Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-13-2017, 11:22 AM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 41
Equalizer hitch hitting camper frame

Recently purchased a XLR Hyperlite 26HFS and an Equalizer hitch to tow it with. I noticed that backing up or pulling forward and turning sharply causes the head of the hitch to hit the safety chain attachment point and the frame of the camper.

Has anyone else had a similar problem?
stevebarnett71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2017, 11:31 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Franklin County, PA
Posts: 3,521
Equalizer hitch hitting camper frame

Yes, and I went round and round with FR and the manufacture of the equalizer. It kept pinching the chains and snapping them, and that was with not a sharp turn. I got no where with either of them. Luckily my dealer let me swap it out.

I changed to a husky centerline TS weight distribution hitch. It has a smaller head profile and allows me to turn without head of hitch hitting safety chains. I know of another user that had his chains relocated back.

The centerline is similar to the equalizer. I like it better than the equalizer.
__________________
2019 Puma XLE 27QBC Toy Hauler
2005 Honda VTX 1300
2002 Goldwing 1800GL CSC Trike
2020 Ram 2500 Crew cab 6.5 bed

Ron & Shirley (Empty Nesters)
rmac04401 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2017, 11:38 AM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 41
Quote:
Originally Posted by rmac04401 View Post
Yes, and I went round and round with FR and the manufacture of the equalizer. It kept pinching the chains and snapping them, and that was with not a sharp turn. I got no where with either of them. Luckily my dealer let me swap it out.

I changed to a husky centerline TS weight distribution hitch. It has a smaller head profile and allows me to turn without head of hitch hitting safety chains. I know of another user that had his chains relocated back.

The centerline is similar to the equalizer. I like it better than the equalizer.
Thanks for the reply. I would relocate the chains but it isn't hitting just the chain attachment. It will hit the frame. Equalizer suggested etiher notching the frame (no way!) or using a ball on the hitch that has a 1" or 2" rise so that the frame is higher in relation to the hitch head.
stevebarnett71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2017, 11:56 AM   #4
Site Team
 
bikendan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,556
Quote:
Originally Posted by stevebarnett71 View Post
Thanks for the reply. I would relocate the chains but it isn't hitting just the chain attachment. It will hit the frame. Equalizer suggested etiher notching the frame (no way!) or using a ball on the hitch that has a 1" or 2" rise so that the frame is higher in relation to the hitch head.
Equal-i-zer WDHs don't have chains.

You must be using their brand name, for a different brand of WDH.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
bikendan is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2017, 12:00 PM   #5
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 41
Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan View Post
Equal-i-zer WDHs don't have chains.

You must be using their brand name, for a different brand of WDH.
The chains I am referring to are the safety chains of the camper and where they attach to the frame of the camper.
stevebarnett71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2017, 12:04 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Franklin County, PA
Posts: 3,521
Correct. The post and the issue is the trailer SAFTY chains that go from the trailer to your hitch. I believe your post was perfectly clear stating it was safety chains. Thus my response. Good luck in your decision.
__________________
2019 Puma XLE 27QBC Toy Hauler
2005 Honda VTX 1300
2002 Goldwing 1800GL CSC Trike
2020 Ram 2500 Crew cab 6.5 bed

Ron & Shirley (Empty Nesters)
rmac04401 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2017, 12:07 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Franklin County, PA
Posts: 3,521
Quote:
Originally Posted by stevebarnett71 View Post
Thanks for the reply. I would relocate the chains but it isn't hitting just the chain attachment. It will hit the frame. Equalizer suggested etiher notching the frame (no way!) or using a ball on the hitch that has a 1" or 2" rise so that the frame is higher in relation to the hitch head.


Yeah, I was not impressed when I spoke with the owner about the issue. Did he tell you yours was the first time they was hearing of the issue?
__________________
2019 Puma XLE 27QBC Toy Hauler
2005 Honda VTX 1300
2002 Goldwing 1800GL CSC Trike
2020 Ram 2500 Crew cab 6.5 bed

Ron & Shirley (Empty Nesters)
rmac04401 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2017, 01:35 PM   #8
Site Team
 
bikendan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,556
sorry my mistake
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
bikendan is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2017, 01:38 PM   #9
Who Dares, Wins
 
doc73's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Chester County, PA
Posts: 7,063
Mine does not hit the frame but it will hot the safety chains. THis to me is a FR issue.. They should NOT be mounted to close to the end of the trailer. They should be a foot or so back from the end on the frame. The chains are supposed to "catch" the trailer, kinda hard when they are so close together.
__________________

Pat, Jen, Heather & Sapphire, the head mouser.
2015 Chevy HD D-Max
2022 Impression 315MB
doc73 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2017, 01:58 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Franklin County, PA
Posts: 3,521
Quote:
Originally Posted by doc73 View Post
Mine does not hit the frame but it will hot the safety chains. THis to me is a FR issue.. They should NOT be mounted to close to the end of the trailer. They should be a foot or so back from the end on the frame. The chains are supposed to "catch" the trailer, kinda hard when they are so close together.


