Equalizer hitch, 1st tow. - Page 2

UmptySquat · 06-01-2015, 09:22 PM

Equal-i-zer 95015150 Spring Arm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007HRJNIE..._7mrBvb007XYJB

2013 Toyota Tundra 5.7L
2015 Apex 288BHS

sequoiaguy21 · 06-01-2015, 09:47 PM

I love my Equal-i-zer. I'm on the third year, and it has been working great. I eventually got used to the squeaking - I call it (and others do I'm sure) the Squeak-wil-i-zer. A couple tips: You'll know it's lifted high enough to remove when you give the bar a kick towards the frame of the TT and the pins free up enough to pull out. When you're able to remove them, you should be able to pull the bars towards you sideways. If not, lift it up a bit. Be sure not to have your shins in the path of the bars when you pull them towards you - you'll only do that once, but trust me - get your shins out of the way

. Once both bars are removed, retract the tongue jack and remove it from the hitch. After a few times, it'll be second nature.

I found these pins to be very easy to use (and less parts to keep track of) compared to the cotter pins that came with mine:
Amazon.com: Lindon Hitch Inc Socket Pins With Thumb Clips 95-01-9415: Automotive

Summer2Go · 06-01-2015, 10:20 PM

Well I thought I was at the top of my tongue jack, with a cement block under it. I actually thought it might be too high. The bars did not swing out at all when I took the clips off. They just raised off the brackets, and hung in the air.

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sequoiaguy21 · 06-01-2015, 10:31 PM

I'm a little confused. If the bars are raised off the brackets, that's way too high I think. I just raise it enough that I can pull out the L-shaped pins (most of the times that requires a good kick on the bar towards the frame of the TT), and pull the bars off the brackets. Pulling the bars off the brackets don't require much more than about 20 lbs of force if I'm able to pull the L-shaped pins out. If it's not high enough, I won't be able to pull the bars at all..

The bars won't swing out automatically, you have to pull them toward you. Once pulled off the brackets, remove the pin holding the bar in the socket and remove the bar. Just be careful if you're giving the bars a good yank that your shins are out of the way - it may be easier to pull than you think and you'll smash yourself and get a nasty bruise.

wbdavey · 06-02-2015, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sequoiaguy21

I eventually got used to the squeaking - I call it (and others do I'm sure) the Squeak-wil-i-zer.

I'm new to travel trailers (had two 5th wheels prior) and Equil-I-Zer hitches. On my first few trips the squawking and screeching was hard to tolerate. I put the jackets on the L brackets and that helped, but what really made the difference was squirting white lithium grease on the pivot points above and below the brackets on the hitch head. I know this "reduces" the sway control, but I didn't notice any unusual sway on our last trip with very windy conditions. Oh, the hitch was absolutely silent for the whole trip!

lbrjet · 06-02-2015, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wbdavey

I'm new to travel trailers (had two 5th wheels prior) and Equil-I-Zer hitches. On my first few trips the squawking and screeching was hard to tolerate. I put the jackets on the L brackets and that helped, but what really made the difference was squirting white lithium grease on the pivot points above and below the brackets on the hitch head. I know this "reduces" the sway control, but I didn't notice any unusual sway on our last trip with very windy conditions. Oh, the hitch was absolutely silent for the whole trip!

Read the manual. You are supposed to lube the socket friction areas just as you did. It results in zero less sway control. I have never gone more than 500 miles without a good lube of the sockets, and 95% of the time I lube before every tow. I have 17K miles on the hitch.

Summer2Go · 06-03-2015, 04:13 PM

Thanks! That's good to know. The tech at the dealer, demonstrated how to put the hitch on for me, and gave me the tutorial. It was the first time towing the new camper, and I never removed the hitch til we traveled the nine hours to our driveway at home. No grease was put on the brand new equalizer hitch for the first time.

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SuicideSaints · 06-03-2015, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewhedd

Compared to what the dealer provided, which was one of those friction arm jokes, it performs quite well. Towing a Rockwood 2702ss with a 1/2 ton Silverado. While not eliminating all movement it does a good job. Turns towing from tense to relaxed, well worth the 480 bucks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewhedd

If it works for you that's great. In my case, it didn't, as a passing truck induced too much sway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewhedd

The Equalizer is a WDH and 4 point anti-sway system.

