Equal-i-zer Hitch Thread.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

And this is the part i dont understand. Why is 900# of tongue weight any different from a 900# weight sitting on the hitch?

Taken to the limit, no matter how far aft the weight is, if it lifts the front tires off the ground, they won't provide any steering force. Not trying to be argumentative, just want to understand.

Al

Al.

They are the same.

But, keep in mind what those hitches are called.

LOAD EQUALIZING.

That means exactly that, namely equalize the weight transfered to the tow vehicle tires, all four.

No biggie.

Andy

[Ron Gratz]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

And this is the part i dont understand. Why is 900# of tongue weight any different from a 900# weight sitting on the hitch?

Taken to the limit, no matter how far aft the weight is, if it lifts the front tires off the ground, they won't provide any steering force. Not trying to be argumentative, just want to understand.

Al,

Since our discussion is not specific to the Equal-i-zer Hitch, I think it would be better to move it to This Thread -- Posts #23 & 24.

I have attempted to answer your question there.

Ron

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Ron Gratz

Andy,

Are you referring to the front and rear values for "WD On" -- (4760# versus 4660#)?
Are you implying that a "PERFECT" WDH adjustment would cause those values to be equal?

Al's scale numbers indicate the front axle LOST 200# (4760-4960) while the rear axle GAINED 1160# (4660-3500), giving a TV gain of 960#.
So, the distribution of the 960# added to the TV was:
Front axle = -20.8%
Rear axle = 120.8%.

In another post you stated the best way to utilize an equalizing hitch was to adjust it so the load added to the TV's front axle was equal to the load added to the TV's rear axle.

Clearly, -200# is not equal to +1160#.

There seems to be a significant disagreement between
1) "PERFECT" rigging in one post, and
2) the "best way for utilizing a travel trailer with a load equalizing hitch" in another post.

Ron

Ron

While trying to make the most of my R & R in Hawaii, I did not read that chart as well as I should have.

Never reducing tow vehicle front axle weight when towing a trailer, using a load equalizing hitch, is what I was taught using math, Physics and personal thousands of miles towing.

Sorry for the confusion.

Andy

[Ron Gratz]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Al.

They are the same.

No, they are not the same.
There is an important difference.
Discussion can be found HERE.

Ron

[tinbender]

Need hitch help in Indy !!
An AS newbie who lives on the north side of Indy has bad hitch problems. Has had the trailer about 3 months. Already spent more than the hitch is worth for having it "adjusted" by a shop who made it worse.

Anyone in the Indy area know of a shop that actually knows how to properly set up an Equalizer hitch ??
2015 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup.
Thanks for recommendations.....


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[paiceman]

Tinbender: Suggest you go on line, read the equalizer set up instructions then on youtube there are pretty good videos on set up and use. I have looked at both and set my own up and like the way it works. My only issue so far is the bolts holding the bars to the head loosened up on our trip this summer (10,000 miles) and we just returned from a two week quick trip and I found the ball had come loose. I have the tools to tighten all, but in 40+ years of Reese, nothing every came loose.

[tinbender]

paiceman,

I appreciate your suggestion but it's not for me. It's for a fellow, brand new Streamer who lives in Indy and quite frankly is not the mechanical type. Hence, asking for info from anyone who may live in that area.

[m.hony]

If I was near him, I'd go over to his house and do it for him, but I'm in Mississippi.
Surely there is a 'Forums member near him who can help.


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[paiceman]

QUESTION: For all long time Equalizer hitch users. I tow with a Ford Super Duty, F350 Diesel and therefore need a receiver sleeve so the equalizer head can fit into the larger Super Duty receiver. We've towed about 10,000+ miles with the hitch this past summer and a little more this fall. After about 6,000 miles when I took the head out the sleeve did not come out, in fact I now have to pry it out with something and I've noticed rub marks on the sleeve. If I put in an extra sleeve I carry and put it part way in and pound it with a hammer the sleeve will then move in and out easily for about 700 miles then starts to bind again. Ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. Never had this issue with a Reese, so not sure what is going on.

Thanks

[sheriff1]

I had the same problem. Replaced it with a 2 1/2" unit. I had to replace the rock Tamer collar as well but problem solved. Less slop all the way.
With the adapter there was enough movement that a locking hitch pin bent!


2015 F350 CC 4X4 6.7 Diesel
2010 27FB Silver Cloud "The Silver Spoon"

[paiceman]

Originally Posted by sheriff1

I had the same problem. Replaced it with a 2 1/2" unit. I had to replace the rock Tamer collar as well but problem solved. Less slop all the way.
With the adapter there was enough movement that a locking hitch pin bent!


2015 F350 CC 4X4 6.7 Diesel
2010 27FB Silver Cloud "The Silver Spoon"

Thanks, same issue with lots of movement and slop and I did notice lots of unusual wear on the hitch pin. I'll order the 2 1/2".

[casarodante]

Originally Posted by sheriff1

I had the same problem. Replaced it with a 2 1/2" unit. I had to replace the rock Tamer collar as well but problem solved. Less slop all the way.
With the adapter there was enough movement that a locking hitch pin bent!