Talking to the choir. When I spoke to FR there stance was that's where frame manufacture put it (lippert). Did not want to hear that it defeated purpose of safety chains.
__________________
2019 Puma XLE 27QBC Toy Hauler
2005 Honda VTX 1300
2002 Goldwing 1800GL CSC Trike
2020 Ram 2500 Crew cab 6.5 bed

Ron & Shirley (Empty Nesters)
rmac04401 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2017, 02:00 PM   #11
Who Dares, Wins
 
doc73's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Chester County, PA
Posts: 7,063
Quote:
Originally Posted by rmac04401 View Post
Talking to the choir. When I spoke to FR there stance was that's where frame manufacture put it (lippert). Did not want to hear that it defeated purpose of safety chains.
I've considered moving them, in the end put quick links in and just replace them as needed once and a while.
__________________

Pat, Jen, Heather & Sapphire, the head mouser.
2015 Chevy HD D-Max
2022 Impression 315MB
doc73 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2017, 06:50 AM   #12
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 41
Quote:
Originally Posted by rmac04401 View Post
Yeah, I was not impressed when I spoke with the owner about the issue. Did he tell you yours was the first time they was hearing of the issue?
Yep, they have never heard of the issue....
stevebarnett71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2017, 07:09 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Franklin County, PA
Posts: 3,521
I know at least two people that have called them.
__________________
2019 Puma XLE 27QBC Toy Hauler
2005 Honda VTX 1300
2002 Goldwing 1800GL CSC Trike
2020 Ram 2500 Crew cab 6.5 bed

Ron & Shirley (Empty Nesters)
rmac04401 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2017, 07:44 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Zak1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Sunbury
Posts: 256
I have a brand new V-Lite 30WIKSS and a brand new Equalizer Q4. Got a new Propride 3P 1400. blows the EQ away in my opinion. BTW, anyone want to buy my Equalizer?
Zak1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2017, 07:04 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Tom48's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 2,144
I must be missing something. This sounds like a situation that would be solved by tilting the ball away from the truck. My hitch attaches to the gooseneck with two big bolts and the top has a pen with a washer stack. More washers tilts the ball away lowers the rear end of the torque bars and should solve a frame clearance problem. I'm sure somebody will tell me why I'm wrong
Tom48 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2017, 07:38 PM   #16
Who Dares, Wins
 
doc73's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Chester County, PA
Posts: 7,063
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom48 View Post
I must be missing something. This sounds like a situation that would be solved by tilting the ball away from the truck. My hitch attaches to the gooseneck with two big bolts and the top has a pen with a washer stack. More washers tilts the ball away lowers the rear end of the torque bars and should solve a frame clearance problem. I'm sure somebody will tell me why I'm wrong
Not wrong, but with this hitch the head us fairly large.. It's buried in snow or I'd take a pic but it is the size of the hitch head that creates the clearance issues. It stops with in a fraction of an inch of the coupler. With the chains there, or a frame, no more space.
__________________

Pat, Jen, Heather & Sapphire, the head mouser.
2015 Chevy HD D-Max
2022 Impression 315MB
doc73 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2017, 07:44 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Franklin County, PA
Posts: 3,521
Tilting the ball changes how much weight is disbursed to the front axle.
__________________
2019 Puma XLE 27QBC Toy Hauler
2005 Honda VTX 1300
2002 Goldwing 1800GL CSC Trike
2020 Ram 2500 Crew cab 6.5 bed

Ron & Shirley (Empty Nesters)
rmac04401 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2017, 06:19 AM   #18
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 41
Quote:
Originally Posted by rmac04401 View Post
Tilting the ball changes how much weight is disbursed to the front axle.
Correct, tilting the head is part of the weight distribution set up. Tilting it more will change the weight distribution, and I am not sure it would create the clearance I need.
stevebarnett71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2017, 07:41 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Franklin County, PA
Posts: 3,521
Quote:
Originally Posted by stevebarnett71 View Post
Correct, tilting the head is part of the weight distribution set up. Tilting it more will change the weight distribution, and I am not sure it would create the clearance I need.


Look into the husky centerline. I like mine and it solved the problem
__________________
2019 Puma XLE 27QBC Toy Hauler
2005 Honda VTX 1300
2002 Goldwing 1800GL CSC Trike
2020 Ram 2500 Crew cab 6.5 bed

Ron & Shirley (Empty Nesters)
rmac04401 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2017, 07:55 AM   #20
Site Team
 
KyDan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,505
I would not want nor accept a hitch that pinches in tight turns. Period.
I hope you get resolution- most likely with a different hitch.
Good luck!! Please keep us informed.
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
KyDan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
camper, equalizer, frame, hitch

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:49 AM.