Why does my trailer groan?

[brookside]

Slow speeds, general driving - creeks and groans like a haunted pirate ship.

Is it my equalizer hitch?


2012 17rr

[wyo700]

If you have an actual eqiulizer brand hitch. And does it do it especially bad when turn slow sharp corners. Yes mine does it very bad with those type of turns. It's just the way they are. They do make a lot of noise.

[showtime0022]

Its normal !!! Just use a lil lube might help alittle

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by brookside

Slow speeds, general driving - creeks and groans like a haunted pirate ship.

Because its hurting?

[papap]

When I had a travel Trailer mine groaned also. Greased all joints with never seeze. never groaned again.

[Old car]

If you have an Equalizer hitch--it will do that. Check out their website for some teflon pads--Bracket Jacket--they say it helps. I have not tried them.

[chof16]

Our Equilizer hitch made all sorts of noise turning at slow speeds last year when it was new. It got a little better as things wore in a bit, but I ended up getting the Bracket Jackets from Equalizer as well as their lube at the end of last year. I dont know if it was the jackets, the lube, or the combination but they did the trick and it is much much quieter now.

[DDC]

Never been on a haunted pirate ship but hitches can make a lot of noise, grease works for a while but it always comes back.

[Chicken Legs]

Its probably an old age thing. Thats what I blame about everything.

[camper_Lucy]

Originally Posted by brookside

Slow speeds, general driving - creeks and groans like a haunted pirate ship.

Is it my equalizer hitch?


2012 17rr

First, never lube all the joints on an Equalizer hitch, the metal on metal is what gives you the sway control.
Grease the joints in the hitch head only.
To reduce the noise, which by the way tells you it is working correctly, you can do two things, add Teflon pads to the L brackets, make sure the sway bars are parallel with the trailer frame when installed (this is the one that I see wrong the most and the angle creates a lot on noise).
FYI, Frequently Asked Questions

Ours always made a little noise even with the pads and correct alignment.

[Triguy]

I second the use of grease on the ball and the top and bottom of the spring arm sockets, but found that the L-brackets are the real culprits.

These cost about $20 and install in one minute. HUGE difference.

[From Progress Mfg.] The NEW Sway Bracket Jacket was designed to quiet the ride and reduce wear on the L-brackets. Injection molded from high density nylon. Each package contains two (2) SBJ's, one for each L-bracket.

ATTENTION: Utilizing lubrication on the Equal-i-zer L-Bracket, in the form of the Sway Bracket Jacket or any grease type lubricant, may lessen or decrease your sway control by a small degree. Steel on steel is the highest level of friction, steel on lubricated steel second, and steel on plastic third (but also the cleanest). The hitch head can be lubricated, as per the instructions, with no detriment to sway control.

[comfun1]

I think it's the brand of hitch. I used to have a Reese and it made lots of noise. For my new trailer I bought an Andersen and it never makes a sound.