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Equal-i-zer Hitch: Pros and Cons after 400+ Miles
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- čas přidán 3. 08. 2024
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I have had this hitch for 8 years and used it for three trailers. It is a great hitch, controls sway, and the noise goes away after break-in time. I also lube where the manufacturer says to and use the L-bracket pads. Its a great hitch that is easy to use.
WE believe that this hitch saved our lives in a crash. We got hit by a car and knock over a mountain 300 feet. The hitch stayed together and kept us from turning over.
Yikes! I hope everyone was OK!
When a tractor trailer passed me like I was standing still and the trailer barely moved to the side, I knew the Equal-i-zer was a keeper. Haven't been in heavy cross winds yet but so far no issues. I probably have somewhere between 1600 and 2000 miles on mine. I only hear the noise when I am in a campground, and my wife struggles to get the bars on (she insists on knowing how to do everything in case I get hurt or sick), but I consider those small prices to pay for the peace of mind on the road. Nothing is perfect and like most things, there are trade-offs. You just have to determine what you are willing to trade. As I said before, it's worth it's weight in Gold as far as I am concerned.
Have your wife run the jack down before she puts on the bars. use the jack to lift up the truck and trailer an inch or so. She could do it no sweat then.
What do you tow with?
@@RK-jc5ey Unfortunately nothing anymore, but at the time of that writing it was a 2018 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Short Box pulling a 2018 Heartland Sundance 221RB.
I have a 2014 half ton Sierra. My tailgate opens fully down no issues. Have towed thousands of miles with my Equalizer and never any sway at all. Mine was loud, bought the pads for it and now it’s quiet. Equalizer is a tried and true American steel no brainer. MERICA!!
Equal-i-zer also has a longer shank so that you can OPEN your tail gate and saddle pads to quite the trunnion bars. We have over 22,000 miles on the hitch, and have NOT had any problems.
When did the longer shank on my F150.
@@bigdawgs2k
The longer shank is on the receiver not the truck.
Equalizer is the worlds best hitch it is number 1 and can not be beaten
I have used mine for 2 years and really like it. Can't wait to see the results
I have used the Equal-i-zer hitch for 2 years. I had a Husky with chains on a shorter RV and it worked fine. We traded and gained 4 foot of RV and the Husky wouldn't stop the sway. I don't have sway with the Equal-i-zer. Great hitch and would recommend.
Yes, after 6 hitches I’ll say no chains is my preference for sure.
We destroyed the switches on our tongue jack when our tailgate froze on our F-150, then finally released two miles down the Interstate after a Harvest Host stop. The sound of the clunk was unmistakable, fortunately, it did not activate the jack, but we were lucky. I had to go buy another jack so we could get the trailer off our truck. I kept adding washers to our 10,000# model but felt my steering wasn't quite under control as the F-150 wanted to drive as a Cadillac anyway.
Not being one to upgrade all at once, we traded our Lance in for the Grand Design and ordered another Equalizer hitch as they wanted to use the same one as my Lance, but the GD was 3,500# heavier even though the wimpy specs suggested similar tongue weights (Manufacturers always give a pie in the sky projection on tongue weights). Anyway, at PDI the technician was upset because I had him invert the "L" on the stinger just like I did with our Lance as there was enough squat that otherwise I would be plowing the ground on some unlevel RV sites experience showed. My Delivery coordinator bitterly complained until I put her on the phone with Equalizer and then she insisted we had a 1-ton vehicle until I gave my truck VIN Number to the engineer, duh. Anyway, being full-timers we hated that we could not put our tailgate down to run our generator whenever running the generator was allowed, so we ordered the 6" longer stinger. Immediately, we figured out that the safety chains on the Grand Design were not long enough so we had to add a couple of very robust D Rings for the safety chains to reach. Now we could open our tailgate, charge our batteries, and make lunch or park at a Harvest Host with style. But, I read a post where one of the GD owners weight his tongue to find it was 1,250 pounds, I instantly KNEW I should have ordered that heavier hitch as the 10,000 can't do the load shifting of the much heavier tongue weights. I thought the lesson has been learned.
