I am in the market for an WD hitch and pretty much have my heart set on the EQlizer. I have a question regarding the choices.I can use the 6000 lb rated version of the hitch and I can buy it for around 600 bucks. But there are 1000 and 1200 lb versions available for less with shipping.Is there any reason besides the additional tongue weight, which my application can handle, that I shouldn't buy the heavier hitch?

When I say my application can handle, I mean that I have enough weight available on the tongue and rear axle to handle the additional weight of the the heavier hitches.

Get the bars that best handle your loaded tongue weight. (around 13% of your trailer's GVWR is a good start) Getting bars that are too heavy is not recommended and will also make your set up ride rougher.

The real question is how close us your trailer to the 6000#? If you are within a few hundred pounds, move up to the 10000#. Why? Because it'll handle your current trailer and then be there for you when you upgrade to your next, certainly larger, trailer. A lot of folks not familiar with the way the Equal-i-zer actually works always throw out a concern over having too heavy of bars but I can assure you there's greater margin than a traditional WDH setup. Yes, I do run the Equal-i-zer and know a little something about the mechanics of its operation. That said, if you only have a 4000# camper, certainly 10000# or larger will be too much.

geotex1 wrote:The real question is how close us your trailer to the 6000#? If you are within a few hundred pounds, move up to the 10000#. Why? Because it'll handle your current trailer and then be there for you when you upgrade to your next, certainly larger, trailer. A lot of folks not familiar with the way the Equal-i-zer actually works always throw out a concern over having too heavy of bars but I can assure you there's greater margin than a traditional WDH setup. Yes, I do run the Equal-i-zer and know a little something about the mechanics of its operation. That said, if you only have a 4000# camper, certainly 10000# or larger will be too much.Yes, I believe this is the correct question. Thanks. I'll get the 6k hitch. I was trying to save a couple bucks.

I use the 10,000 lb version with 1,000 lb bars. Why? Because it was the smallest they had available at the time. (The 6,000 lb version hadn't come out yet.) It works fine, even for my lightweight trailer. It might ride better, or something, with the 6,000 lb version - I wouldn't know having never tried it - but it's not too much just more than needed.

Equal-i-zer hitch choices | Good Sam Community

atreis
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
If the 6k version had been available when I bought mine, I would have bought it. It likely would have been better for me for a few reasons (a tad lighter weight, etc...). It hadn't been released yet though and the 10k version works fine, so I've seen no need to replace it.

I do think one should buy the one that fits, and not over-size things without having a good reason. In this case though, it's not unsafe and if it's adjusted correctly won't harm the frame, it's just inefficient. Obviously, one would not need as much angle on heavier bars in order to get the same weight distribution.
Huntindog
Explorer
Jan 22, 2015
kvangil wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
The right size is the right size.

With the logic some are using, I bet they buy oversized shoes, as they would get more for their money.

There is a reason that they make different sized bars.

I can't speak for other WD hitches, but in the case of the Equal-I-Zer, it doesn't matter if you use higher-rated setup with a lighter trailer. Generally, the lighter setup does cost less, and perhaps that is the "reason" for the different size bars; however, if OP finds a heavier-rated one at a discounted rate, there's no harm there. Several threads on here and other forums where people have inquired with the manufacturer and they say it's fine to do so. Personal experience, my 1400/14000 setup tows my 5000lbs trailer just fine for the past 2 years. I see it as having room to grow should I choose a bigger TT next time around. And yes, I buy oversized shoes for the kids so I don't have to buy them again in 6 months because they grow so fast. :)
My parents did the same for me... I hated it. By the time the shoes fit, they were worn out. So they never really fit me.

And just like the shoe example, an oversized bar will never really be right, and CAN in some cases cause harm to the TT frame. One of my TTs said so right in the manual. It gave ratings for bars based on the thickness of the frames. With many of todays lightweight frames on TTs, I would be cautious about recommending over sized bars... Just because it has worked for you on your TT, doesn't mean it will for others and their TTs. Certain things need to be sized right. I like my shoes to fit, and my WD bars to fit as well
kvangil
Explorer
Jan 22, 2015
Huntindog wrote:
The right size is the right size.

With the logic some are using, I bet they buy oversized shoes, as they would get more for their money.

There is a reason that they make different sized bars.

I can't speak for other WD hitches, but in the case of the Equal-I-Zer, it doesn't matter if you use higher-rated setup with a lighter trailer. Generally, the lighter setup does cost less, and perhaps that is the "reason" for the different size bars; however, if OP finds a heavier-rated one at a discounted rate, there's no harm there. Several threads on here and other forums where people have inquired with the manufacturer and they say it's fine to do so. Personal experience, my 1400/14000 setup tows my 5000lbs trailer just fine for the past 2 years. I see it as having room to grow should I choose a bigger TT next time around. And yes, I buy oversized shoes for the kids so I don't have to buy them again in 6 months because they grow so fast. :)
Huntindog
Explorer
Jan 21, 2015
The right size is the right size.

With the logic some are using, I bet they buy oversized shoes, as they would get more for their money.

There is a reason that they make different sized bars.
JSDaly
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
Ron3rd wrote:
Interesting that the EQ's with the lighter bars would cost more. BTW, EQ has a calculator on their site that will help you with bar selection.

kvangil wrote:
If the ones with heavier bars are cheaper, go ahead and go with the cheaper setup. Your tongue weight being 320 lbs, add propane, battery, and cargo in the back of your TV, the 600# bars may be cutting it closer than you think. FWIW, I use a 1400/14000 Equal-I-Zer setup with a 5000# gross weight trailer and have never had any issues; the ride is fine too...

Ron3rd: Yeah, I thought it was odd too. I suspect it's because there are more of the heavier hitches out there so the price isn't as flexible.

kvangil: Good to know. I have ordered the 90-00-01000. So we will see.
kvangil
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
If the ones with heavier bars are cheaper, go ahead and go with the cheaper setup. Your tongue weight being 320 lbs, add propane, battery, and cargo in the back of your TV, the 600# bars may be cutting it closer than you think. FWIW, I use a 1400/14000 Equal-I-Zer setup with a 5000# gross weight trailer and have never had any issues; the ride is fine too...
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jan 19, 2015
JSDaly wrote:
Ron3rd wrote:
You mentioned $600. I bought by EQ hitch wtih 1200 lb bars off Amazon for about $485.00 with free shipping.

Yeah, the 1000 and 1200's can be found cheaper. The price on the 600's tend to be in the middle 500's with shipping. I asked this in the OP. I saw the price you stated and was wondering if the heavier hitch would work in my application. :)

Interesting that the EQ's with the lighter bars would cost more. BTW, EQ has a calculator on their site that will help you with bar selection.
JSDaly
Explorer
Jan 19, 2015
Ron3rd wrote:
You mentioned $600. I bought by EQ hitch wtih 1200 lb bars off Amazon for about $485.00 with free shipping.

Yeah, the 1000 and 1200's can be found cheaper. The price on the 600's tend to be in the middle 500's with shipping. I asked this in the OP. I saw the price you stated and was wondering if the heavier hitch would work in my application. :)
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jan 19, 2015
You mentioned $600. I bought by EQ hitch wtih 1200 lb bars off Amazon for about $485.00 with free shipping.
Drew_K
Explorer
Jan 19, 2015
Call Equalizer. I called them once because I wasn't sure which model to buy, and the guy I spoke with was very helpful and knowledgeable. Everyone posting here is trying to help and very well may be right, but I'd add the manufacturer's opinion into the equation and then decide what to buy.

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