What hitch should I be using?

[altamont]

I have had my trailer for 7 months and put on about 4500 miles so far, including a long trip to the Canadian Rockies. I have a new 2008 Ford F250 and this combination has served me very well. I have an EAZ Lift hitch with the friction sway control. To be honest, I love how it tows. I have had NO sway issues, noise or complaints of any kind. After reading many posts, it seems this hitch is the starting point and I should upgrade ASAP before I have an accident. Your opinions please.

[doorgunner]

My setup is old-1986 came with the rig, Big old bars wirh chains and friction control sway bars. Still works fine. I'm sayin if it works don't fix it. There appears to me to be some folks on this forum that would complain about the second coming of whoever their saviour might be

[drag'nwagon]

I agree with doorgunner, I pull mine with 1000 pound bars and a friction sway control arm that came with the trialor when I bought it, no issues. I have deliberately put myself in truck traffic to see how it goes and I have had no problems. If your rig is pulling fine than keep pulling it! I once saw a 16' bambie with a haha attached to it...I am still laughing about that one. Sometimes more is just more, and in some cases it is just more money. You can not spend you way out of an accident unless your hitch gitup is grossly less than what you need.

[moosetags]

We use a Hensley for Lucy and are very satisfied. If what you are using works, don't mess with it.

[dwightdi]

As long as you remember to disconnect the frictional restraint before making tight turns during parking, you will be alright. I think the Reese Dual cam I have been using for 12 years on my truck and van are good. The van was a little less stable than the van and the dual cam made a bigger improvement in handling when I was using the van to tow my 31 footer.

[ZoominC6]

If you're comfy with it, keep it.

If at some point you get into a situation of some sort you don't feel comfy with, consider your options. They are many as you may know by now.

We started with the simple load distribution setup that had worked so well for me on my show car hauler.

I was sold on a Hensley merely on the chance I might hang the trailer off the edge or get into an occilation problem someday. It seemed like realtively cheap insurance considering the price of our rig.

Post installation I noticed a little difference around the big rigs but haven't gotten myself into a risky situation to date to test its worth. I'm satisfied with my decision; however, the simple old rig probably would have been fine as well.

Good luck and
HAPPY TRAILS

[azflycaster]

I have a basic Reese WD only hitch with 750 lb bars that came with my TW. I added a fricton sway device to the setup earlier this year. I have been very pleased with the results. On a trip a few months ago at night I had 2 elk come out on the road in front of me at 60 MPH (me, not the elk). I appled alot of brake, but knew that I could not stop in time. I made a shart turn around the elk and the setup performed perfectly. No sway and the TV and TT acted as one unit.

[Excella CM]

That elk was probably doin' sixty after you passed

[Safari-Rick]

As your first hitch and probably the one that was sold to you when you picked up your trailer, EAZ Lift is a good weight distribution system to start with. I used it my first year and went into the wend tunnel of Palm Springs, CA. and was passed by big rigs with minimal sway. For the $$ it's a good hitch to start with and even use till you buy another one just becasue you want to.

I now use a Easy Rider Air Hitch. It does make a difference when going over rough road. But..... that's another story!

Safari-Rick

[FreshAir]

I have an old Equalizer too. My neighbor gave it to me. First I thought the 1000# bars would be too much but it turns out it is just what I needed, I did have to by a longer shank because my Buick's gas filler cap is behind the license plate in the middle of the bumper. Some of the big clunky fuel noozles will not make it into the filler tube. I'm still working on that problem. The Equalizer is fine. My neighbor says he has the 2 friction sway controllers someplace.

Neil and Lynn

[altamont]

Thanks to all who responded. I guess I will just stick with what works until it doesn't anymore.

-JC-

[Minnie's Mate]

It seems to me that the hitch that was used on the trailer in this thread:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...k-23906-5.html
was similar to an eazalift if not that particular brand. There seems to be a disconnect between post 67 & 68 where the accident occurred, but you might check it out starting at post 67 to see what happens if you don't keep proper maintenance up. THIS IS IMPORTANT ON ALL BRANDS OF HITCHES!

I started with an Equal-i-zer brand hitch and am pleased with it. You should stick with your current set up if you continue to be comfortable with it.

[pmclemore]

JC,

Page and I inherited our EZ-Lift plus whatever friction bar from our PO. We've camped pretty hard during the last 4 years, including up to AK last year. We had no problems with it - the rig was stable and I never felt uneasy. I'm going to pass it along to the new owner shortly, but only because I acquired a dual-cam with the new rig. If I were uneasy about the hitch, I wouldn't pass it along to the next guy. So, for what it's worth, I second the motion to use what you have - it's a good hitch.

Pat