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64Vette · 08-17-2006, 04:34 PM

Tomorrow is delivery day for our first Airstream. As part of the package the dealer was to install a weight distribution hitch. They use a vendor locally that sells Curt Hitches. Today the salesman called and said that the only WD Hitch that would work on this unit was the Equal-izer because of the gas line.

Anybody out there have a late model Bambi Safari with a WD hitch other than the Equal-izer ? Did you have to make any modifications to the gas line going to the bottles ?

uwe · 08-17-2006, 05:04 PM

Welcome to the forums! You must be out-of-your-skin excited to get your new trailer. Perfect timing, too, still many month of good camping left this year.
Sometimes the gas line runs right where the hitch hardware goes on teh tongue, and need to be relocated. In most cases a really easy job.

msterry · 08-17-2006, 05:16 PM

Welcome to the forum. You will find this to be a valuable source of information and help. We are fairly new ourselves, but already met lots of nice folks. GOD Bless!!

CanoeStream · 08-17-2006, 05:17 PM

Hey 64Vette -- Welcome to the Forums! You're purt' durned near the Piney Woods, aren't you? The happiest years of my growing up (6th thru 10th grade) were in Bryan. I just know that the Piney Woods mosquitoes may not outnumber the Minnesota types, but dem runts are the sneakiest molesters known to humankind!

You've got an exciting weekend ahead of you -- Great! Yes, the Equalizer is incomparable in the WD world. Only some Reese models can be compared to it. Hensley is a level above but truly more appropriate for trailers 6, 8, or 10 feet longer than yours. You can't go wrong with an Equalizer.

bradk · 08-17-2006, 05:21 PM

64Vette,

Wow, really exciting day ahead, congrats on the purchase. I can only throw in another recommendation on the Equalizer hitch. We have one on our 06 Bambi and have absolutely nothing but good things to say about its performance.

congrats and enjoy!
brad.

hiker · 08-17-2006, 05:50 PM

We have a 2006 Bambi and have towed over 2000 mi with the Equal-I-zer. So far couldn't be happier ... very easy to hitch up and so far not even a hint of sway

64Vette · 08-19-2006, 07:21 PM

Thanks for the feedback everyone !!

We are actually on our first outing as I am writing this. We took Bambi home yesterday afternoon, got her loaded up and struck out today. Just finished a great steak dinner with some wonderful wine. So far everything has been fantastic...

Plan to order the Equal-i-zer hitch next week. My Tahoe is towing it ok, I would just feel a little more comfortable with a bit of the tongue weight distributed better. Any suggestions on a good place to order the Equal-i-zer. I have found one site on the Web that is selling them for $399 with free shipping. Also, any suggestions on which model to purchase. I am thinking of the 600/6000 for the 19 footer.

hiker · 08-20-2006, 02:05 PM

I ordered my Equal-I-Zer model 600# from the Airstream dealer when I purchased the Bambi. Just be careful to order the correct hitch shank for the Bambi - Tahoe combination. The dealer ordered the wrong shank causing the Airstream to ride too high in front.

You will find very complete installation instructions at:
http://www.equalizerhitch.com/support/instructions.php

and a shank selection tool at:
http://www.equalizerhitch.com/produc...tech_specs.php.

64Vette · 08-20-2006, 02:44 PM

Thanks Hiker !!

64Vette · 08-20-2006, 07:48 PM

Hiker, when they installed the Equalizer on your Bambi, did they relocate the gas line ? Do you by chance hae some pictures of the set up, particularly on the right side where the gas line runs.

bradk · 08-20-2006, 08:36 PM

I ordered the 1000/10,000 lb Equal-i-zer setup for our bambi as with full tanks/batteries, stuff in the cupboards I wasn't sure if the tongue would stay below 600lbs. Also, if/when we upgrade in the future to a bigger trailer we have the hitch to port over. The tech guys at Equalizer said this would be ideal.

In terms of the gas line, we did not have to do any relocation. I did move the L-bracket forward by about an inch (within specs) with no issue.

cheers,
brad.

