer and the F150 is a good tow vehicle. You might decide to keep life simple if you try it and like it as we did.

[m.hony]

Have you thought about a DIY job?
The Equal-i-zer is easy to set up and comes with good instructions.
Big wrenches, sockets, cheater bar, a torque wrench and air or electric impact is a must.

[larryglarson]

Drive the new truck on the ball, you will probably not want to buy the hitch when you get to Colonial.

[dalecamp`]

Ball mount with sway ball for a friction sway bar would be a good choice IMO.

[dkottum]

A weight distribution hitch is a safety item to help ensure your rear axle is not overloaded, and your steering axle is not too light for steering control and braking under adverse conditions.

A built-into-the-hitch or accessory sway control device helps keep the trailer from going into a dangerous sway under an adverse condition.

[HowieE]

What ever hitch you select set it up yourself. I say this because most shops will not take time time to do it correctly. It can take several hours to set a WD hitch up correctly. If you do it yourself it is time well spent as you will know how and why the hitch works before you are finished.

The myth of just dropping 4 chain links and your done is just that a MYTH.

I spent over 4 hours setting up a hitch.The next time I saw the individual his rig looked like a sway back mule. I asked who changed the hitch. He said no one had touched it. Come to find out when set up correctly he could not jump the curb at his house to park the trailer so he change it. The result was he could not drive over 40 mph on the Pa Turnpike because of sway but he could park at home. The solution was he bought a MoHo and his wife drives.

[Airtandem]

For that light of trailer and that truck; try the Andersen. It will give wt. distribution and anti sway.

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by Airtandem

For that light of trailer and that truck; try the Andersen. It will give wt. distribution and anti sway.

Don't experiment. The Andersen is not capable with your Airstream hitch coupler and is not capable of distributing the loaded hitch weight of your trailer on your F150. We've had one.

[OTRA15]

I would consider towing to Colonial and having them do an installation of whatever they recommend. When we got our new FC20 in Western PA last fall, the shop foreman said we could skip the WD, as our new tow vehicle has OEM sway control. Because we had had a Reese dual-cam set up in the old 25', however, we felt more comfortable having some WD, so we went with a new Reese without SC, and 800 lb. bars set light.

Sorry I have not dealt with any RV shops on Long Island, other than W. E. S. which replaced a Dometic fridge on our 25' years ago. They did a good job FWIW:

http://www.westrailersales.com/

Good luck.

Peter

PS -- Welcome to the forum!

Originally Posted by D44

Our new F-150 HD payload factory order should be arriving this month.

Need a recommendation for a good shop on Long Island where I can bring the new truck and the FC19 to have the Equal-I-zer hitch set up for the new vehicle.

I could bring it back to Colonial if I had to, but I am thinking I would have to tow the FC19 with the old Ford Explorer and have someone else drive the new truck for the switchover. Also figure I may need a new drop on the hitch as the ball is on the bottom holes as it is.

Thanks,
Walt

[D44]

Have an appointment with W.E.S. a week from next Friday to re-set the Equal-I-zer to the new F150. Tried to do it myself yesterday but pretty much everything needs to be adjusted so I will just leave it to them.

[m.hony]

When one adjustment is made, everything has to be adjusted.


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by D44

Have an appointment with W.E.S. a week from next Friday to re-set the Equal-I-zer to the new F150. Tried to do it myself yesterday but pretty much everything needs to be adjusted so I will just leave it to them.

Video the install for future reference & ask questions, bring the instructions and follow along.
They most likely will not weigh the rig, make sure they do careful measurements, (esp front & rear TV height, with & w/o WD set) & ask more questions, road test with the installer & ask questions. Make sure TV & AS are level when they are done and finish with more questions.

Bob

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by D44

Have an appointment with W.E.S. a week from next Friday to re-set the Equal-I-zer to the new F150. Tried to do it myself yesterday but pretty much everything needs to be adjusted so I will just leave it to them.

I would appreciate your feedback after the work is done. I may need to have some work done there as well.

Thanks,

Peter

[D44]

Will do. Thanks to all for the suggestions and tips.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by D44

Will do. Thanks to all for the suggestions and tips.

How did it go with W. E. S.?

Thanks,

Peter

[Chaplain Kent]

Originally Posted by dkottum

Don't experiment. The Andersen is not capable with your Airstream hitch coupler and is not capable of distributing the loaded hitch weight of your trailer on your F150. We've had one.

I currently tow our 30' with an Air Safe equipped with equalizer and sway attached to a Ford Excursion 7.3 diesel. We love the ride and safety but hate the weight of the system and having to ask my neighbor to lift it on and off for me since I can no longer do it. I looked at the Andersen and thought this would be great but you say not, why not?

[m.hony]

I have a very heavy hitch setup, too- Equal-i-zer and Rock Tamers-
I just leave it in all the time until I absolutely have to remove it to tow another trailer with a 2" ball rather than the 2 5/16" ball.