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10-22-2003, 02:30 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2003 25' Safari
Kissimmee
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 813
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Shorten Draw Bar?
The draw bar on my Equal-i-zer hitch is a bit long horizontally. I could reduce the distance between the rear axle and the hitch by a couple inches if I were to drill another hole in the draw bar for the pin. Is there any value in this?
A 44" rear overhang, plus another 12" or so for the hitch, totals 56". A 2" reduction would be 2/56, or 3.5%. I'm thinking this is insignificant, your thoughts?
__________________
Dan
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10-22-2003, 03:14 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1978 25' Tradewind
Metro Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,524
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You know, I had that exact same thing on my Reese Dual Cam. I went out to one of the real hitch experts here, planning to pay him to shorten and re-drill the bar.
He told me that since I was using the weight distribution bars, it wouldn't make any difference, and would just make it tougher to get into the back of the Tahoe.
So, I didn't bother, and haven't had any problems as a result.
YMMV.
-Don
__________________
"Between what matters and what seems to matter, how should the world we know judge wisely?" - E.C. Bentley, Trent's Last Case
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10-22-2003, 03:35 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2003 25' Safari
Kissimmee
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 813
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I understand why a length change would not have a material effect on the vertical load due to the weight distribution bars. I am wondering if it would help for side loads - ie: sway.
__________________
Dan
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10-22-2003, 03:53 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2002 25' Classic
Oro Valley
, Arizona
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 835
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Have a Reese here also and could stand about 2-3" taken off and redrilling of the pin hole.
I wondered about the heating of the bar when it is "cut". Is it with a torch or metal saw? and the drilling is bound to produce some also.....
It just seems to me that closer to the axle of the tow vehicle is better....I could still get my rear lid up (I think)....this could really turn into a "black cloud affair" if I didn't measure accurately.
By the way I think the bar flexes??? I haven't been back there since I am the sole driver but just hitching up and watching it makes me think it is too long.
__________________
Kistler & Brenda
2002 Classic 25'
2003 Expedition EB 5.4L, AWD, AdvanceTrac Class IV hitch pkg. Reese dual cam/Prodigy
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10-22-2003, 06:47 PM
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#5
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Just an old timer...
2004 22' Interstate
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,766
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Drawbar flex
Kistler, you hit it right on the head. The first draw bar I used with my 34' was about 14" long or so, designed to clear the rear-door mounted spare tire of a van. I could hook my WD bars up and make the bar flex up a good 3/8" at the hitch head. Not cinching the WD bars up properly allowed for the bar to remain straight, but didn't properly distribute the load. No matter which way I used it, I know it was doing the up, down and sideways boogie while I was going down the road. It contributed substantially to trailer sway. The dual cam setup couldn't work because the draw bar wasn't rigid enough. Of course, underinflated tires didn't help much either. Together it was an "E" ticket ride. (Anybody remember "E" tickets?)
Anyway, I don't think that excessive draw bar length is a good thing at all.
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2004 Airstream Interstate "B-Van" T1N DODGE Sprinter
Former Airstreams: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' Two-door, 1994 B190 "B-Van"
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10-22-2003, 07:18 PM
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#6
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Just a member
1978 28' Argosy 28
Lutz
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,549
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Re: Drawbar flex
Quote:
Originally posted by 85MH325
Together it was an "E" ticket ride. (Anybody remember "E" tickets?)
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Roger,
You are dating yourself! E-ticket ride is a term we use around our house regularly.
I wish they would go back to the ticket books, it would cut down on the lines!
__________________
Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
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1978 Argosy 28 foot Motorhome
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
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10-22-2003, 10:41 PM
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#7
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418
2007 25' Safari FB SE
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1974 29' Ambassador
Yucca Valley
, California
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: 1963 26' Overlander
Posts: 4,804
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I think the shorter the better. Both vertical and horizontal forces would cause a lever type action on the receiver hitch, and with all the weight and stress alredy, it can't hurt to make it as short as it is practical.
Mine could and will be shortened almost 3 inches soon. I will have it cut by a machine shop with wet sawing and drilling equipment, to keep the heat down, and make a nice, clean cut and new hole.
If you compare it to a breaker bar, then it makes more sense. Just grab the bar 3 inches in from the handle, and see how much less force you can suddenly exert on the subject. Now multiply this by the force of the trailer tongue while towing!
It's a low percentage when you measure from the rear axle, but quite a bit when you only consider the distance of the receiver to trailer ball, and consider the forces on the square tubing and the receiver parts. The factory hitch on my Suburban flexes visibly while hitching up. I wonder if this will decrease once the draw bar is shortened.
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10-23-2003, 06:04 AM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member
2001 30' Excella
Bedford
, New Hampshire
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 347
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draw bar length
Read the information at this link.
http://www.rvlifemag.com/file313/hitchhints.html
This is from Andy in Canada. The information he provides is very informative.
__________________
-Life is a journey, not a destination.
Aerosmith
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10-23-2003, 06:52 AM
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#9
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Just an old timer...
2004 22' Interstate
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,766
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Quote:
Originally posted by uwe
The factory hitch on my Suburban flexes visibly while hitching up. I wonder if this will decrease once the draw bar is shortened.
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Uwe... something tells me that your hitch flexing is NOT a good thing! Somebody please correct me here if I'm wrong, but I don't think they're supposed to flex. I think that the entire hitch system is supposed to be rigid, as that's how the weight transfers to the two vehicle in a predictible fashion. The flex in my long draw bar was causing my WD system not to function properly. My hitch however, remained rigid.
I'd think that if your hitch is flexing when you hook up, that it will also oscillate as you travel down the road. That could translate to broken welds, or failed hitch parts. At the very least, if it is a bolt-on, it would be wearing the bolts and enlarging the bolt holes.
Hmmm.... is my thought process flawed here?
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2004 Airstream Interstate "B-Van" T1N DODGE Sprinter
Former Airstreams: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' Two-door, 1994 B190 "B-Van"
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10-23-2003, 10:07 AM
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#10
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418
2007 25' Safari FB SE
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1974 29' Ambassador
Yucca Valley
, California
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: 1963 26' Overlander
Posts: 4,804
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Not flawed
Roger,
It's not like it flexes 3 inches up and down, but I can see the distance from the reveiver tube to the bumper bottom increase and decrease slightly when dropping the trailer on the ball.
The first time i noticed this I immediately unhitched and checked all the bolts ad welds that I could get to, with a very bright flashlight and a long handle wrench. Everything tight and no cracks visible.
Mind you, this receiver hitch had never been used by the previous owner.
i also had it checked later at a hitch installation place, but they said that the hitch is a-ok.
Go figure.....
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10-23-2003, 12:35 PM
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#11
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Just an old timer...
2004 22' Interstate
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,766
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Interesting...
I guess that bridges and tall buildings flex and sway, so it follows that there might be some ineherent flex in the steel of a hitch. I would think that shortening your draw bar would lessen the leverage that the trailer puts on the hitch from the end.
It'll be interesting to see how this turns out. Let us know if you see a difference.
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2004 Airstream Interstate "B-Van" T1N DODGE Sprinter
Former Airstreams: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' Two-door, 1994 B190 "B-Van"
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