I am confused on what you are saying, what did the dealer give you? What do you have now? Did you have a WDH from the dealer with sway control?

The Equalizer brand is a WDH with friction based sway control, is that what you have now?. Why would you call it a frictions arm joke and then get a friction arm joke (which is what the equalizer brand)?

Confused?

Tonkatoy77 · 06-03-2015, 05:02 PM

What he had before was probably something like an Eaz-Lift with the chains, and the anti sway friction bars. Now he has the Equalizer E4.

Maybe I have it wrong, but that's how I read it.

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Major Malfunction · 06-03-2015, 08:15 PM

I have an equalizer hitch. Towed a 30' 7000 lb TT from NJ to Disney with my Ram 1500. Barely know the trailer is back three. Stable and smooth enough my wife towed on I-95 with it. Since upgraded my trailer to a Coachmen 300BHS which is almost 35' long. Had to adjust the hitch, but even with that length, the Equalizer is the bomb. Everything is level with no sway or loose feeling front end with a half ton pick up towing 7000 lbs.

Like others, the creaking and squeaking can be embarrassingly loud if you don't lube and get those pads from Amazon. You would think for a $500 hitch it would come with pads though. But they are an almost mandatory accessory well worth the $20.

I also have to raise up on the tongue jack to take the weight off the hitch so I can swing the bars. My wife can barely pull the bars outward they are so stiff. But that's how they do their anti-sway job.

Some people will balk at a $500 hitch, but it's worth it's weight in good as far as I am concerned. Speaking of weight, damn is that thing heavy. I can barely carry it when I take it off.

But I look at it this way. Between my truck and trailer, I'm moving $80k down the road. If a $500 cost gives me piece of mind and a huge safety gain for my investment and family's well being, its priceless really.

Brewhedd · 06-04-2015, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuicideSaints

I am confused on what you are saying, what did the dealer give you? What do you have now? Did you have a WDH from the dealer with sway control?

The Equalizer brand is a WDH with friction based sway control, is that what you have now?. Why would you call it a frictions arm joke and then get a friction arm joke (which is what the equalizer brand)?

Confused?

Maybe I can clear things up for you. The dealer supplied a single arm unit with an adjustment nut for tension and a handle to release tension for removal, they sell for about $50. There is a bracket on the hitch with a small ball and one on the frame of the trailer. This is not weight distributing at all. This might be good for a small trailer but not one with close to 33' of overall length. It does reduce sway to a degree but not nearly enough. Maybe for some people it works, not for me.

The Equalizer is a weight distributing hitch with 4 points of friction through 2 heavy bars of steel, one on each side. They cost a bit under $500 and if you see one, you would understand why. The Equalizer has turned towing from a white knuckle experience to a pleasure. Comparing one to other would be like comparing a Corolla to a Silverado.

SuicideSaints · 06-04-2015, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewhedd

Maybe I can clear things up for you. The dealer supplied a single arm unit with an adjustment nut for tension and a handle to release tension for removal, they sell for about $50. There is a bracket on the hitch with a small ball and one on the frame of the trailer. This is not weight distributing at all. This might be good for a small trailer but not one with close to 33' of overall length. It does reduce sway to a degree but not nearly enough. Maybe for some people it works, not for me.

The Equalizer is a weight distributing hitch with 4 points of friction through 2 heavy bars of steel, one on each side. They cost a bit under $500 and if you see one, you would understand why. The Equalizer has turned towing from a white knuckle experience to a pleasure. Comparing one to other would be like comparing a Corolla to a Silverado.

Oh ok, I got you now. I thought that may have been it but I was confused due to all the types that are out there. I love the Equalizer brand, it is what I have for my EVO 28 foot TT. Glad you are liking it, it is noisy, it scared me the first turn I did after the paint rubbed off and I heard the screech but I love how it functions and now I welcome the squeal of it.

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