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Old 02-09-2016, 10:06 PM   #1
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Blue Ox or Equal-I-Zer?

I'm going to have to get a new w/d hitch and have narrowed the choice to the Blue Ox or EQ. Any recommendations as to which is best?

I have to deal with two different hitch weights (1,600 or 1,350), depending on whether or not the Harley is loaded in the back of the TT. Trailers weight if 7,660 ready to go camping.
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Old 02-09-2016, 10:07 PM   #2
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Have the equalizer 4 point, love it. 7500 trailer.

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Old 02-10-2016, 12:32 AM   #3
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I forgot to mention, either hitch is fine for weight distribution, leveling, etc., but I'm more interested in the sway control abilities.
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Old 02-10-2016, 07:37 AM   #4
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I have the EQ (1200 lb) and love it. Outstanding sway control!
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Old 02-10-2016, 08:24 AM   #5
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When I bought my new camper changed out my old hitch for the equalizer 4 point 1400# Works great and got rid of sway. Also added Timbren snubbers which add more to control sway. Later RJD
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Old 02-10-2016, 08:58 AM   #6
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I had a dual cam equalizer on previous trailer.
Now have Blue Ox on current rig.
The new trailer is 1500 lbs heavier and 5 feet longer.
They both exibit(ed) about the same amount of sway.

If you go with the blue ox BE CAREFUL. I went right out and bought
the longest strong arm breaker bar Harbor freight has and supplied my
own socket. That cheezy flat steel handle they give you with the blue
ox is TOO SHORT.
Also you MUST leave ball hitched and crank up the tongue to unload
the spring bars on the Blue Ox. If you don't they can really hurt you when
you try to unhook the chains!!!

Blue Ox is quieter in the turns but my dual cam wasn't too bad either.

I think Blue Ox might be a little better but it also takes longer to hitch
and un-hitch and it's more likely to hurt you if you aren't careful.
Both allow me to back in sharp turns without loosening/removing spring bars.
My 2¢
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Old 02-10-2016, 08:59 AM   #7
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I tow with the Equalizer 4 point and it works well. I hear lot's of praise for the Blue Ox as well, so I think you'd be well served with either.
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Old 02-10-2016, 10:02 AM   #8
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Either system is going to require you to raise the tt with it hooked to tv to be able to remove/install the bars. Most tt have power jacks, for the ones that don't either system is going to be a pain to remove bars or install bars. Later RJD
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Old 02-10-2016, 10:14 AM   #9
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One thing I learned with the Equalizer is to raise the trailer and remove the WD bars and swing them around when I enter a campground and am on flat ground. If the campsite places the TV and TT in a position where there is some pivot going on between the 2 or if the front of the TV is slightly higher, it will be a serious pain to remove and reinstall the bars. When I hook up to leave, if it's a flat campsite, I install the bars there. If not, I leave them off until I pull out to a level spot and then install them.
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Old 02-10-2016, 10:16 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dustman_stx View Post
One thing I learned with the Equalizer is to raise the trailer and remove the WD bars and swing them around when I enter a campground and am on flat ground. If the campsite places the TV and TT in a position where there is some pivot going on between the 2 or if the front of the TV is slightly higher, it will be a serious pain to remove and reinstall the bars. When I hook up to leave, if it's a flat campsite, I install the bars there. If not, I leave them off until I pull out to a level spot and then install them.
Yep like learning as you go. Good tip Later RJD
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Old 02-10-2016, 10:19 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KyDan View Post
I had a dual cam equalizer on previous trailer.
Now have Blue Ox on current rig.
The new trailer is 1500 lbs heavier and 5 feet longer.
They both exibit(ed) about the same amount of sway.
....
Just to be clear, the term "dual cam equalizer" can be quite confusing, because:
a. "Equal-I-zer" is a brand name of a specific 4-point sway control weight distributing hitch (WDH).
b. "equalizer" is still sometimes used as a generic term for any WDH (which I believe was KyDan's intent here).

Most have stopped using "equalizer" as a general term because of this.
And in the case of this thread, the original poster is not considering a dual-cam system at all. They are only considering the "Equal-I-zer" brand WDH, or the "Blue Ox" brand WDH.
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Old 02-10-2016, 10:21 AM   #12
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Comments in red:

Quote:
Originally Posted by KyDan View Post

If you go with the blue ox BE CAREFUL. I went right out and bought
the longest strong arm breaker bar Harbor freight has and supplied my
own socket. That cheezy flat steel handle they give you with the blue
ox is TOO SHORT.

Also you MUST leave ball hitched and crank up the tongue to unload
the spring bars on the Blue Ox. If you don't they can really hurt you when
you try to unhook the chains!!!


The handle that came with my Blue Ox is perfect. The instructions specifically say to use your jack to raise the rig in order to tension/de-tension the bars...easy, simple and certainly not dangerous unless, of course, you choose to ignore the procedures.


Blue Ox is quieter in the turns but my dual cam wasn't too bad either.

I think Blue Ox might be a little better but it also takes longer to hitch
and un-hitch and it's more likely to hurt you if you aren't careful.
Both allow me to back in sharp turns without loosening/removing spring bars.

The Blue Ox takes no longer to hitch than any other hitch which does not utilize a sway bar. It takes much less time to hitch than those that do. Operationally, I have experienced zero sway with the Blue Ox. This past weekend, travelling north into a 20-25 mph headwind, I had zero sway in gusts...whenever the trailer moved, the truck was moving right with it and vice versa.

