|
01-23-2003, 10:28 PM
|
#1
|
2 Rivet Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 92
|
Need for Equalizer??
After reading the thread on the Equalizer hitch, I got to wondering if the use of one of those might be advisable for towing a small trailer - my 57' Bubble is pretty little and total weight will be about 2500 lbs once rebuilt. I will be putting some electric brakes on it along with the new axle. Advice?
|
|
|
01-24-2003, 05:51 AM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 949
|
13 footer!,
Unless you are towing it with a Mini Cooper I doubt you would need anything. What's the tongue weight? I am guessing a couple hundred pounds at the most.
Chas
|
|
|
01-24-2003, 06:43 AM
|
#3
|
Moderator Emeritus
1964 26' Overlander
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Anna
, Illinois
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,719
|
Need for Equalizer??
Greetings Smallfry!
I would suggest that you check the owner's manual of your tow vehicle. Depending upon the size of your tow vehicle, you may need a weight distributing or load equalizing hitch. Some of the smaller tow vehicles will require a load equalizing hitch for any load more than 2,000 pounds. If you are towing with a 1/2 ton pickup or a sport utility based upon a 1/2 ton or greater chasis, you will likely need only a good weight carrying hitch. In either case, a friction sway control would be a good insurance policy to add to the setup.
Kevin
__________________
Kevin D. Allen
WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC #7864
AIR #827
1964 Overlander International
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
|
|
|
01-24-2003, 07:16 AM
|
#4
|
Moderator Emeritus
1972 31' Sovereign
High Springs
, Florida
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 2,311
|
I agree with overlander64 on the anti sway unit. Short wheelbase, single axle trailer tend to be the most unstable trailers on the road.
__________________
ARS WA8ZYT
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 D/A Ext. Cab
Propane Powered Honda EU2000i
Lots of Hot Sauce!
Air # 283
WBCCI 1350
|
|
|
01-24-2003, 07:54 AM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
St. Catharines
, South Western Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,367
|
smallfry..
Our previous trailer weighed road ready about 2,000 lbs. The hitch weight around 275lbs. When pulling the Coleman the rear of the van would sometimes bottom out on the rubber bumpers from the bounce effect when hitting a good bump in the road. With the 23' A/s, and using the equalizing hitch we never bottom out.
RV dealers do recommend equalizing hitches on some of the larger pop ups. If you are using a stiff sprung tow vehicle it may not be so important. Hope this info helps.
__________________
Airstreams..... The best towing trailers on the planet!
|
|
|
01-24-2003, 01:01 PM
|
#6
|
2 Rivet Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 92
|
Equalizer?
I should have put in info on the tow vehicle. It's a Toyota Tundra 4WD pickup. The wheelbase is 10.7 ft (128.3 in) and it weighs about 5000+ lbs curb. The rear axle GAWR is 3960 and tongue weight is 700 lbs with a weight carrying hitch. The equalizing hitch limit is1050 and max trailer weight is 7000lbs. The overall total total everything you can think of weight is 11800 lbs. Wow. I can't believe I dragged all that info out. I forgot the question!
|
|
|
01-24-2003, 01:06 PM
|
#7
|
Moderator Emeritus
1964 26' Overlander
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Anna
, Illinois
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,719
|
Need for Equalizer??
Greetings Smallfry!
You may not need a load equalizing receiver style hitch to meet factory recommendations, but you may need a drop bar of several inches that goes into a receiver hitch in order to get a level towing stance. You will likely need a ball height in the neighborhood of 18" and very few four-wheel-drive trucks of any make will accommodate that height without a dropped draw bar.
I would still suggest a friction sway control as an added insurance policy.
Kevin
__________________
Kevin D. Allen
WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC #7864
AIR #827
1964 Overlander International
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
|
|
|
01-24-2003, 01:11 PM
|
#8
|
Rivet Master
1956 22' Safari
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Vintage Kin Owner
Conifer/Evergreen
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,702
|
Don't want to burst your bubble...
...but a '57 Bubble is considered 16', not 13', as Airstreams are measured from tip of the tongue to the bumper. Not that it makes too much difference, just wanted to let you know.
Shari
|
|
|
01-24-2003, 01:19 PM
|
#9
|
2 Rivet Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 92
|
Hitching
Thanks for all the info:
OK; a drop draw bar to keep it level.
friction sway bars (I remember those from hitching up 3-point hitches on tractors!
and.....my trailer is 16 feet long, stem to stern. I think I said 13 cuz that's the innards length.
Jo Ann
|
|
|
01-24-2003, 02:08 PM
|
#10
|
Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
St. Catharines
, South Western Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,367
|
Tundra
Hi Jo Ann..
Nice Truck!! Consumer Mag has much praise for the Tundra. Hope you will show a photo of it when you get it hooked up.
I don't think you will need to worry about your truck bottoming out.
__________________
Airstreams..... The best towing trailers on the planet!
|
|
|
01-24-2003, 08:43 PM
|
#11
|
2 Rivet Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 92
|
Equalizer?
Yes, the truck is pretty good - had one recall on the brakes. I don't think Toyota put on big enough brakes on the 2000 models and I got to admit, they took it back and replaced rotors, discs, drums, calibers, etc., and I wasn't out a dime. the brakes were shuddering a bit coming down steep incline - we have a 7% grade just north of us on Hwy 101 and it's a real brake test. Now they work fine. Other than that, no problems at all. I get about 19+ mpg without the trailer and 13 with it. as they say in the commercieals, I LOVE MY TRUCK. It's my 3rd Toy truck.
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|