old, I mean, vintage hitch systems

[wmarsha]

Here is a question for the restore crowd: Is anyone rebuilding/restoring vintage towing hitch equipment? I see many with vintage trailers and TV's, but have never paid attention to the hitching arrangement. I am still looking for someone to tow their vintage AS into camp with the front wheel drive Toronado or Caddy with the rear wheels removed...like the old "trailer life" ads....

[Thalweg]

I know this doesn't answer your question, but my trailer came with one half of a very old equalizer hitch. I don't know if it's an Airstream product or not. I also don't know what to do with it. I'll probably hold on to it for the time being. I suspect that someday, someone will want it.

[FreshAir]

This is an old WDH system that I use. My neighbor gave it to me when we got our Trade Wind 6 years ago. He said that it was old and was given to him 'years ago'. I think it's an Equalizer....if it isn't someone correct me. Fortunately it has the 1000# bars, just what I need.

Neil

[nairnchyz]

Don't know what year(s) Wmarsha is refering to by vintage?
FreshAir - the picture you posted is indeed a WDH. Great gift that you received. It's not much different than standard WDH's that are used today. Notice that yours has a sway bar attachment.
Like the old saying goes " If it's not broke - don't fix it"!! Selling price today for a similar set up would be $ 500.00 to $600.00 I know the cost as someone stole the WDH off our GMC truck while it was parked in our deiveway at home and I had to replace it. Everyone should have a locking pin for the WDH - I didn't, although I had looked at them in a store last winter and thought it was a good idea.
FreshAir -Great to see a sedan in harness and ready to pull!

Bob

[idroba]

In 1979 I purchased a Reese straight adjustable trunion bar WD hitch, 750# bars. I have used it for towing probably 100,000 miles and still use it, or my similar age Draw Tight round bar. That one has gone another 100,000 miles. I towed 400 miles with it today in fact. Both hitches work just like they did when new.

However, I have an Andersen WD on order now and would have used it for this trip if the order had not become confused and it did not arrive on time (see the Andersen thread). Reason for the new hitch? I wanted to try it out, it is much lighter than the old ones, and it will not be greasy. But, honestly, the old ones work very well still, and there was no "have to" in my purchase. I have never,ever, had any issue with sway on my trailers, but the Andersen has a built in sway system. That will be interesting to evaluate and see if I can tell any difference from years of towing Airstreams up to 25' with no sway control.

[danlehosky]

I was facinated with the slimp dollys on a thread. These were very early weight dist and sway control all built into one. Unfortunately they had drawbacks but I hope someone may revisit this who could overcome some of these problems. It is a very good idea.

Dan

[idroba]

I forgot about the dolly. In the 60's I had a dolly on a Shasta 16' trailer. We towed it with a 60 hp Mercedes 190 Diesel. My dad and I wrote an article for Trailer Life called "A Diesel and a Dolly". I wonder if there are any copies of that around. Are there any Trailer Life archives?

I had not thought about that in years. Thanks for the memory.

[danlehosky]

Idroba, when I saw pics I was facinated with the wd possibilities and the sway control. Apparantly backing was a problem as the dolly added a pivot point or changed it, and highway speeds were also difficult.

Dan

[FreshAir]

Did someone say, 'dolly'. This is me in 1952 hooking up the family trailer to the famly Nash......somewhere along RTE 66.

Neil

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

This is an old WDH system that I use. My neighbor gave it to me when we got our Trade Wind 6 years ago. He said that it was old and was given to him 'years ago'. I think it's an Equalizer....if it isn't someone correct me. Fortunately it has the 1000# bars, just what I need.

Neil

FreshAir, The hitch you have is not an Equalizer, but is an Easylift, or a copy thereof. I had one once just like it. It's a good hitch, but not an anti-sway hitch, and that's why the friction bar is needed.

Keep it well greased where the bars go into the head, the friction bar tight, and it will work well for you for many years yet to come.

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by SteveH

FreshAir, The hitch you have is not an Equalizer, but is an Easylift, or a copy thereof. I had one once just like it. It's a good hitch, but not an anti-sway hitch, and that's why the friction bar is needed.

Keep it well greased where the bars go into the head, the friction bar tight, and it will work well for you for many years yet to come.

Thank you. I was begining to think that it was an Easy-lift as the only info I had was from the PO who never had used it. It has the 'balls' for 2 sway bars. I added the one because an Airstream friend that was following told me that my tandem axle Trade Wind had a 'wiggle' on the road we were traveling ven though the long wheel base Buick did not register any towing wiggle. Hopefully, I won't need 2 sway bars.
Neil