Then, I bought a new gas 3/4 truck after 2 years of looking. We only put 6K miles on per year so didn't NEED diesel, but needed big stopping power with that 8,495# trailer. As I went today to flip the stinger "L" over for the 5 3/4" higher truck height, I read on the stinger that I owned the 14,000# hitch!!! They failed to tell me about it during the confusion of the sale closing and obviously had been dealing with complaining customers on the tongue weight issues. Let's face it, cool floor plans are making tongue weights forever heavier these days. Now I am wondering if all five washers will be too much for the front axle, but my campsite is about as bumpy and lumpy as you can get with piles of half-inch gravel as big marbles moving all around. When I pull out Sunday morning I will pull some quick measurements from the pavement to see if we are close or if we have to drop a couple of washers. The technicians didn't lube anything so the hitch was very noisy when we left the dealership in February. I had our previous hitch as quiet as quiet could be. When we left our summer or winter campgrounds we would wire brush everything looking rusty, paint it, and lube it in just the right places and it always treated us right. I am looking to see how she performs compared to our F-150 which loved to let itself get sucked over to each passing semi with those Cadillac tires. Our old F-350 Dually never had that problem, I miss her dearly except when trying to park at a restaurant, LOL.
We usually stayed in the southeast with our F250/7.3 but last year we took out 2800bh and Eq to Colorado and back. That hitch has never given us issues, even when it was on a F150. Substantial build and I would never go back to chains. Nice review.
I have over 80K miles of towing with two Equalizer hitches and never had any of the pins work their way out. Whoever reported that must not have installed them correctly.
Right on Cory looking forward to seeing the rest of the hitch videos
I've been using equalizer and am very pleased.
Yea not bad I’m get one on my new RV thanks for sharing your time and ideas on the E2 and E4 hitches
Had this same hitch for years and have gone coast to coast several times with it, from beach to mountain tops, in every manner of weather and traffic and this thing has never let me down. Yes it is a bit heavy particularity if you are changing to something smaller for a boat etc etc but you can not beat the solid feel and performance.
I have an equalizer and you are right they have an insert to go in by the pins that hold the bars in place. They reduce the noise when turning a great deal. Love the hitch by the way.
I had an Equalizer. I think price vs. quality and function is a big win. Yes it wasn't quiet. Also tailgate issue probably depends on truck and trailer. I could open mine 🤠
My experience: The Equalizer is super easy to use and I've had no problems and no sway. I always feel in control and comfortable when towing. I wipe and regrease the sockets for every trip and almost never hear any noise. Also, this hitch has amazing sway control. I even sometimes tow doubles - an atv trailer behind the house trailer. You have to do everything right to tow doubles - tongue weights, tires, right hitch set up correctly, etc.
i have this and love it. i can open my tailgate with no problems. noise goes away after use. had ours 2 years and no issues.
We have this model and I have been pleased with it so far. I do agree that it is really loud. Great video!
The issue with noise could vary well be your receiver on your truck.
Unless the stinger fits properly it will pop bang and create a lot of noise.
If it's a squeaky sound then your hitch is not getting lubrication down into the pivot points.
I have used these hitches since 04 and have had zero issues with them.
Yes, ours was so loud at first on turns I had to stop and check it to make sure it wasn't installed wrong. I ended up getting the blue grease that Equalizer sells and liberally greased the pivot joints on either side of the head, you have to grease and move the arms, grease again to work it on to the metal surfaces. I also added the synthetic pads at the saddle brackets. Not sure why they are not included in the package but we hardly notice any noise now on turns.
I love mine in today's world i Trust this hitch , Quality matters , grit, strength Quality is important for safety i don't want a accident or hurt someone else.
Great feedback of your experience with the hitch. Also good job on mentioning the little things that people will always quickly comment about when you state a positive or negative on a product.
appreciate that!
I use the equal-i-zer hitch. 2011 f150 and a 30ft hideout camper. Plenty of room to let the tailgate down. As for the noise equal-i-zer recommends applying grease only to the swing areas of the hitch. Not where the arms meet the saddles. It made my camper a lot more quieter. Tows like a dream.
What is your campers weight?
Sir I absolutely love the way you present products I love the way you do not sugarcoat you tell it like it is and I must say I had an equalizer and was pretty pleased with that although I did purchase a Hensley hitch and outside of how much it weighs it is by far the best performing hitch I’ve ever used So thank you for all you do I hope sometime to meet you I even went off your recommendation for a 7.3 Ford truck and absolutely love it to death
great to hear! Still loving on our 7.3 as well!
Great video, love the Equal-i-zer.
