This was our second trip with our new Zinger 27RL and the new equalizer hitch that we purchased when we picked up the trailer. The first trip was about 20 miles each way to overnight at a local RV park with no issues. This trip was about 200 miles, from our home to Cherokee, NC. No issues were noted during traveling.When we arrived home this afternoon, we noticed a huge chunk missing from the right side socket that receives the square bar into the hitch. Upon closer inspection, we noticed 3 more cracks in the metal of the same receiver. A large crack was also observed on the left receiver socket. I have already spoken with my dealer (Camping World Greensboro, NC) and they assured me they would replace it, but I want to know why it happened first. Is it a defect in the metal, or improper installation?

Looks like a very sudden failure and seeing that's it's broken in two places suggests to me that it was an impact of some kind. Perhaps the hitch hit the ground in a high-center manner or more to my mind, it was jack-knifed.Not trying to be accusatory, these things happen and we don't even realize it. FWIW, your pics are over sized per the forum guidelines. If you make them 640X480 and back up some, we could get a better idea of whats going on.

If I an seeing it correctly, it looks like bad design as the square that receives the tube should have a piece of flat bar formed around the outside edge like you would see on Receiver. That would add a lot of strength.

ScottG wrote:Looks like a very sudden failure and seeing that's it's broken in two places suggests to me that it was an impact of some kind. Perhaps the hitch hit the ground in a high-center manner or more to my mind, it was jack-knifed.Not trying to be accusatory, these things happen and we don't even realize it. FWIW, your pics are over sized per the forum guidelines. If you make them 640X480 and back up some, we could get a better idea of whats going on.No jack knife and no impact of any sort, but there was a very bumpy highway on I-40 near Statesville where they are doing road construction.

No amount of bumpy road should have that aftermath of a WDH hitch. None. That's a plain and simple design, material, or manufacturing problem right there. (Yes, that's a big bag, but the point is, there is nothing you could have done to cause such a failure.) That unit needs to go back to the OEM for analysis and you should get a new replacement ASAP. Stay on top of the dealer, may be even contact the WDH OEM and make sure they are aware.

I contacted the manufacturer via facebook and sent them the same photos. I received a response from Lori within 1 minute and she was blown away. She is going to get the photos to the right people and promised me a phone call in the morning. So far, awesome response from both the dealer and the manufacturer, hopefully this will get resolved quickly.

Equalizer hitch failure | Good Sam Community

49 Replies

3oaks
Explorer
Aug 25, 2014
Scary is right!
I always had faith in my Equal-i-zer hitch. But now?

Did the dealer install the properly rated Equal-i-zer hitch to match the tongue weight of the TT?
FrankShore
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
This is disturbing and even scary!
Searching_Ut
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
Definitely looks like a manufacturing defect that resulted in the metal becoming brittle. I've beat my equalizer hitch up pretty hard over the years, and it's held up really well other than wear and tear on the hardware, especially the L pins that hold the bars onto the L brackets on the trailer itself.
carringb
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
Looks like the die was too cold when the tube was drawn. If you look at close at the top-left-corner crack, it continues into a what looks like a "merged" surface (like trying to join Play-doh together). That indicates metal-shrinkage, which is caused by the die being improperly pre-heated. This also cools the steel too quick, making it more brittle. This really would only happen in a first-run after restart, so it should not be common. Shame on them for not catching it during post-processing however.
3PuttNut
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
I contacted the manufacturer via facebook and sent them the same photos. I received a response from Lori within 1 minute and she was blown away. She is going to get the photos to the right people and promised me a phone call in the morning. So far, awesome response from both the dealer and the manufacturer, hopefully this will get resolved quickly.
RinconVTR
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
No amount of bumpy road should have that aftermath of a WDH hitch. None. That's a plain and simple design, material, or manufacturing problem right there. (Yes, that's a big bag, but the point is, there is nothing you could have done to cause such a failure.)

That unit needs to go back to the OEM for analysis and you should get a new replacement ASAP. Stay on top of the dealer, may be even contact the WDH OEM and make sure they are aware.
3PuttNut
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
ScottG wrote:
Looks like a very sudden failure and seeing that's it's broken in two places suggests to me that it was an impact of some kind. Perhaps the hitch hit the ground in a high-center manner or more to my mind, it was jack-knifed.
Not trying to be accusatory, these things happen and we don't even realize it.

FWIW, your pics are over sized per the forum guidelines. If you make them 640X480 and back up some, we could get a better idea of whats going on.

No jack knife and no impact of any sort, but there was a very bumpy highway on I-40 near Statesville where they are doing road construction.
powderman426
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
If I an seeing it correctly, it looks like bad design as the square that receives the tube should have a piece of flat bar formed around the outside edge like you would see on Receiver. That would add a lot of strength.
ScottG
Nomad
Aug 24, 2014
Looks like a very sudden failure and seeing that's it's broken in two places suggests to me that it was an impact of some kind. Perhaps the hitch hit the ground in a high-center manner or more to my mind, it was jack-knifed.
Not trying to be accusatory, these things happen and we don't even realize it.

FWIW, your pics are over sized per the forum guidelines. If you make them 640X480 and back up some, we could get a better idea of whats going on.

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Equalizer hitch failure

49 Replies

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