Equalizer E4 sizing

[renderit]

Hello, new user here. I am buying a 2014 Bambi 16' - 4" trailer. My tow vehicle is a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser. The sizes for this E4 look like 4000, 6000, 10000.

I am guessing the 4000?

[SteveH]

The Equalizer brand hitch is absolutely the stiffest weight distribution hitch made, and even the 4000lb model will be too stiff and might end up damaging the tongue on your trailer.

Take a look at any of the light duty hitches made by Reese or Easylift. For flexibility and to preserve your trailer you want a hitch with tapered bars.

Oh, just noticed this is your first post, so welcome to the forum.

[renderit]

Just noticed I spell Equalizer wrong.

Steve H: Really? It was recommended by my Airstream Dealer. How about Curt? It was recommended by the hitch folks in town.

[kscherzi]

Go to the Equal-i-zer website. They have a online calculator that helps to figure out the correct sized bars. The formula is something like (trailer tongue weight + weight of stuff in tow vehicle behind rear axle) x 1000.

I have an Equal-i-zer hitch for my trailer that I'm happy with. Its quick and easy to hook up. No drilling lots of holes in frame for friction bar...

I've never had any popped rivets or bent frame issues. I've also read the round vs square bars stiffness thing is a myth, so don't know the facts behind the Equal-i-zer will wreck your trailer assertions come from. I imagine any badly set up hitch / tow vehicle combo is capable of that harm.

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by renderit

Just noticed I spell Equalizer wrong.

Steve H: Really? It was recommended by my Airstream Dealer. How about Curt? It was recommended by the hitch folks in town.

I'm sure it was, because they probably sell that hitch. The Curt hitch is a tapered round bar and much more flexible than the Equalizer. Whatever hitch you decide on it will probably work fine as long as you get the one that is rated for the tongue weight of your trailer. Equalizer is also notorious for recommending their 10,000 pound hitch for everything.

And about the square vs round bar "argument", you need to take into consideration where the statement is written, what that person sells, and what his motives are.

[subfan1]

Get the 4000 we have a 20 flying cloud and have the 6000 hitch. You'll be fine

[renderit]

Ordered a Fastway Roundbar. Now I have the best of both worlds. If I don't like it I can change it later. Had no idea this was a subject you just don't want to get into here. I apologize.

[subfan1]

No need to apologize. Some inputs are very strong. If you do a search, you will see lots of pros and cons on just about any subject. I chose the equalizer because I needed to hook and unhook trailer at an angle and with the Reese I couldn't do that. It is a good hitch and been around for years. If it was that bad the company wouldn't be in business any more. I'd like to know more about your hitch choice. I don't believe I've heard of that one. I hope it works great for you .

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, Equal-I-zer has an E-2 series hitch for the smaller trailers.

[renderit]

This is listed as a Fastway E2. If you see the instrictions for it I would say it is obviously made like if not by the Equal-I-Zer.

[SteveH]

The Fastway E2 hitch is built by Equal-I-zer, but uses tapered round bars. It will be a good hitch for a lighter trailer assuming you get the right weight bars.

The only problems I've heard of with the E2 is the same brackets slipping as in other Equal-I-zer hitches.

As a matter of note here, Reese also makes a hitch that uses tapered square bars that uses a simular friction sway control system as the Equal-I-zer brand, called the Reese SC. I bought one and installed it after the brake controller on my Dodge truck proved incompatable with the Propride that I had been using, and it works well, but it's not near as good as a ProPride.