That's what I got The Equalizer seems like it works pretty good I like it you got that right it is loud I just kind of ignore the noise I pulled with an F-150 and you cannot open the tailgate hauled away I think it's a good hitch
Bought mine used for $200 on FB marketplace. Love mine and it performs very decent.
Thanks for the video. Have the Equal-I-Zer hitch rated for 1,200 hitch/12,000 trailer. I have towed our Cougar (dry 6860/hitch780) over 20,000 miles with it. Yes the noise is loud but I can live with it. Worse situation we have had was last year. Not 5 miles from home had to swerve into next lane to avoid being hit by vehicle coming onto interstate. It never felt like the trailer even moved. I am a big fan of this hitch.
I have a 2021 Silverado 2500 and a Gen-Y Torsion flex hitch. It smooths out the ride quite a bit and with the heavier truck with built in sway control from the truck/brake controller I haven't had any sway issues in over 5000 miles. Not messing with sway bars has made hitching a much more pleasant experience. Thats towing a Grey Wolf 26DBH, overall length is just over 31'.
The more you use it the less noise it will make. I have the 14000 lb on a 34 foot Transcend 28 mks. And I have 2300 miles on it.
I use a hitch anti rattle device on my receiver to shank of the equalizer and it cuts down on the popping noise when turning corners. Problem solved. Not totally quiet but good.
Where the bar socket attaches to the head, it is supposed to be lubed. That helps quiet the hitch. Also recommended by the manufacturer.
I like my equalizer, it does the job.
Not perfect by any means but to me easy to set up and hitch up the trailer.
Well done.
I love High quality America made parts.
If you can't open your tail gate because it hits the tongue jack power head, see if you can rotate the head 90 degrees. The power jack on my Airstream has three set screws that hold it in position. Loosen the three set screws, rotate the head while watching the power wires, then tighten the set screws back up. Five minutes and I had a fully-opening tail gate again.
absolutely, I've seen several do exactly what you are saying. Thanks for the tip!
I'm picking up my first travel trailer this week. I picked this hitch. This hitch comparison is cool, but I wish it ended a month ago so I could have seen the outcome before deciding on a hitch.
Just ordered one. Used your code. Saved me over $100!!
Yes! Glad it saved you some hard earned $$$!!!!
I know others have mentioned it here, but the manual says you are supposed to add grease. This definitely quiets down the loudness. The tailgate issue is going to very much be a YMMV situation. I got mine second hand and I went through the setup as if it were new. I really like this setup.
promo code worked like a champ....thanks!
good to hear!!
Great hitch. I've used them for almost 20 years. 50 mph side winds on I25 in Wyoming and the trailer barely moves. I use a thin layer of Reese Ball Hitch grease to grease the ball, upper and lower pivot points and the L brackets. I do not have the bracket pads. The bars wear in a little to the L brackets and after about 500 miles, make no noise at all. The grease on the L brackets does not seem to reduce the sway control in any way for me. If a squeak pops up while travelling, a shot of WD 40 takes care of it until I reach my destination.
Sorry it’s been a while but you are at 40k subs. Congrats. Keep going your content is still awesome!!!
Thanks Simon! How are you guys?!
@@WanderingWeekends good. Back in GA. Trailer is still in IL. Need to go get it soon
We used an Equalizer E4 with our Imagine too and were pretty pleased with it. I noticed from the video that you have one of the same problems we did. I saw there were rub marks on the back of the hitch head. The hitch head will make contact with the chain loops on Imagine travel trailers. We ended up having a mobile welder move the chains on our Imagine so that wouldn’t happen, but we cracked two hitch heads before realizing this. Equalizer replaced them super quick with no questions asked, but I’m only mentioning to you so you check the hitch out thoroughly before towing with it again and also check the loops where the safety chain is mounted on the Imagine. Thanks for these videos! We’ve upgraded to a fifth wheel but I still enjoy seeing these 😃
Also, more than happy to send you photos so you can visualize where ours cracked if you’d like. As well as where we moved our chains on the Imagine. Just let me know 👊🏻
@@shawnberg868 id love to see your photos. Mine is hitting my imagine too. On the first trip ive already took a chunk out of my saftey chains snd i didnt even have to cut the trailer sharp on this trip.
