SilverGate: I won't be able to get to my Airstream until Saturday, but since it is a 23 like yours, I’m pretty sure I'll find the same installation. As I said earlier in this thread, it's my curbside that keeps coming loose, which we now know is a symptom of an incorrect installation.
BillTex: I'll be taking my tool box with me on Saturday, and if it's as easy as you say to fix, it will get done, and I'll post some pictures for everyone. You're right, we need to be self-sufficient out there and not travel with an unsafe hitch installation. Please answer Minnie's Mate's questions. The additional information from one who has made the fix will be helpful.
Thanks,
Randy
__________________ Randy and Pat Godfrey
2nd VP Florida Unit WBCCI# 7591 - AIR# 17017
2007 Safari SE 23' - Daisy
2006 Lincoln Mark LT - Hoke
A quick check of my install indicates that I need to lower the propane line and reinstall the bolt in the correct hole. I will do that later today! More proof that this fourm is very valuable. Thanks to all for their assistance.
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Royce (K0RKK) and Karen AIR# 3913
You can use a piece of garden hose/PVC hose as a chafing guard to put around LP line. I was able to pull my LP line down an inch or so very easily, didn’t need to use any other hangers. You may be able to just eliminate one hanger to create some slack if necessary. If you don’t want to do that PVC wire hangers are commonly available (often used to hang cable TV/coax wire).
Install sheet for Eq hitch attached...never mind...
Really, this is easy. Don't travel with an improper hitch install (shame on the "dealer" that did it) don't pinch an LP line (can you say BOOM!) and yes, this forum is valuable. Sure is nice to give, instead of recieve for a change...
Bill
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Life is Good-Camping all around New England
Good people drink good beer-Hunter S Thompson
Thanks guys. When it comes to fix-its, I'm not afraid to admit that I have two left hands. If I have the instructions (yes, I will actually follow them, especially if they have pictures ) or if I have observed it being done before, as in the DIY Network, I can usually do it. But when it comes to coming up with creative solutions, I'm in the dark without a light.
I'll down load the instructions if my gas line proves to be in the way. I've never found my brackets to be loose, but there's no sense in waiting to find out the hard way...when I have to have a replacement one over nighted to the camp ground where I'm staying or worse.
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2006 30' Safari - "Changes in Latitudes"
2008 F-250 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab SWB
Family of Disney Fanatics
WBCCI# 4821
We've had no problems with towing or loose bolts on our equalizer, never the less the setup is incorrect. We have a 4" A-frame and the brackets are bolted through the BOTTOM hole on BOTH the curb and street sides. There is a lot of daylight between the frame and the bolts, so we'll be making adjustments also.
Our hitch was installed by an Airstream dealership just last October. Would it be appropriate to identify the dealership so that others can be forewarned? I will notify them, but will not be making the 1000 mile trip to have them correct the problem.
We've learned so much from the forum, thanks to you all!
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Bob, Dianne, and Tess the WFT
BDandTTs
Bandit #14576 (WDCU/AIR)
From what I have read so far on the thread, all dealers install them incorrectly. That is, they do not move the propane line. My dealer is in Oregon and claims he has been installing them this way for several years.
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"However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results."
Well, when I got home from work I went out to check mine. I must have the only Airstream dealer that knows how to install an Equal-i-zer brand hitch correctly. My dealer is Middle Tennessee Airstream and is an Equal-i-zer dealer, but does not stock them. I guess he either keeps the little foam spacers for the gas line in stock or knew to order it when he ordered the hitch.
Photo 1 is the curb side and Photo 2 is the street side.
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2006 30' Safari - "Changes in Latitudes"
2008 F-250 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab SWB
Family of Disney Fanatics
WBCCI# 4821
Man...I hate to diss anybody, but all the time spent talking about this incorrect bracket install you could have fixed it already!
This is a 5 min job!
Take out the bolt, pull the LP line down, slip the bolt under the line, re-torque bolt! If needed, put another hanger on the LP line (you may not even need it).
You must learn to travel self sufficiently; that would include making MINOR adjustments like this.
What would you guys do if you had a major malfunction?
C'mon get out there and get your hands dirty...this is NO BIG DEAL!
I would not continue to travel like this...didn't you read Josh's response?
Sorry for all the razzin...but really this is a 5 MIN JOB!
Bill
Hi, Bill. Relax, calm down, don't let your blood pressure rise. You're right, it is only a five minute job, but mine has been that way for three years and for many thousands of miles without being a problem. I will re-do mine at a later date; not going anywhere for at least a month and I will more than likely make it an hour job. I will carefully bend [pull down] my propane line, cover it with just the right size heater hose, cut it at the exact length as to look like it was done from the factory, reinstall the "L" bracket mount properly to the frame, and touch up the paint on my "A" frame. Maybe I'll take two hours, OK Bill?
