Can't give you a comparison on the same fiver but on two similiar units. My '04 was 8000 lbs with stock equalizer. Towing was so rough I immediately had the entire leaf spring setup replaced with Mor/ryde IS independent suspension, no more problems over 7 yrs of ownership. New fiver is the same brand, 9200 lbs with same axles but the new rubber isolation equalizer. It tows fine for over 5 yrs now. Another point, besides wet bolts that need grease and brass bushings there are Never Fail bushings that don't require grease, that is what I use.