We have an Equalizer as well. About 5k miles using it. Great hitch but as you pointed out there are a few cons. Not being able to open the tailgate is a big one. I know they have a longer shank to take care of this but I wish it would have come with that. The second is the grease required to "quite" the hitch. Without it, the hitich was embarrassingly load in the camp grounds. And, its another messy step in the setup process having to put grease on the joints each time we tow. That being said, if you want a solid setup to protect against sway you can't go wrong with it. I think though, we are going to look at trying the Weigh Safe setup next. I'm feeling like this will be your winner in the contest. Well unless you are also testing Pro Pride setup which is on another level (you pay for it too).
We had an Equalizer for 4 years with our Jayco hybrid and we liked it a lot. Sold it with the camper a few days ago. Just bought a Transcend Xplor that is heavier and would have had to by new bars anyway. Dealer gave us new hitch with the Xplor. Only have taken 2 short trips so we'll see.
Looking at buy a transcend in the next two weeks which model did you get and how is the hitch the dealership give you hold up?
I almost bought one of those but another caught my eye. I reckon I'll find out your opinion on them both in the hitch battle video.
I just subscribed to your channel and am very interested in the hitch battle. So far I am very impressed with the may you go about your videos. Trying to give an unbiased opinion of what your talking about. I can’t wait to see the results of these hitches. The only one I wish was here is the Andersen no sway hitch. I have been thinking about purchasing one, but I can’t seem to find a big comparison of it against some of the other great hitches on the market.
Welcome! Glad you’re here.
Andersen never responded to our requests. We’ve even had several subscribers email as well. No luck. From what I gather the Andersen is good on smaller trailers (16-20ft or so) but struggles to control sway on anything much larger than that.
Been using an E2 for two years to tow a 26' TT. Following their recommended torque and lube requirements and using the bracket jackets reduces the noise to nil.
I have added the pads and Lil grease and the things totally silent, small price to pay for a quality unit. Nice video BTW.... 👏👏
I know you mentioned grease to quiet the hitch down. We drove our new camper back, with the new equalizer hitch, from Ohio back in February and was very surprised at how loud the hitch was. A little bit of grease at the pivot point at the hitch on both trunion bars and the noise went away. A call to equalizer is how I found out to put the grease there. Love this hitch
Grease on the area of the hitch that provides the friction that's supposed to control the sway, doesn't sound like a good idea to this old camper.
If you watch the Equalizer Hitch lube video, you'll see that nowhere to they say to lube the friction bars. The only places that get lubed are the plate areas where the trunnion bars plug in to the hitch at the pivot points and the dab on the top of the ball.
We have a 30 travel trailer pulled with a F150 echo boost engine.
I have used my Equalizer for over 5 years with no problems. Took a road trip from TN to Washington down to California then across the West into Utah and Colorado , Texas and back home again. The equalizer popped and groaned a few times but performed far beyond my expectations. Sway was non existent even at 65 mph.
Hey Joe, this is great to hear. I have my eye on a 34ft bumper pull and a F150. The GVWR/towing a payload capacities are well within my truck’s limits, but man it just seems like way too much trailer that could cause sway even with this hitch given the surface area of the trailer. Have you experienced any issues with wind or if a semi was passing?
Had one for 8 years so far and love it. Factory customer service, tech support, and warranty parts is first rate, a rarity today.
As to noise, heres a pro tip: take a side grinder and LIGHTLY rough up the top of the L bracket where the bar rides. It will minimize the noise for the season.
And beware........just because a dealer sells them does NOT necessarily mean they understand how to set it up. I had to teach myself.
Grease eliminates most of the sway control. Like oiling your brakes to get rid of the squeel.
Yes it does, but that same paragraph warns that sway control will be reduced.
Besides, when we leave the campground early in the morning the hitch squeek helps announce our departure ----- since we no longer have a diesel engine that sounds like the Pistons are swapping cylinders. 😁
@@jimcollins8097 No it doesn't.
The sway control in this hitch is the properly torqued bolts in the hitch head and the proper height setup of the bars.
Lubrication in the areas where the Manufacturer says it's required.
The only place mfr recommends to lube is top and bottom of the sockets in the head. They do not call for routine lube between the bars and the ell brackets.
The sway is controlled by the properly torqued sockets working in conjunction with the friction between the bars and ell brackets.
I have a Husky tsi and it has performed flawlessly for over 14000 miles and 2 years.