64Vette · 08-21-2006, 06:44 AM

Thanks BradK

That was my thoughts on the hitch rating as well. Once you get the water tank filled, that would add about 180 lbs alone.

My gas line runs along the bottom of the A-frame rail all the way to the Propane tanks. The Equalizer setup I saw at a RV dealer on Friday had the bolts for the L-Bracket assembled in a manner that would interfere with (or rub) the gas line. The technician at the AS Dealer told me he is installing them with the bolt below the line. I was thinking I could cut off a few inches on the gas line, put a 90 elbow in and reroute the flex hose and not worry about interference.

hiker · 08-21-2006, 07:27 PM

The dealer did not relocate the gas line when they installed the hitch. I re-installed the link plates myself because the dealer located them 18" from the center of the ball coupler instead of the recommended 32". I considered lowering the gas line and using the hole in the link plate closest to the frame, but decided to use the same hole used by the dealer.
As you can see from the photo below, the mounting bolt could just fit in the next higher hole. But when I torqued the mounting bolts down, I was able to get even pressure without bending the link plate. There may be a slight bow to the outside plate, but the bow is no worse than the street side plate.
I am a newbie and far from an expert so am interested in what others have to say.
About using 600# or 1000# bars ... My dealer recommended the 600# bars for the Bambi, but I read as many posts on this forum as I could. Most cautioned against using spring bars that were too heavy. I estimated that my tongue weight would be at most 650#. The 600# bars seemed a closer fit, especially since my TV is a 3/4 ton pickup. I suggest you do a search on "spring bars" and read what comes up.

[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/MICHAE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/100_0140.JPG[/IMG]

hiker · 08-21-2006, 07:32 PM

Whoops !! I hope the photo shows up now

hiker · 08-21-2006, 07:37 PM

One more corection. The dealer located the plates 28" from the ball, not 18".

64Vette · 08-21-2006, 09:22 PM

Thanks for the picture Hiker..... it was just what I was looking for !!

Tim A. · 08-22-2006, 01:59 PM

Perhaps the common "outrageous cost" and "not necessary" replies will appear, but I would like to say we have used a Hensley hitch for 4 years on our 2002 19' Bambi with the greatest possible satisfaction. I installed it myself and there was no problem with the gas line. Weight distribution is a snap and sway with a short-wheelbase tow vehicle does not occur. For example, a Mojave sandstorm pitted tow vehicle and trailer, but vehicle and trailer did not budge out of the lane we were driving in.

64Vette · 08-29-2006, 07:25 PM

Thanks for the feedback everyone and especially for the pictures Hiker !!

Ordered the Equalizer from RVWholesaler. Could not find a better deal anywhere else and they had free shipping. I talked to the folks at Equalizer and RVWholesaler and both recommended the 1000/10,000 model. It came in yesterday. I just finished setting up the head unit. Fortunately my 3/4 Drive Socket fit just fine. Cinched it up with my 3/4 aire ratchet then double checked the tightness with a 3/4 breaker bar.

I'll finish the setup on Saturday. I'm anxious to see the difference.

Thanks again !!

JDL · 08-29-2006, 08:50 PM

I also got the Equalizer 1000/10,000 model for my 19' ccd. The Dealer installed it. They did not re-locate the gas line. I have a 1/2 Ton Toyota Tundra TRD 4x4.

I was reading some other posts after I got the Hitch. 64Vette - What alleviated your concerns on the stiff suspension / ride? and going with the 6000 vs the 10,000 lb. Hitch?

lewster · 08-29-2006, 10:02 PM

Thought that I might chime in on this Equal-I-Zer thread. I have a 600/6000 on my 19CCD. Works flawlessly! When I did the install, I removed the retaining clamps that hold the LP line and lowered it to allow the bolts for the frame clamp to snug right up to the bottom of the trailer frame. This leaves no room for possible rubbing and abrasion of the LP line by the hitch frame clamp and retaining bolt. It also allows you to position the clamp exactly at 32" as directed by the install instructions.