Equalizer Installation Settings

[temcotom]

I purchased an Equalizer after a lot of research. I wanted a Reese Dual Cam, but could not get the newer model to work on my frame (Crossbar interfered). It may have been overkill for my setup anyway (22' INTL CCD - Toyota Tundra SR5 Regular Cab V8.

Anyway, I put on the hitch and got it close with the directions provided by Equalizer. As a side note, I found their customer service to be excellent.

I drove down to a weigh scale, and here is what I got.

Truck alone:
Front 2800
Rear 2350
Tot 5150

With CCD

Front 2900
Rear 3050
Trail 3900
Tot 9850

So, I think my tongue weight is about 700 lbs. The trailer was loaded including propane, tanks dry.

My only concern is that I only distributed 100 lbs on the front axle. Should this be more of an even weight distribution? The front wheelwell height is unchanged under load, so I can adjust the settings to get more transfer of weight to the front.

Thanks,

Tom

[markdoane]

I would say if you want the tongue weight to be closer to the 'ideal' target of 12%, you should probably tighten the bars up a notch and get a little bit more weight on the front. Right now you are at 15% tongue weight with the bars on, at the upper limit of the recommended range.
Did you allow for any added weight in the truck bed, like a cooler of beer or a spare tire? Or your wind surfing equipment?

[temcotom]

Thanks Markdoane,

I had the bed loaded with all of the toys. No beer though, I'll have to factor that into the equation.

Tom

[bryanl]

As far as the tongue weight distribution, you may be OK depending upon your truck and its suspension and hitch to pumkin distance. When you hook up the trailer, does the truck sink both fore an aft the same amount (i.e. does it stay level but just a bit closer to the ground)? If so you are probably OK. But if the rear sinks much more than the front, you probably need to adjust your ball angle or spring bar tension.

see the hitch adjustment section in http://sierranevadaairstreams.org/ow...tch-setup.html
for some ideas.

As far as tongue weight, this is best determined uncoupled and compared to the trailer axle load when also uncoupled. tongue weigth times 100 divided by the sum of tounge and axle weights should come to around 12% or so (+/- 2% usually OK).

Note that these considerations apply to any load leveling hitch!

[dmac]

I also have an Equal-i-zer brand hitch. You appear to not have enough tension on the bars... add a washer to increase the hitch head angle. You can approximate the proper distribution when the front and read suspension of the tow vehicle both deflect equally.

[temcotom]

I corrected the ball height to 18" (was 19"). I got better deflection between the front and rear tires. Still more on rear. I am going to take it to the scale this week sometime, and check it out.