Personally, I like the noise..lets me know everything is working and its only audible at low speed. We have 6 to 8 thousand miles on it since 2019 and no problems of any kind. Sold the Andersen I let the Lance dealer talk me into and re-installed the trusty eek- quill-izer
JUST READ ALL OF THE GREAT REVIEWS OF THE EQUALIZER HITCH! I am rewatching your WDH videos - and did not read the comments the last time I viewed this one - WOWZA ON THE POSITIVE COMMENTS. I am purchasing a hitch tomorrow. Replacing a ReCurve 3. Weigh Safe Heavy was my first target. TV is a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500Limited 6.2 with limited payload - 3/4 ton down the road; TT is 2600RB Imagine 7850 gross - so considering the WS Middle-weight w 12500 arms due to the weight. This Equalizer really sounds good - like the American made - 100% - and the lifetime guarantee. How does WS compare in that category? WS does have a 20% discount that ends tomorrow at midnight. It's almost SB gametime. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!
TTWS Middle-weight is on the way.
I have a e2 but haven't used it yet. American made with American steel sealed the deal for me
I couldn’t wait. Just ordered my weigh safe. 😁
We have a code for them as well. Hope you used it and saved some $$!
@@WanderingWeekends yes sir and thanks.
Weird that you can't open your tailgate, we haven't had that issue with ours. I think ours was loud initially but to be honest, I don't hear it now or when I do, it's not as noticeable as it was in the beginning. I have lost one of those clips and do keep spares of them in my storage compartment as a just in case; they are inexpensive but not readily available at your local hardware store. Amazon was a good place to get them.
Yes, it is a hunk of steel for sure! We got ours for our Keystone 6500# unit in 2018 and kept it for our 8500# Grand Design unit. We got the 10,000# unit, wish we had the 12,000# one; would trade up for that one just for extra added room.
I can say that coming from one with a separate sway control, this one is a breeze to hook up to the camper. I haven't used the tool to connect it, simply using the tongue jack to almost lay those sway bars on the saddle. It is quiet, and when on the road, 18 wheelers sneak up on us without any push or pull into their dirty air. Our former hitch, you could feel it suck you in and then spit you out, even with our 3500 dually.
Nice review.
We have had an Equalizer hitch for 3.5 years and 14,000 miles. The pads for the bars are a must, otherwise it is noisy! They are inexpensive so not sure why Equalizer doesn’t just include them. All in all we have had great towing with it. We do grease a few key points as well as the ball. It does make a positive difference. I’ve heard you can turn the jack sideways so you can open the tailgate all the way. There is a video on how to do it.
Good call on the jack… but I have a bike rack mounted there as well.
After 8 years of towing a 15 k equaliser love it the only complaint I have is there noisy
I have that hitch and agree with all you mentioned pro and con with one exception. On mine I can open the tailgate completely and I still have about 2" of clearance between the tailgate and the power tongue jack. Perhaps it's not the hitch design completely but maybe the trailer tongue length or tailgate, or a combination of all. Just thought you may want to know that tailgates can be opened on some setups.
I used the Equalizer on my 26’ Toy Hauler over 8,000 miles and 7 years. It’s noisy for the first couple of years. The company also doesn’t want any grease on the friction areas because it diminishes the performance and actually speeds up wear. I only grease the ball. Anyway it did perform great during winds up to 50 mph (head, rear and side) anything higher it’s a scary ride and had to pull over. I just bought a 32’ TT and have a 12k unit which is much bigger and takes a little bit of extra strength to pull/install. Overall I am happy with them once they wear in and are not screaming and screeching.
Not sure what hitch you have But this hitch requires Lube /Maintenance and retorque of the bolts in the pivot points where the bars install.
I have used them since 2004 and have had zero noise or hardware issues.
@@jamesglenn520 I followed all lube and torquing requirements. Even called the company to confirm. I personally have not seen one that didn’t make any noise. Good to hear that yours doesn’t and everything is good.
Equalizer makes a longer shank that allows your tailgate to be lowered all the way. I have the same truck as this video. Also after a good break-in period the hitch becomes basically silent.
I've got 1k miles on our hitch and it's still loud. I put the pads on and greased it. That helped but it's still pretty loud. My wife hates it.
@@Shelbyj13 You probably are not getting the Lube all the way into the pivot points.
I actually use a Luberplate spray Lube.
