Equalizer Hitch trunnion bar set up

[eyeguy1]

We have a FR Wildwood 30KQBSS. Has about 899lbs dry tongue weight and close to 7000lbs overall. I pull it with a Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi 4x4.
I had a pro series wd system 1000/10000 and had a lot of sway even with 2 friction style sway bars.
After some research I bought a 1200/12k Equalizer wd system with 4 pt sway control and had the dealer set it up. What a mistake. When I left the dealership the TT was all over the place at 50mph. I got home and followed the manual and set the hitch up again myself.
The front wheel measurement is the same now whether coupled with wd or no hookup at all. Which I think is right on the money???
Problem I think I may have is that my trunnion bars are not perfectly parallel to the TT tongue... I am tilted slightly upwards!! Is this an issue?
I took it for a 40 mile test run yesterday and road straight at 60mph which I am happy with.
My question is do I leave the trunnion bars as they are or adjust?
I am guessing to adjust them I would lower the L Bracket one notch and then add another washer or two to keep up the weight distribution needed?
Thanks guys for your input!!!!


Marty, Carla, Gabby and our ankle biter Rocky
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Big Horn 4x4 Hemi 5.7
Forest River Wildwood 30KQBSS

[Teamfour]

Try adding washers first.

[eyeguy1]

Wouldn't just adding washers first just increase weight to front end? Which would "bow" the trunnion bars even more??


Marty, Carla, Gabby and our ankle biter Rocky
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Big Horn 4x4 Hemi 5.7
Forest River Wildwood 30KQBSS

[eyeguy1]

Was just thinking that if I don't lower the L Bracket the trunnion has no way to lower


Marty, Carla, Gabby and our ankle biter Rocky
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Big Horn 4x4 Hemi 5.7
Forest River Wildwood 30KQBSS

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by eyeguy1

Was just thinking that if I don't lower the L Bracket the trunnion has no way to lower

Lower the L bracket. Equalizer says that a return of your truck's front wheel well measurement to ½ of its static height is acceptable. How easy is it to put the bars into the brackets?

[eyeguy1]

After I couple the trailer I raise the jack about an inch or so to mount the trunnion bars. If I man handle it I can do it without the helper bar. So not too hard
I was thinking to lower the L Bracket and then add a washer to "compensate" for the change to maintain the weight distribution?


Marty, Carla, Gabby and our ankle biter Rocky
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Big Horn 4x4 Hemi 5.7
Forest River Wildwood 30KQBSS

[Happy Vibe]

You only have to raise it one inch to get your bars on by hand? I have the e2 bars on a lighter trailer and have to raise it till the jack is almost at it's full height.

[doc73]

Can't help with adjustment, but my 4 Point needs the trailer raised up several inches and it still "pops" into place using the cheater bar....

[SA3056]

Your gonna have some bend or angle on the bars, that's kinda the point. If your tv and trailer are level when hitched and it drives good then I would leave it. I have tried adding washers and lowering brackets but always go back to the original set up (following the manual to set it up) evereytime because I feel better behind the wheel and that's the true test.

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by eyeguy1

After I couple the trailer I raise the jack about an inch or so to mount the trunnion bars. If I man handle it I can do it without the helper bar. So not too hard
I was thinking to lower the L Bracket and then add a washer to "compensate" for the change to maintain the weight distribution?

Inch or so? Good! The bars are not overloaded.
Tilting the head and lowering the brackets will probably achieve the results you want. The bars should be parallel to the tongue.
But as SA3056 said, if it ain't broke ... If you can do all the tweaking yourself, have at it. If you're paying to have it done, that's another consideration.

[eyeguy1]

I learned my lesson having the dealership doing it. Lol. Was way off. I was just a little concerned with the bars not being parallel. They are a little upward pitched roughly an inch.

Appreciate all of the input


Marty, Carla, Gabby and our ankle biter Rocky
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Big Horn 4x4 Hemi 5.7
Forest River Wildwood 30KQBSS

[itat]

Equal-i-zer's setup instructions are pretty easy to follow. I had the same experience with my dealer's setup. I had to change the number of washers and lower the L brackets to get mine setup properly and have the bars parallel to the A-frame. They need to be parallel to the A-frame in order to sit flat on the L bracket surface and provide max. friction (i.e. sway control). On the 3rd adjustment I had it right.

[lbrjet]

Yes, if you lower the L bracket one notch adding one washer should keep the weight distribution nearly the same.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[eyeguy1]

Thanks guys. I thought my logic was correct. It there is an upward pitch then the trunnion bars are not getting maximum coverage on the l bracket. I am gonna try lowering brackets one hole and add one washer and see how that looks and performs

Again thanks for the input. Having more input provides for a better decision on what to do


Marty, Carla, Gabby and our ankle biter Rocky
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Big Horn 4x4 Hemi 5.7
Forest River Wildwood 30KQBSS

[gfarmcafe]

Originally Posted by SA3056

Your gonna have some bend or angle on the bars, that's kinda the point. If your tv and trailer are level when hitched and it drives good then I would leave it. I have tried adding washers and lowering brackets but always go back to the original set up (following the manual to set it up) evereytime because I feel better behind the wheel and that's the true test.

Totally Agree. I wouldn't touch it!

[itat]

SA3056 and gfarmcafe, the OP has an Equal-i-zer brand WDH. The bars do not bend like on WDHs with chains.

[SA3056]

Ive changed ours several times and have always witnessed some degree of bend honestly I'd be concerned if there wasn't. The bars are part of the WD not just for the sway control. But no one knows better than the man behind the wheel.

[eyeguy1]

I guess my biggest concern is the upward slant of the trunnion bars since they are suppose to be parallel. I plan to lower the L Bracket one hole in the morning and add one spacer and go for test run.
If I can improve the handling a little more by tweaking it a bit I will be happier than a pig in s&!+ 😎


Marty, Carla, Gabby and our ankle biter Rocky
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Big Horn 4x4 Hemi 5.7
Forest River Wildwood 30KQBSS

[DRiveWell]

I had an issue with not enough weight transfer (1k/10k EQ) so raised the L brackets one hole. Got back to front wheel-well clearance same as unhitched but had "non-parallel" bars. Added 1 washer and lowered the L brackets back the 1 hole and maintained the proper wheel-well clearance. You will be fine and the hitch will be quieter.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by eyeguy1

I guess my biggest concern is the upward slant of the trunnion bars since they are suppose to be parallel. I plan to lower the L Bracket one hole in the morning and add one spacer and go for test run.
If I can improve the handling a little more by tweaking it a bit I will be happier than a pig in s&!+ 😎


Marty, Carla, Gabby and our ankle biter Rocky
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Big Horn 4x4 Hemi 5.7
Forest River Wildwood 30KQBSS

Also if you can "Manually"place the Bars on the L brackets,there will be Little/No sway control! Youroo!!