Bought a generator, do I need a hitch adjustment?

[Acheron2010]

Hmmm.

I've been on the road a year now, and used to the feeling of towing my 2019 FC26 with Silverado 2500 and equalizer hitch.

I purchased a Champion 3400W dual fuel generator, and carry it right next to the tailgate on the right side, adding about 100 pounds behind the rear tire.

Lately the trailer feels just a tad different. No sway, but feels "looser" than it has in the past - all other things being equal.

Do I need to tweak the hitch height? Did 100 additional pounds on the tail lower my truck rear end to make an effect?

Anyone else experience this?

[Piggy Bank]

You may actually need to torque the receiver for the bars on your equalizer.

We just traded trailers and during the PDI, the tech told us about this. I believe it was 65 foot pounds.

He said if it isn't hard to swing those bars, then they are too loose.

[ROBERT CROSS]

I would add some tension on your WD bars to compensate for the extra weight, bring the Butt back up...it should feel better. 👍

Bob
🇺🇸

[kittmaster]

My trekker hitch which I think is the evolution of the equalizer......I was told to torque the sway points to 80ft/lbs.

I would check your hitch manual to ensure you are torqued to the right value.

Also, you didn't grease the sway points did you? I was told that is a no no.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

If a hundred pounds means an adjustment then a lot of us are in big trouble. Weight in the back of my truck varies by about 800 pounds over the course of a week or three. Load in the trailer can easily be different by 1,000 pounds this time vs last time.

If you are worried about your hitch, have a tech check it over. That's completely independent of any load changes or anything else. They look like simple beasts, but they can go out of whack.

Some math:

Your fuel tank likely holds 35 gallons. That's around 210 pounds. unless you never go below a half tank, your truck varies in weight by at least 100 pounds ....

Bob

[Bill M.]

Repack the truck for a test. Either take the gen out and do a test or push it up against the cab and test. I think 100 lbs behind the axle is a change that might be noticed. That should answer specifically how the gen affects things. Not familiar with that hitch. But... it does sound like you might need to tweak it a little.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Acheron2010

. . .
I purchased a Champion 3400W dual fuel generator, and carry it right next to the tailgate on the right side, adding about 100 pounds behind the rear tire.
. . .

That much weight behind the TV rear axle is, in effect, increasing your tongue weight by a certain amount, and may contribute to sway issues ["looser" than in the past].

Good suggestions so far . . . yes adjusting WD is a good idea, including all left/right weights for all TV and trailer tires IMO. If posssible do a full weigh-in including tongue weight alone. You might want to confirm that your rig is not exceeding the rear axle rating for your tow vehicle IMO. Could you move the generator forward in the bed?

Good luck,

Peter

[Loden]

You might try adding a washer to the equalizer hitch. If the load leveling was on the edge of the envelope before adding the generator then a washer more could bring it back in the best control zone.

[drbrick]

IMHO the goal is keep the payload forward of the rear axle. Personally I carry our Champion 3400 up against the cab and nothing abaft the rear axle but the AS

[A W Warn]

I would move the generator while traveling, so that it sets over or forward of the rear axle.
(all load behind the axle counts as tongue weight with regard to selection of torsion bars rating)

If not, some tweaking is probably needed. Probably more down angle, shimming, of the hitch head would help.

Review the procedure here>
https://www.google.com/search?q=equi...&oe=#kpvalbx=1

[smithcreek]

The guidelines Andy at CanAm wrote up and shares states:

"If you are setting up a new hitch the bars will wear in quite quickly. You will likely need to add a third of a link in 2-500 miles. You will need another third after another 500-1000 miles. You will likely feel the difference in the steering as this happens. After a while it just won’t feel as planted as it was after your initial set up. It is fine to experiment 1/3 of a link at a time you should notice the difference right away if it was the right or wrong change to make."

Maybe this is contributing to what you feel.

[Bbelk]

I have a Silverado 2500. Sometimes I carry a generator right rear. Sometimes I carry a motorcycle (500#). 27 ft FB Classic. It does not seem to make much difference.

[CRH]

I sometimes tow with a half ton. Sometimes a one ton. On either, I may or may not start out with a couple of hundred pounds of firewood behind the axle. I can't tell the difference either way with either truck when it comes to how the trailer tows.