I clean it periodically with brake cleaner and relube the pivots on the hitch head and after hookup I put just a Little on the on the perches where the bars slide.
I have been using one of these hitches since 2004 with no noise or hardware problems at all.
Hope this helps👍
@@jamesglenn520 I've tried to lube it the best I can but I will try that. The bars are still pretty hard to move at times.
@@Shelbyj13 If you have towed in dusty conditions a good cleaning could cure a lot of issues.
I put a drain pan under the hitch with the bars installed. Then I spray with brake cleaner while swinging the arm back and forth to wash out the dirt and lube.
Then I lube while swinging the bars back and forth pretty much as far as they will swing.
I liked this one. Considering of going from 5th wheel to travel trailer.
I haven’t watched the other videos but can see the one thing that was absolutely missed here is the friction sway control of this hitch. This hitch is far superior to any of the chain suspended hitches you may have reviewed just due to its sway control. Friends don’t let friends use chain driven WDH.
I didn't realize it was the hitch that was making all that ruckus behind me 😂 but I guess I feel better knowing it's not something else.
Haha! Many times it is the hitch… but not always!
Those L brackets...given the flip is controlled above the retaining steel...could be drilled out UNDER the retaining still to have a 2nd retainer of hitch pin style installed as a backup should one be concerned about that. This would of course remove some material from the L bracket and could possibly weaken it...but given most of the others you tested are smaller and have that whole...of course quality of steel would matter, but being this one is American steel and the others are not, I imagine this one would still be stronger....I suspect that wouldn't be a factor. Never-the-less, I would recommend talking to Equalizer about this dual retainer concept before modifying yours and possibly voiding the warranty.
Grease the ball with bearing grease and it'll be quiet as a mouse. I thought my Armada was falling apart but it was the hitch creaking like nothing I've ever heard. Looked into it and bearing grease fixed it immediately.
Ball is always greased. Definitely wasn’t the culprit in our situation.
They absolutely get quieter with use. Not quiet - by any means- but not sasquatch giving birth either.
Haha! Definitely in Sasquatch mode for the first 500 miles…
@@WanderingWeekends first few trips were certainly head turning - as was the trip to the tire shop to get the "good" but old tires replaced (8 year old used trailer with original tires). But really, after a seasons use (maybe 8 trips of 60-300 miles) it was better. Still snaps and pops - but no sasquatch mating call.
I had no problem opening up my tailgate on 2 different trucks and trailers.
I can use the tailgate on my Superduty no problems . I grease my hitch and honestly have not noticed any noise.
Make sure you get the proper weight rating equalizer hitch, the make a few different weight rating 6,000---12,00----14,000 not sure if they still make the 10,000 one
Is the final video comparing all the hitches out yet? Thanks for the great review.
Not yet. I’m doing the ProPride this week and then the final vid comparing all should be out the first or second week in October.
It’s ok, I still get some push from semi trucks on my 35’ travel trailer. I will probably replace the Equalizer with a Pro Pride.
Noise goes away once all that paint grinds off where it swivels, and with the plastic inserts - which is ridiculous they make you buy them, they should include them because it's embarrassingly loud without them. The finish quality is garbage, we're going to strip and recoat the parts when we have down time, they already had some rust on it when we got them out if the box, which was also torn to pieces because it's underrated for the weight of the parts. The pins are the best and worst part. They are convenient to use, but poorly designed. We have one that has popped off several times while driving and now the spring part flies off every time I take off the bars unless I baby it while taking it off. We got about 4k miles until it failed and now we need new ones because they pop off just driving my trailer off the driveway sometimes. Overall, it's way too expensive for all these cons. I'm happy with the performance, very disappointed that it looks and sounds like crap at this price point.
Hi paired the equalizer with the Jen why boss torsion weight distribution amount
9th season with our Equalizer and it has treated us well. The only issue I have is when the truck is not level with camper it can be difficult removing the bars.
@Tall RVr yep but sometimes I still have difficulty
Lube the parts recommended, use the pads and after it get broken in it ain`t to loud. You know what you are getting.
Great video! Thanks for posting. I just bought this hitch. Im just curious as to what torque wrench you would recommend or that you own that was able to torque the shank bolts to 320 foot pounds? I have one I like but it only goes to 250 foot pounds. My research on “beefier” torque wrenches has left me less than satisfied on options that don’t break the bank.
