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 11-10-2016, 07:55 AM   #1
Failure is my business
 
2Evil4U's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Slaughter, LA
Posts: 561
Swapping from Equalizer 10k to 14k

After some good comments about my hitch setup and measuring the actual tongue weight of my trailer, I realized I was over capacity on my WDH. It was doing the job, but was over it's ratings. So I ordered a new hitch that would be able to better handle the load.

I made a video showing how I swapped the setup over.

https://youtu.be/knsIprU8paM

One thing I discovered is that you need a 1-7/8" socket to remove or install the ball on an Equalizer hitch. Equalizer sells one for like $70. I found that the local Tractor Supply Compnay had one that fit perfectly and it only cost $9.99.

JobSmart 3/4 in. Drive 1-7/8 in. Socket - For Life Out Here
__________________
Current vehicle list: 17 RAM 3500 4x4 Cummins Aisin 4.10, 16 Flagstaff 832IKBS, 14 RAM 1500 4x4 Hemi 3.92 Bilstein 5100's Derale oil cooler, 97 F150 4x4 5.4L 278,000 miles, 80 Firebird Esprit Aussie Burnout Car https://youtu.be/v06VjII7HmE, 78 Harley Davidson FX 79,000 miles dad bought new, 71 El Camino ZZ3 TH400 12-Bolt, 37 Ford 3 window 502 Chevy dad built
Days Camped: 2016: 43, 2017: 83, 2018: 44, 2019: 78
2Evil4U is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2016, 06:47 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,363
WDH makers should do away with the "10,000/1,000" (trailer weight/tongue weight) style of specification. I'm sure people buy undersized systems quite often.

If they simply used the tongue weight spec, buyers could zero-in on the right ones much faster. This is especially true since tongue weights quickly exceed the 10% threshold... especially on bigger trailers.
325BH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2016, 07:17 PM   #3
Georgia Rally Coordinator
 
aceinspp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,357
Quote:
Originally Posted by 325BH View Post
WDH makers should do away with the "10,000/1,000" (trailer weight/tongue weight) style of specification. I'm sure people buy undersized systems quite often.

If they simply used the tongue weight spec, buyers could zero-in on the right ones much faster. This is especially true since tongue weights quickly exceed the 10% threshold... especially on bigger trailers.
Why do away when folks buying a smaller trailer do not need a bigger set up. Later RJD
__________________
2020 Shasta Phoenix SPF 27RKSS (sold)
2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.4 3:73 gearing. Traded 2015 Chevy 2500 6.0, 4:10
Traded 2015 30WRLIKS V-Lite
Days camped 2019 62
Days camped 2020 49 days camped 2021-74 2022-40 days 2023 5 days
aceinspp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2016, 10:45 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,363
Quote:
Originally Posted by aceinspp View Post
Why do away when folks buying a smaller trailer do not need a bigger set up. Later RJD


My point was, the WDH system should concentrate on tongue weight limits and not trailer weight... since tongue weight is the whole reason for the WDH system to begin with.

With the current way the specs are listed, people can get an under sized system.

For example, if you get 10,000 lbs bars because you have a 10,000 lbs trailer. In reality you are under sized because those bars are limited to 1,000 lbs tongue weight whereas the trailer more than likely has 1,500 lbs tongue weight.

People underestimate their tongue weight all of the time.

Just an observation, no big deal.
325BH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2016, 10:40 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,219
Understand your point, but the real problem is dealers selling people undersized hitches. No one knows what they need when buying your first trailer.


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

2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
2010 F250 4X4 5.4L 3.73 LS
EQUALIZER E4 1200/12000
lbrjet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2016, 03:49 PM   #6
Canadian Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Eastern GTA, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,233
In your video you said that you didn't see anything in the manual about the spring arms needing to be parallel to the frame. In my Equal-i-zer manual on page 19 under the heading "Under or Over Adjustment" it says:

"For changes during the initial setup we recommend adding or removing spacer washers first to try and keep the spring arms parallel with the trailer frame."

They recommend that the spring arms be parallel so that they rest as flat as possible on the L brackets for maximum sway-reducing friction.
__________________
2023 Rockwood Signature 8262RBS
2016 Ford F-250 XLT SuperCrew, 6.2L, 4x4, 6'9" bed
2019 Rockwood Signature 8290BS (2019 - 2022)
2011 Rockwood Signature 8293SS (2015 - 2018)
2010 Rockwood Roo 23SS (2012 - 2014)

itat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-2016, 05:30 PM   #7
Failure is my business
 
2Evil4U's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Slaughter, LA
Posts: 561
Agreed. That is their recommendation for initial setup. If though, after using all 8 washers you still need to transfer more weight, you will have to lift the hanger brackets on the trailer frame.
__________________
Current vehicle list: 17 RAM 3500 4x4 Cummins Aisin 4.10, 16 Flagstaff 832IKBS, 14 RAM 1500 4x4 Hemi 3.92 Bilstein 5100's Derale oil cooler, 97 F150 4x4 5.4L 278,000 miles, 80 Firebird Esprit Aussie Burnout Car https://youtu.be/v06VjII7HmE, 78 Harley Davidson FX 79,000 miles dad bought new, 71 El Camino ZZ3 TH400 12-Bolt, 37 Ford 3 window 502 Chevy dad built
Days Camped: 2016: 43, 2017: 83, 2018: 44, 2019: 78
2Evil4U is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-2016, 05:32 PM   #8
Failure is my business
 
2Evil4U's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Slaughter, LA
Posts: 561
Went out this weekend to Buccaneer State Park. Ended up adding one more washer for a total of 6. Very happy with the setup now. Next time out I'm going to run it over the scales to see where I'm at.
__________________
Current vehicle list: 17 RAM 3500 4x4 Cummins Aisin 4.10, 16 Flagstaff 832IKBS, 14 RAM 1500 4x4 Hemi 3.92 Bilstein 5100's Derale oil cooler, 97 F150 4x4 5.4L 278,000 miles, 80 Firebird Esprit Aussie Burnout Car https://youtu.be/v06VjII7HmE, 78 Harley Davidson FX 79,000 miles dad bought new, 71 El Camino ZZ3 TH400 12-Bolt, 37 Ford 3 window 502 Chevy dad built
Days Camped: 2016: 43, 2017: 83, 2018: 44, 2019: 78
2Evil4U is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2016, 01:24 PM   #9
Canadian Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Eastern GTA, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,233
For setting up the Equalizer hitch, I don't worry as much about the amount of weight being transferred as I do about reducing the rear end sag and front end upward pitch. I know its transferring lots of weight. My focus is making sure that the front of the TV comes back down as close as possible to the pre-loaded height and not lower. That ensures I have good traction on the steering axle and that my headlights don't blind oncoming drivers.

I do weigh my setup but only to ensure that I'm not exceeding the GVWR and the GAWRs - at least not by much. That's why I ended up upgrading my TV to a F250 this year. With the F150 I was well over on both the GVWR and the rear axle with the front fender sitting within a 1/4" of pre-loaded height.
__________________
2023 Rockwood Signature 8262RBS
2016 Ford F-250 XLT SuperCrew, 6.2L, 4x4, 6'9" bed
2019 Rockwood Signature 8290BS (2019 - 2022)
2011 Rockwood Signature 8293SS (2015 - 2018)
2010 Rockwood Roo 23SS (2012 - 2014)

itat is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
equalizer

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 04:22 AM.