Equal-i-zer Hitch Thread.

[steverino]

I was experiencing the same problem. I added the sway bracket jackets, the copper tube and extra bolt, but what ultimately solved it for me was drilling a hole in each L-pin and press-fitting a roll pin into it. The roll pin prevents the L-pin from binding on the sway bar. The brackets have not moved at all since I added the roll pins 3 years ago. You will find this solution somewhere earlier in this thread.


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[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by steverino

I was experiencing the same problem. I added the sway bracket jackets, the copper tube and extra bolt, but what ultimately solved it for me was drilling a hole in each L-pin and press-fitting a roll pin into it. The roll pin prevents the L-pin from binding on the sway bar. The brackets have not moved at all since I added the roll pins 3 years ago. You will find this solution somewhere earlier in this thread.


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Hi, on page three, post twenty nine, you will see my roll pin modification in the "L" pins. I also use the Bracket Jackets.

Pictures are dated 4-2-2011

[Captain Hank]

LAWBC,

Your 1000lbs bars may be too light for your tongue weight, so you have to adjust the L brackets up to level your rig. Your bars should be parallel with the frame, if they are at an angle they put a side load on the brackets causing them to move.

I also have an FB and have to use 1200 bars to compensate for tongue weight.

If you want more information, PM me and I will share with what I did with my rig.

Henry

[Rich W]

Originally Posted by sheriff1

Try a Kirkland water bottle from I think it's the 48 pack. Properly cut there is a ridge that will hold it on the ball when not towing. I stick it in with the propane tanks for travel.

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

Thanks for the idea
I think Kirkland comes from Costco and that (I think) requires a membership. We have other bottled water brands, I'll try some of those.

Good idea because the paper cups don't fit well and can blow off when I'm not pulling the AS. I usually take the hitch off except between home and the storage lot. In the garage I need some kind of cover for the ball, this might be a better solution.

[Rich W]

Originally Posted by richw46

Thanks for the idea
I think Kirkland comes from Costco and that (I think) requires a membership. We have other bottled water brands, I'll try some of those.

Good idea because the paper cups don't fit well and can blow off when I'm not pulling the AS. I usually take the hitch off except between home and the storage lot. In the garage I need some kind of cover for the ball, this might be a better solution.

Wal-Mart Great Value 16.9 oz (48 pack) fits pretty good. If you cut it off just under the label and use the bottom part, it's snug enough for the narrow portion of the bottle to squeeze over the ball. It's loose but I don't think the wind can take it off. Great in the garage, for sure

[SeaLevel]

I bought a box of 100 nitrile gloves from Amazon for $10 and I just use of one those stretched over the ball. I can get a couple of uses at least out of one glove. I also use the gloves while dumping the tanks.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[graysailor]

I think I got it at campingworld a rubber ball cover. Works quite well. I also got a rubberized sleeve to fit over my electrical connection. Keeps the rain out of the TV plug.

[beachbouy]

Originally Posted by LAWBC

I have the 1000 lb. bars on my 27 FB for 3 years using the same truck and just lately am experiencing a shift in the L brackets on the frame approx.. 1/2" shift forward.
I went to a RV shop the other day and had them realigned and tighten. That night I left the truck hitched while staying one night with the bars hooked up . Lifted the truck approx. 6" to level . This morning I see the damn brackets had shifted again.
Could it be leaving the rig hitched and elevated made the brackets to shift ?
Should I have freed the bars before leveling the trailer ?
I have lifted the rig in the past on one night stay overs without any problems , and carry the same loads .

😱I can't imagine staying hitched and raising 6" that would be a hell of a lot of stress as the bars are pushing down on the brackets.😱


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[majorairhead]

We have a flying cloud 25a with an equalizer hitch. My hitch bars were terribly difficult to move off the j brackets, couldn't budge 'em, had to kick 'em to move em in, and yank like crazy to pull em out, and I'm 6'1" and 192 pounds, not young, but ain't worn out yet either......and the hitch was creaking and banging and just raising a ruckus on our last trip. I had the socket bolts torqued to 60 lbs.

I say we have around 2,500 miles on the hitch setup. I think the paint rubbing off, the grease, road grime, you name it, all gunked up in there, was causing issues.

So, I removed the sockets from the hitch head, cleaned everything up, put a little grease on the surfaces, pounded the sockets back in with a rubber mallet, and torqued the bolts to 45 lbs.

Then we towed 30 miles or so to a local state park, and she was quiet as a mouse.......not a squeak, bang, clunk, or creak.....amazing.

While at the state park, I ran the torque on the socket bolts up to 50 lbs, and the bars were able to be moved up on the j brackets with ease, using the lift tool. Yep, the bars are now able to move back and forth with relative ease, and with the bracket jackets on there, the whole setup was quiet.

On a side note, a good ole boy pulled in while we were leaving with a 6,000 lb. dry weight camper, being towed by a new chevy colorado, hitched up right to ball, no sway control, weight distribution, or any other such nonsense, straight towing that puppy

[cactusjk]

Bay Area Airstream installed ours. Perfectly quiet and very easy to hitch/unhitch. No regrets!

[Ron A]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, go back to page one and post thirteen. My extra bolt and copper pipe modification has never slipped.

I second that. After seeing the copper pipe mod. I did use a small piece of PVC pipe instead of copper but the concert works for me.


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[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, go back to page one and post thirteen. My extra bolt and copper pipe modification has never slipped.

The brackets on my 25 slipped no matter what I did until I did Bob's copper pipe mod. Solid as a rock afterwards. Be sure not to overtighten the bolts and to tighten them evenly. If the bracket bows out due to one or both bolts being overtightened it reduces the contact are with the frame and actually increases the probability of slippage.

Al

[DarrellT]

We're waiting on arrival of our 2017 FC26U. We'll be towing with a F-250.
The dealer is a 'bigger is better' advocate.
What bar rating should we be using?

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by DarrellT

We're waiting on arrival of our 2017 FC26U. We'll be towing with a F-250.
The dealer is a 'bigger is better' advocate.
What bar rating should we be using?

Hi, no more than 1,000 lb. bars and no less than 600 lb. bars. Hopefully someone towing with an F-250 will chime in.

[steverino]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, no more than 1,000 lb. bars and no less than 600 lb. bars. Hopefully someone towing with an F-250 will chime in.

Yep, 1000 lb bars are working well on my 27FB and F250. Adequate weight transfer to the steer axle, and a smooth ride. Well except on California freeways, but that's no fault of the hitch ;-)


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[Coaster]

When I bought my used airstream in 2012 the hitch came with it. I always thought the the hitch was racked, one side was lower he the other. It was also sloppy, so sloppy when I brought it to ford they replaced the receiver. Long story short the service manager gave me a spare shank. The original shank was unlevel a lot and the new shank was level. I hope that this will make a difference I always thought that one bar was carrying most of the load.

[m.hony]

An "anti-rattle" device or hitch tightener will solve that.


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[graysailor]

Yep, 1000lbs bars here. 30' Classic, F250. I did go with the larger 2.5" hitch rather then use the reducer.

[Coaster]

Originally Posted by m.hony

An "anti-rattle" device or hitch tightener will solve th
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I do have a stowaway hitch tightener. The L brackets were at the same level but I had to raise the tounge to get the other bar on.


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[Bgibbs]

Just got our 26u a few months ago and have been following the Equil-i-zer thread. Just went out to see if my L-brackets had moved on our just completed 2,000 mile trip. No movement at all BECAUSE now there is no space between the upper and lower bolts and the A-frame and there is a second (even thicker) steel plate on the outside of the A-frame. I guess the hitch guys have been listening!