Well, when I got home from work I went out to check mine. I must have the only Airstream dealer that knows how to install an Equal-i-zer brand hitch correctly. My dealer is Middle Tennessee Airstream and is an Equal-i-zer dealer, but does not stock them. I guess he either keeps the little foam spacers for the gas line in stock or knew to order it when he ordered the hitch.
Photo 1 is the curb side and Photo 2 is the street side.
Tom,
In photo one, is that just a piece of that dense gray foam used for packing materials?
Randy
__________________ Randy and Pat Godfrey
2nd VP Florida Unit WBCCI# 7591 - AIR# 17017
2007 Safari SE 23' - Daisy
2006 Lincoln Mark LT - Hoke
I’m still not sure yet what I’ll do about it. Some say that by the time I get done writing about this, I could have fixed in myself. My cautious side tells me that moving the propane line might void my 2-year Airstream warranty! My Equal-i-zer seems to be working fine and I’m not totally convinced that there will be a problem leaving it this way…
I’ll wait for rgodfrey’s report on his set-up.
In the mean time, I’ll try to get more input from other Equal-i-zer users…
Josh says there may be many people out there with incorrectly installed Equal-i-zer Hitches.
My hitch was incorrectly installed. Everything worked fine until I went up some very steep, ( 10 to 12%) grades. The bottom of the bracket moved forward putting the bracket at an angle. The bar then rested on the front edge of the bracket and began to wear at that point. The bolts stayed tight. I could have left it that way but I did not like the wear that was occurring. I had the dealer re-install correctly.
If you are not having any difficulty, I would leave it alone until and if you see the condition I described. If that happens, you will have plenty of time to re-install with no problem.
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"However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results."
I went to my Airstream yesterday with the intention of fixing the Equal-I-zer installation if it was as easy as BillTex said it should be. Mine is a 2007 Safari 23 much like SilverGate’s, so I was expecting an incorrect installation like the photo in SilverGate’s post #24. Unfortunately, I forgot to take the camera, but mine is installed incorrectly just like SilverGate’s. The bracket bolt goes through the bottom hole to get around the LP gas line, and the tightening of the bracket bolts has caused the plates to bow. And as I have said before, the L-bracket, square headed bolt on that side has been loosening on me during our travels—a symptom of the incorrect installation.
The fix doesn’t look so easy though, and I have the same concern now, that SilverGate does about voiding the warranty. The LP gas line, a metal pipe in that area, is held tightly in-place against the frame with three hangers fastened to the frame. There is no slack whatsoever that would enable you to pull the pipe down to clear the bolt. The fasteners looked like rivets (the lighting wasn’t good so I couldn’t tell), so they would have to be drilled out, and spacers installed to drop the line for the required clearance. Alternatively, a u-shaped bend could be put in the line to clear the bolt at that area.
I have an appointment October 1 at Jackson Center. At this time, were not planning any significant trips until then, so I think I’ll just put a wrench on it at each rest stop, and ask the factory to re-route the line.
Randy
__________________ Randy and Pat Godfrey
2nd VP Florida Unit WBCCI# 7591 - AIR# 17017
2007 Safari SE 23' - Daisy
2006 Lincoln Mark LT - Hoke
Rgodfrey: Sorry that you, also, have your curbside Equal-I-zer Sway Bracket installed improperly according to Equal-I-zer representative, Josh Jones.
But thanks for the fine, detailed, and thoughtful report.
Below is a photo that I just took looking straight up at the propane pipe held tightly against the A-frame with rivets, right where the Sway bracket needs to be. Equal-I-zer’s Limited Warranty (page 4 of their Installation Instructions) says, in part, "Progress MFG, Inc. shall not be required to replace or repair any products damaged as a result of improper installation…"
My common sense tells me that drilling out rivets and moving the propane pipe could void our 2-year Airstream warranty. We need to hear from the Airstream Factory.
I agree with your plan to have the Airstream Factory deal with this.
I think that Airstream Customer Relations Representative, Alan Wuebbenhorst, needs to be appraised of what appears to be a nation-wide problem of Airstream Authorized Dealers installing the Equal-I-zer brand weight-distribution hitch in a manner that Equal-I-zer says is improper.
Airstream needs to issue a directive as to the correct way to install this hitch and not void the Airstream and Equal-I-zer warranties.
I, for one, plan on contacting the Airstream Factory and my authorized Airstream Dealer. And it might be helpful for others to do so as soon as possible.
BTW, in the meantime Randy, I would be careful and not over-tighten that bottom bolt, which could cause further "pinching & bowing" effect, as Josh Jones pointed out.
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) or if I have observed it being done before, as in the DIY Network, I can usually do it. But when it comes to coming up with creative solutions, I'm in the dark without a light.
There is a lot of daylight between the frame and the bolts, so we'll be making adjustments also. 
My dealer is Middle Tennessee Airstream and is an Equal-i-zer dealer, but does not stock them. I guess he either keeps the little foam spacers for the gas line in stock or knew to order it when he ordered the hitch.
Hi, Bill. Relax, calm down, don't let your blood pressure rise. 
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