Your best bet is to take it to a trailer shop. Mine came torqued from the manufacturer.
I *had* a Fastway e2 hitch - same basic design. One of the weld studs broke on my first spring trip my 3rd season with it. Local dealer took over a month to get a replacement. So, yes, it was covered by warranty, but that didn’t help me get ready for my next trip. Which is how I came to own a Blue-Ox SwayPro, which I still like better.
My dislikes of the Equalizer: the noise, all the parts and pieces, the L-brackets that never stay square on the tongue frame. Most of all, it’s a friction-damper, which dampens the sway oscillations, but does not produce a force to actually resist the lateral forces causing sway.
The E 2 is made in China, the E4 is made in the USA.
@@coevers1962 Probably all made in China now anyway. 😂😂. Many things say made in USA but it's only assembled in USA from Chinese parts. 😂😂😂😂
Definitely a pro for 🇺🇸 steel considering I work at a steel mill in the USA lol
Yes!!! 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸!!
Great video, looking forward to the battle. I just bought a F250 and the slots for the trailer chains SUCK! What did you put in there?! Gotta get me some of that!
Here you go! czcams.com/video/1KpVXiP-VhE/video.html
There is a longer shank from equalizer that clears the tailgate.
Unfortunately they do not make it in the 2.5 inch shank
I looked at a lot of WDHs and decided to go with the Anderson. No grease, no noise, lightweight, American-made, lifetime warranty, and you can back up with it still hooked up. Super easy to connect/disconnect also. I'm not saying the Equal-i-zer is bad, just that everyone needs to weigh the pros and cons of the different models and pick the one that seems best to them.
I agree! Precisely why we’ve tested 9 and soon to be 10 of these type hitches.
@@WanderingWeekends Thanks for the effort! It's helps people like me see the pros and cons of several different hitches.
Just to clarify one point, backing with the Equalizer hitch is no problem (not like some that need to be disconnected)
Are you going to do the anderson?
Love that hitch!!
Lol
they never responded to us!
Can’t open my tailgate either. Have to grease it every hookup to avoid noise.
Hitches that are metal need lubrication. Just a fact. I have had one of these for three years and to be honest mine is quiet and no rust. So, as my trailer guy told me "If you love it, lube it."
friction is the main force controlling sway... need that area to be free of lube for sure.
@@WanderingWeekends I'm no expert, but I think the hitch has a cam effect where the bars attach and that kills the sway, not friction. Therefore, lubing up as they recommend is actually better for it.
Maybe the tongue jack guys should design them to be lower profile to be out of the way of tailgates and/or others items that one might mount there
I agree!!
Great job. I have this hitch, and it works well. As you mentioned, it is not that easy to set up or tweak. Torquing those shank bolts back to 320ft pounds is a lot of effort.
The ball it the only part that requires that torque setting.
That is not correct, nor consistent with the manual for my hitch. I have the 1400/14000 hitch. 430 on the ball, 320 on the shank.
@@coevers1962 The two 5/8 Shank bolts torque to 180ft lbs. That spec is from my included manual and I just verified the online manual to ensure there wasn't a typo. 👍
I have owned 2 of these hitches since 2004 and yes I physically assembled and setup both.
You must have the 4K hitch. I see it has the 180 ft pounds you describe. The larger hitches require more torque. 320 ft pounds on the shank bolts.
Which drop shank do you have installed here? 3” drop? I have a f250 truck with a Imagine 2670 MK similar to your setup.
Hi I took a look at your linked buying sites and there is one for equalizer and one for Fastway E2, what is the big difference. The E2 comes in a trunnion bar option that looks alot like the equalizer. Thanks
Also what do you suggest based on using them, I have a 1500 3.0 GMC and going to be pulling a GD 2400bh.
I can tell you that I have an Equilizer with about 20k miles on it, and not once have I had the saddle pins work loose. My main complaint with this hitch is that it is NOISY. Any decent turn makes that steel groan and scream like a banshee! That is WITH the silencer pads on the saddles!
Try using grease on the sockets that rotate under the hitch ball. I wipe clean and regrease before every vacation (3 minute job) and the noise is almost non-existent.
@@rockymtnhighadventures I have done that, and for me at least it doesnt fix the howling in a turn. I find that it is primarily due to the bars coming into contact with the backplate on the saddle. It is an annoyance though. The hitch really does control sway and balances the rig nicely!