My 2¢
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Old 02-10-2016, 10:29 AM   #13
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The Equal-I-zer has a good following, but those with the Blue Ox love them too. I think you see more EQ recommendations here because more people have them. Whether that means anything to you is up to you.

I chose the Equal-I-zer because it had so much good press, like you see here. I did not consider the Dual Cam at all (seems too complicated to me), although it seems to have equivalent performance and cost.

I don't think I had even heard of the Blue Ox when I was considering. It's hard for me to speak about something I haven't used, so I'm clearly biased, being happy with my Equalizer. But my concerns for the Blue Ox would be:
1. Only 2 points of sway control (at the head) vs 4 for the EQ (2 at the head, 2 at the bars)
2. Having to deal with chains (that a weak argument, I know, but it's a thought)
3. So much flex in those bars would seem to be more risk of "porpoising" on certain stretches of road.

But again, those are my concerns just by looking at the system, and not from experience or reports.
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Old 02-10-2016, 10:48 AM   #14
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I have and use a 1400lb Egual-i-zer hitch...Love it....can't comment on the blue ox because I have never used it or seen one for that matter.

Hope that helps,
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Old 02-10-2016, 11:59 AM   #15
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I jump in on this. Blue ox does claim it is a four point system. Although I'm not sure how, but it works. Speed is not a factor, they are about the same. Spring bars are greaseless so go ahead a toss where you like. As for the chains once you know your settings out a small zip tie in your favorite link and never count links again. Yes quiet as a mouse. If I could change anything about the blue ox it would be that frame brackets be left and right. Not the current one model fits all.
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Old 02-10-2016, 12:10 PM   #16
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I have the Blue Ox. My trailer is about 5,000 lbs, loaded. I have never experienced any sway in about 5000 miles of travel. No issues with backing up. Keep the load on your trailer balanced and you will have success with most WDHs.
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Old 02-10-2016, 12:24 PM   #17
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Comments in red:

Quote:
Originally Posted by thebrakeman View Post

I don't think I had even heard of the Blue Ox when I was considering. It's hard for me to speak about something I haven't used, so I'm clearly biased, being happy with my Equalizer. But my concerns for the Blue Ox would be:
1. Only 2 points of sway control (at the head) vs 4 for the EQ (2 at the head, 2 at the bars)

I've only got about 1500 miles experience with my Blue Ox but a trip to the Keys over the last 2 weeks saw a lot of different road and weather conditions. Bucking a 20-25 mph NW wind while traveling N, the trailer and truck were "glued" together...any gusts moved both simultaneously. One "emergency" slowdown in rain to avoid a truck stopped in the left hand lane was straight and true. So far, not one incident with sway.

2. Having to deal with chains (that a weak argument, I know, but it's a thought)

The greatest thing about the chains is adjustability. With the truck loaded like the aforementioned Keys trip (windsurfing gear, bikes, etc.), 10 links brought the truck/trailer perfectly level. On previous trips without loading the truck, 9 links got the job done.

3. So much flex in those bars would seem to be more risk of "porpoising" on certain stretches of road.

I didn't experience porpoising even over the road construction stretches on 997, Krome Ave. that leads to Homestead (for anyone familiar with that road.) Krome is WELL traveled by trucks and was mostly built on muck dredged from the canals along the sides so it has stretches of "roller coaster". Fortunately, it is being 4 laned now and should be great for next year's trip.

But again, those are my concerns just by looking at the system, and not from experience or reports.

Though my travels with the Blue Ox are limited, I've seen enough to be a believer. I'm sure there are many other wdh's out there that would give the same confidence...but I know BO is excellent.
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Old 02-10-2016, 12:28 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uhduh camping View Post
I jump in on this. Blue ox does claim it is a four point system. ...snip... Yes quiet as a mouse. If I could change anything about the blue ox it would be that frame brackets be left and right. Not the current one model fits all.
Yes! Don't know why they don't have a right and left?!? That would be
an improvement fer sure.

FYI I took a can of spray lithium white grease with a capillary tube and
lubed the back side of the frame brackets and it REALLY made them
easier to set but still you MUST raise the tongue to unload the spring bars-
at least partially.

Yes I had Reese dual cam equalizer hitch so my bad I didn't realize that
equal-I-zer was another brand.
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Old 02-10-2016, 12:35 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by windsurfdog View Post
Comments in red:
I stand by my comments.
Sometimes backing into a tight site the truck is at an angle AND the
trailer is not on the same plane as the truck due to un-level site.
It can be impossible to raise the tongue enough to completely unload the
spring bars.
When that happens- a longer strong arm breaker bar with a comfortable
grip is your friend.
If you always park in perfectly flat-level-straight sites you'll be fine.
We camp in the boonies at times!
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Old 02-10-2016, 12:50 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KyDan View Post
I stand by my comments.
Sometimes backing into a tight site the truck is at an angle AND the
trailer is not on the same plane as the truck due to un-level site.
It can be impossible to raise the tongue enough to completely unload the
spring bars.
When that happens- a longer strong arm breaker bar with a comfortable
grip is your friend.
If you always park in perfectly flat-level-straight sites you'll be fine.
We camp in the boonies at times!
Understood. I'd feel better tensioning/untensioning on a level area even if it meant moving the trailer a bit to avoid uneven areas when tensioning/untensioning...lots of tension on those bars that could get unwieldy for sure.
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