Correct Towing bars?

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by JFScheck

See - this is my education time here and now as I would have never imaged a bent A frame as that metal is so dam thick. Running "on the envelope" calculations (the engineer in me) I'm amazed that bolts, clamps, impressions on trailer frame rails, etc. wouldn't be present before an A-Frame would be bent. It would take a hell of alot of weight to bend that A-Frame - I would assume damage should also be present on the vehicles tow hitch mounts or frame as well...

I have an easy way out - quick call to Sean over at ProPride - tell him my tow vehicle and tounge weight - he knows the design of his system and tells me what I need. Another good P3 benifit as support is almost as important as the product itself.

Sounds like the issue of this thread actually should be confidence in the information other hitch companies support staff are dishing out - again - I would think these folks would be the "subject matter expert" at answering a "Tow Vehicle \ Trailer" configuratoin when using their hitch systems.

Of course - I also know we will all debate this till the cows come home - but isn't that part of the fun?

A-frames can easily be bent.

Just pound it enough times and watch what happens. That's exactly what happens when the bars have an excessive rating.

Andy

Andy

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by JFScheck

See - this is my education time here and now as I would have never imaged a bent A frame as that metal is so dam thick...

actually it's not very 'thick' and the dimensions of the boxed beam are marginally adequate...

and a/s has incrementally REDUCED the bits connecting frame2shell (not a good thing)

so YES the A frame/tongue flexes.

and on heavier units this FLEX happens without towing, or without stress on the w/d bars.

this is easy to observe and can even be measured at home without special tools.

if ya wanna read a bit about this topic start here...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...ion-35237.html

or here, another specially useful thread...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f396...ers-57860.html
_________

the issue of how ALL of this hitch biz relates to trailer problems is complex...

and there are useful posts and useful links in the 2 threads noted above.
_________

now back to the op...

Originally Posted by rperrym

...The dealer in Alabama installed an Equalizer hitch with 1000 lb. bars.

We towed it home, (about 300 miles), and thought it towed very well.

But after reading so many threads... I am wondering if we are over hitched.

Do I need to go to lighter bars?...

this happens daily here and it's iNtentional...

folks with properly set up rigs that ride fine and tow well READ some of the nonsense...

because it ECHOS over and over and over.

then the inevitable happens, they start thinking perhaps they are OVER connected...

it's like reading about shark bites off the great barrier reef and having anxiety about taking a bath.
_______

thankfully many folks get past this anxiety stage without tossing OUT their hitches, or taking apart the truck suspensions...

and without buying a 70s caprice for towing that new 30 footer.
_______

what the op still needs to do (or perhaps just report) is...

WEIGHing the rig and adjusting the w/d bars properly...

restoring the front axle load is the starting point,

while adjusting the hitch according to the instruction FROM the manufacturer.

get the trailer level and the axles properly loaded using normal towing bits.

the majority of folks don't wanna debate the many details of sway control vs weight distribution...

or endlessly worry that properly sized/installed/adjusted gear (tv and hitch) is damaging their trailers...


cheers
2air'

[slowmover]

Scale tickets with separate axle weights (plus the tongue weight) will give the info needed to give proper context for any and all changes (if needed). There is no substitute.

[dkottum]

Better tell Eqaul-I-Zer there is no substitute for scale tickets. They don't mention weighing as part of their set up procedure.

Doug

[Inland RV Center, In]

Opinions as to what load equalizing bars do, or don't do, is strickly an opinion without any data to support that opinion.

How stiff torsion bars may be, is a simple matter of testing their bend, which we recently completed, on three different brands.

The data will be published very soon.

Andy

[PJohnson]

Originally Posted by dkottum

Better tell Eqaul-I-Zer there is no substitute for scale tickets. They don't mention weighing as part of their set up procedure.

Doug

Doug,

You might want to visit the EquaL-i-zer web site at:
Equal-i-zer® Hitch - Product Info - Specifications

Equal-i-zer hitches are rated for both "Maximum Tongue Weight" and "Maximum Trailer Weight"

Note: There is no need to discuss tongue weight or trailer weight in the instructions since it is assumed that you have already purchased the correct product.

Please note the use of the word "Maximum" in the specifications. Equal-i-zer probably assumes the you will understand this to mean a fully loaded trailer. Maybe Equal-i-zer failed to understand that assume means "Make an Ass out of U and Me."

[dkottum]

Okay PJ' we visited the Eqaul-I-Zer website when we bought the hitch.

THEN we went to the instructions to set it up. No mention of weighing the combo to set up the hitch for towing. The procedure is to use ruler measurements.

My response was to the previous post, "no substitute for scale tickets" to set up, not select the hitch. I don't doubt the value of scale tickets, but stating it is not in the instructions for this particular hitch.

Doug

[PJohnson]

Originally Posted by dkottum

Okay PJ' we visited the Eqaul-I-Zer website when we bought the hitch.

THEN we went to the instructions to set it up. No mention of weighing the combo to set up the hitch for towing. The procedure is to use ruler measurements.

My response was to the previous post, "no substitute for scale tickets" to set up, not select the hitch. I don't doubt the value of scale tickets, but stating it is not in the instructions for this particular hitch.

Doug

Doug,

I apologize. I misinterpreted your remarks and thought you were disparaging scale weights.

[dkottum]

No problem PJ'.

Doug

[sams]

Rick,

Good meeting you today. The AirMidwest Rally string can be viewed in Forum Rallies & MeetUps.

sams

[mefly2]

Listen to Andy; he really is an expert on this subject.
You can't change out EQ brand bars for the lighter model, but you can make the bars that you already bought flex a bit more by reducing their profile dimensions.