Have you try the Anderson hitch. I have it and really like it.
Yes! Just dropped that review a few videos back.
Good job, I would have liked to see the installation of these hitches. Did you torque the ball to 450 pounds?
The factory actually sent it torqued to spec…
For those suggesting lube or pads you have to remember that the sway control comes from friction. Lube and Pads means less friction which means less sway control.
I was going to say the same. The noise is a byproduct of the design. If you don’t like it, get a different hitch.
Lubrication at certain points is specified in the Equal-I-Zer manual and by stickers on the hitch head. If lubed correctly, you are not taking away from the effectiveness of the hitch.
The pads are manufactured by Equal-I-Zer and do not deter from sway control. They are hard surfaced and are not to be greased
The manufacturer recommends lubrication on the ball and the head where the bar socket is located.
I follow the manufacturers suggestion and have no problem with sway.
Come on here talking about "for those suggesting". Yea, the manufacturer.
@@michaelbarras6950 the points the manufacturer suggests lubricating are not those that affect sway control or generally produce the noise associated with these hitches.
And before you get up on your “the manufacturer suggests” high horse let’s talk about those pads that the manufacturer sells to reduce noise.
The design of this hitch depends entirely upon friction for sway control. Basic engineering 101 tells you that the force required to overcome static friction is greater than that of sliding friction. Which means that once the bars start moving on their mounts the amount of force resisting that movement declines. Furthermore one of the main reasons that hitches like this are so noisy is that you have metal sliding on metal with a lot of pressure on it. This inevitably is going to produce noise. The anti noise pads that you can get inevitably reduce the amount of friction at that point in the hitch which means the hitches ability to control sway is likewise being reduced. It’s obvious that metal sliding on plastic has less friction than metal on metal.
There are plenty of owners out there who have no problems with sway using friction based hinges with various noise reduction measures in place. That people don’t encounter sway does not however alter the fact that these noise reduction measures are reducing the ability of their hitch to control sway. It’s simply basic engineering. Friction based sway control is going to be noisy. Reducing that noise means reducing the amount of friction in the system and thus a reduction of control.
@@jetdriver If you think I said anything different than what the manufacturer suggest, you might want to go back and read my reply again and go read the Equalizer instructions.
Also, I never said one thing about those L-bracket pads you ranted about.
My L- brackets and bars are dry.
And it does state on the web site if you use the bracket jackets it will reduce some friction. SO? What's your point with me? I know that already and don't use them. Never stated I do.
I've never had my pin work its way loose in over a year with thousands of miles on the hitch.
It’s not whether it’ll work loose. It’s all about forgetting one or dropping one in tall grass. Just something to think about. Others have tethered their pins to the hitch.
I guarantee the Pro Pride wins. The only problem is the cost. It’s incredibly expensive.
We had an interesting first trip with the ProPride… not all good. 😐
@@WanderingWeekends hmmmmmm. Interesting.
Spoiler alert! Lol
What shackles are you using to connect your chains to the hitch? It’s incredibly difficult for me to get mine connected to my F-150.
Here you go… czcams.com/video/1KpVXiP-VhE/video.html
Is this sway control something common that people are using in the US? I have never seen it before.
Grease ans those plastic pieces and there is No noise. Read the directions! I do agree about the tailgate but a small price to pay for what it does.
I’m a bit surprised it already has rust on it. Was that a brand new hitch?
It doesn't look like he used grease. Equalizer recommends grease there. I use grease on mine and there is no rusting (had it for 5 years) and the noise is also gone. He mentioned in the video that other hitches don't need grease. Sorry, but not true. Nearly every one that I know of recommends grease. If not, they will wear out prematurely where the bars rotate in their socket.
I just bought a used one today. Do you recommend those plastic things on the saddles or no
I haven’t used them but many tell me they work well.
Looking at the video (7:36) it looks like the hitch is low. What am I missing with your mention of not being able to open the tailgate? Or is it the length away from the truck, not the height? Thanks for the reviews, we ended up with the 12K model for our tt based as well on USA made and steel and solid, well made and reliable wdh.
The hitch isn’t far enough away from the truck for the tailgate to miss the tongue jack on the trailer.
@@WanderingWeekends I guess you could turn the trailer jack sideways or buy the equalizer extended hitch. Pads on the L-brackets is silly, just reducing the sway control friction. Thank again.