Equalizer Hitch Owners

[Big Red and 30WR]

Have any of you had groves cut into your 5/8 socket bolts ? I took mine apart and noticed groves cut into the bolts where the bottom of the socket is . I contacted Equalizer and they said my angle set bolt wasn`t tight enough. I have it torqued to 70ft pounds. How much more could you go? I was thinking I`m over doing the hitch. I know I`m over on tongue weight. Would I be better off to buy the 14k head or use my old reese with 1500 bars. I do like the Equalizer hitch thou.

[lbrjet]

I haven't pulled my bolts out for a long time. I will do that soon and take a look.


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

[Teamfour]

I pulled mine a couple of weeks ago - 1k/10k setup with about 7k miles towing. No grooves. 70 ft/lbs sounds high for the angle set bolt. This is from the owner manual: Use a wrench to tighten the angle set bolt until
it comes into contact with the shank and lifts the
head to where the spacer rivet also comes into
solid contact with the shank. Tighten the angle set
bolt an additional 1/2 turn.

The socket bolts are torqued to 45-60. I like 55 and check it every trip.

[Big Red and 30WR]

I thought 70 ft pounds was plenty but EQ said my set bolt wasn`t tight enough. I think I don`t have it adjusted just right or I need to go to a heavier duty hitch. I can buy the 14k head or go back to my reese which I never had on this trailer.

[Happy Vibe]

If you are referring to the bolts that hold the two sections of the head together (my e2 has 3/4" bolts) they get torqued to 250 ft-lbs not 60 ft-lbs

[SeaDog]

I just finished setting up my WDH, the set bolt according to the instructions should be tightened until the rivet washers touch and then tighten another 1/4 turn. and should be checked after 50 miles of towing, large bolts holding head torque to 260 LBS

[gfarmcafe]

Originally Posted by SeaDog

I just finished setting up my WDH, the set bolt according to the instructions should be tightened until the rivet washers touch and then tighten another 1/4 turn. and should be checked after 50 miles of towing, large bolts holding head torque to 260 LBS

After our last camping trip, I've learned to check the torque on every bolt before taking it out again. The side bar sockets were extremely loose. My manual states the shank bolts should be torqued to 320 LBS, but I don't know how to tighten it that much with the wrench I have. Anyone know where I can purchase a wrench that size?

[ondago]

I originally considered renting the large torque wrench but at $50 a pop I gave that idea up. Found pretty decent one on Amazon that goes as high as 600 ft/lbs for under $200. Has paid for itself already with the number of times I have used it. And spent another $25 bucks for an impact socket to fit the bolt.


It's big and heavy, so be prepared to find a place to store it.


I did get funny looks at the RV park when it got delivered-it's in a case that looks like a rifle case!

[Teamfour]

Originally Posted by Happy Vibe

If you are referring to the bolts that hold the two sections of the head together (my e2 has 3/4" bolts) they get torqued to 250 ft-lbs not 60 ft-lbs

I am talking about the bolts holding in the bar sockets, not the bolts fastening the head to the shank.

[keith_h]

Originally Posted by Teamfour

I am talking about the bolts holding in the bar sockets, not the bolts fastening the head to the shank.

I don't have any grooving on mine. When I was setting up the hitch Equal-i-zer told me that there wasn't any torque spec for those bolts but the important part was the nut was tight enough that the lock washers were fully compressed and then tighten a bit more for safety. This was in response to my question when one of the bar socket bolts was so tight I couldn't move it.

[Big Red and 30WR]

Originally Posted by gfarmcafe

After our last camping trip, I've learned to check the torque on every bolt before taking it out again. The side bar sockets were extremely loose. My manual states the shank bolts should be torqued to 320 LBS, but I don't know how to tighten it that much with the wrench I have. Anyone know where I can purchase a wrench that size?

I use a 1 1/8th socket with a breaker bar. Don`t have a torque wrench that goes that high. If you need to, have a teenage football kid to help you for a snickers bar. Well worth it if you ask me.

[Big Red and 30WR]

My socket bolts were loose one time when unhooking. Swung the bars out and it caught me in the knee cap. SOB did that hurt.

[aceinspp]

Mine looks good no grooving. Later RJD

[Big Red and 30WR]

Here is a picture of the worst socket bolt on my 12k 1200 hitch . Got just under 2k of towing on this hitch.

[keith_h]

Did you grease the bar socket ends like it calls for in the manual? I work some in periodically over my towing season whenever the grease starts to look dry or I start to have trouble seeing it around the bolt hole.

[Big Red and 30WR]

Originally Posted by keith_h

Did you grease the bar socket ends like it calls for in the manual? I work some in periodically over my towing season whenever the grease starts to look dry or I start to have trouble seeing it around the bolt hole.

I would take the sockets off and clean, then grease them after every time I towed. Even @ the campgrounds I take them apart do my routine and torque to 55ft pounds. I know I got them on the right sides because the warning stickers face outwards.

[Too Tall]

I had my apart earlier today to add a spacer. I did notice it was a little loose but hadn't damaged the bolts. I re torqued them as my neighbor just happens to weight 260 lbs so I had him stand on the end of my 1' breaker bar.

[keith_h]

Originally Posted by Big Red and 30WR

I would take the sockets off and clean, then grease them after every time I towed. Even @ the campgrounds I take them apart do my routine and torque to 55ft pounds. I know I got them on the right sides because the warning stickers face outwards.

I just asked since they looked dry in the picture and I could see lack of grease as a possible cause.

[Big Red and 30WR]

I cleaned it up so the groove would show up better.

[Teamfour]

Equalizer customer service is so great, they may sell you some for nothing.