2015 F350 CC 4X4 6.7 Diesel
2010 27FB Silver Cloud "The Silver Spoon"

After over a year of towing with a reducing adapter I got a 2 1/2" stinger for my F250. First time out it was nice. Didn't have to align extra holes while sliding that beast in!

However, I could not get the unit out! I had to twist, shake, wiggle it for about 10 minutes to get it out. I contacted Equal-i-zer and they had never heard of it. Their recommendation was to grind the stinger down a bit.

I had to grind it 3 times before I can remove it easily.

But it is better than a reducer.

[paiceman]

Originally Posted by casarodante

After over a year of towing with a reducing adapter I got a 2 1/2" stinger for my F250. First time out it was nice. Didn't have to align extra holes while sliding that beast in!

However, I could not get the unit out! I had to twist, shake, wiggle it for about 10 minutes to get it out. I contacted Equal-i-zer and they had never heard of it. Their recommendation was to grind the stinger down a bit.

I had to grind it 3 times before I can remove it easily.

But it is better than a reducer.

So, Equalizer lies. I called them last week and again yesterday and they said they had never heard of this situation. If your case becomes my case I am going to bag the Equalizer Hitch and move on. I think the hitch in some cases is distorting the inside of the receiver as I have three reducer sleeves and if the one I am using binds up inside, when I get it out the other two will not go into the receiver. You ground down the 12" stringer or "shaved" it?

Thanks

Bud

[sheriff1]

Mine wouldn't slide in at first. Took some paint off the edges and works fine now


2015 F350 CC 4X4 6.7 Diesel
2010 27FB Silver Cloud "The Silver Spoon"

[paiceman]

The wear on the sleeve is on the top, not the sides, which leads me to believe as stated it's actually distorting the receiver, not the sleeve. I've ordered the 2 1/2" and will see, but unfortunately not until we take the AS to Florida in late December or January.

Thanks

Bud

[VT Wanderer]

I have been reading all the threads about Equalizer hitches and just wanted to add a positive note about them. In 2008 we purchased a new 2007, 25 ft. AS Safari, and add to that a new 2007 Ram 2500 w. diesel engine. The AS dealer installed the Equalizer hitch for the Safari and we put 52,000 trouble free miles on it. In 2013 we upsized to a new 2014, 27ft Flying Cloud. The dealer only needed to make a couple of minor adjustments to the Equalizer on the trailer side. This year, 2015, we traded in for a new Ford F250 diesel. This change required full adjustments to the Equalizer done by a local RV dealership who sells the Equalizer. The FC now has 26,000 trouble free miles. I keep looking in the mirror to see if the trailer is still there, whether it be clear, windy or rain, passing 18 wheelers, or being passed by them. The Equalizer has been awesome. It has been perfect for our high speed interstate highway driving.

[sheriff1]

I don't think it's an equalizer issue. I think it's the 2" to 2 1/2" adapters that are the problem. For my purpose the equalizer brand works quite well.


2015 F350 CC 4X4 6.7 Diesel
2010 27FB Silver Cloud "The Silver Spoon"

[casarodante]

Originally Posted by paiceman

So, Equalizer lies. I called them last week and again yesterday and they said they had never heard of this situation. If your case becomes my case I am going to bag the Equalizer Hitch and move on. I think the hitch in some cases is distorting the inside of the receiver as I have three reducer sleeves and if the one I am using binds up inside, when I get it out the other two will not go into the receiver. You ground down the 12" stringer or "shaved" it?

Thanks

Bud

Here is from an email conversation from 5/28/15 with Equal-i-zer:
---------------------------------
I have never seen this before, so I talked to my manager about it. He said that the best thing to do is sand the sides down just a hair, and it shouldn’t take much. Apparently our shanks have a 1000th of an inch tolerance, but we cannot speak for the receiver. It might be that the receiver is a little more rounded on the corners which is causing the tight fit. I hope that helps! If you have any more questions or concerns please let me know!
-Austen
---------------------------------

I ground mine down with a Makita. First time just taking the paint off. Next couple of times a bit more. 3 grinding sessions in all.

[chaseav]

How much 'wiggle' up and down is considered normal in the hitch receiver? Mine was a pretty tight fit but after about 6,000 miles of towing, there is some play to the hitch within the receiver. I've actually put a very small wood shim in there just to keep it from moving.

[paiceman]

Do not have the 2 1/2" shank yet, but towed the trailer 63 miles back to storage from our AS dealer where it was having some warranty work done on the furnace. Reducer sleeve was stuck in the receiver, again. This is an issue that was not there the first 5,000 miles, then developed and continues, which is why I ordered the 2 1/2" shank.

I am not confident it will work as I believe the receiver is now bent. The reducer sleeve has deep marks on it in the back as well as top and two sides. I cut one reducer to be the exact length of the 2" shank I now have, did not resolve the problem at all.

Other than this issue I like the hitch.