Question for Equalizer owners

[rbq]

I am a real fan of the Equalizer hitch. I have a 1000/10000 model. The dealer installed it for me & set it up. I have noticed that after backing up that the link plates have moved. I have tried retorqeing the bolts. Monday we went on a trip & when we backed into the site where we were staying I heard a loud crack. When I went to remove the bars I found that we had sheared one of the bolts holding on the bar brackets. Today I went to a local trailer supply store & asked about this & immediately I had two of the employees say you're not supposed to back up with the bars in place. They said you should remove the bars from the bracket before backing up. What is your take on this? Have any of you heard this?

[mhuffs9017]

I always prior to backing into a site removed my bars. I would pull up, get a 6x6 piece of lumber out and remove all of the bars prior to backing and turning into the site. The bars are more for travel to help distribute weight and help with sway during travel.

[Dalroo]

Hmmmm - I've never heard this. I have been backing the W&P now for 3 years with no damage - maybe I've just been lucky. I do see that when trying to get into tight spots it could be significant stress on the system.

[Triguy]

rbq, how far from the center of your coupler are the sway brackets? Is it less than 32"?

[Mkayers]

I always thought that was one of the selling points of the Equalizer. I've never had an issue. Maybe in a tight turn it would bind up I guess.

[mrmurph]

I've always left it hooked up prior to returning last weekend. For some reason, I disconnected the bars before I started backing it up the drive and into it's resting spot. From now on, I will remove the bars prior to backing into our drive way. It was much easier with them disconnected. For minor adjustments at the CG, I imagine I will leave them connected.

[mjones12]

Originally Posted by Mkayers

I always thought that was one of the selling points of the Equalizer. I've never had an issue. Maybe in a tight turn it would bind up I guess.

I think it IS a selling point that you don't need to remove them to back. Maybe if you jackknife the thing while backing it would be problem, but I've always backed with them on and never had a problem. I don't want to stop and jack up my unit before backing into a site.

[rbq]

Triguy,
The brackets are between 31 & 32 inches as per specs.

[vizsla owner]

I always take them off before backing in. Usually if I have to get water in the tank before going to the spot I will take them off while DW or DD fills the fresh water up.

[Triguy]

Originally Posted by vizsla owner

I always take them off before backing in. Usually if I have to get water in the tank before going to the spot I will take them off while DW or DD fills the fresh water up.

Good to have checked. That was my first thought as placing them too close adds to the stress.

My only other thought is to ask Progress Mfg. I've talked with their engineers before and found them helpful.

BTW - I am one of those Equal-i-zer owners who backs up with the bars on unless I need to be quiet (i.e., arriving at night) or know I have a really sharp turn while backing.

Let us know what you find out if you call them.

[iluvlcy]

We have pulled with our equalizer over 2 years never have removed bars to back up & my DH jacknifes, turns sharp, you name it we had one bracket move but it was with in range so we left it and has not moved again. Never were told to remove sway bars.

[Herk7769]

For the year and a half I used our 1200/12000 Equalizer we never removed the bars until we disconnected.

There is another illustration in the manual that shows how the brackets are to be torqued so the grip is evenly distributed on the frame. Even a little bit out of "flat" and the brackets can move. There is also a bolt that locks the bracket to the frame after it is adjusted.

[pwrstroke2012]

I have never unhooked to back in and have had same hitch for many years. I would call equalizer and speak with the tech people, they have answered my questions in the past.

[thebrakeman]

I have never unhooked before backing either. But I might start. I installed my brackets just as described. But I often see the brackets twist when I've had to make a tight backing maneuver. This results in wear between the bars and the L-pins, which in-turn causes more friction, which causes more wear, etc, etc. I ended up replacing my L-pins, sanding/painting my L-brackets and bars, and installing the L-bracket-jackets. Performance is still terrific, but I want to keep things nice.

The only real problem is waiting too long to disengage. You don't want to be blocking traffic in front of the site. So I may start disengaging while I have my daughter fill the fresh water tank at the park entrace.

[JoeR]

I'm another that has never unhooked before backing. I've been using the same hitch for the last four years. I'll have to give the other way a try and see how it works out.

JR

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by mhuffs9017

I always prior to backing into a site removed my bars. I would pull up, get a 6x6 piece of lumber out and remove all of the bars prior to backing and turning into the site. The bars are more for travel to help distribute weight and help with sway during travel.

X2


I use them only on my other trailers now as I have a 5er now ...... But always removed them before backing making a tight turn...... felt they were in a bind leaving them on.........

[rschoono289]

I use the E2 equalizer and have always kept the bars on during backups without a problem. But the brackets on one side have moved abit in the past. The instructions on the E2 dont indicate a screw to help secure the brackets. Next time I'll check if there is a hole on the brackets.

[thebrakeman]

I have been contemplating pinning the L-brackets to the frame.