Equalizer L- brackets Bending

LarryJM wrote:

Ron Gratz wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I agree, but on that surface there is no sway control. In a sway situation it would take some dramatic side to side sway at least 25 deg or more from the trailer for the sockets at the hitch head to stop any type of sway! I know they say "4 point sway control" but seeing how little those bars move in a slight turn it will not stop sway. The only real sway control is at the L brackets!

BenK wrote:
Agree that 'most' of the sway force is eaten up at the 'L' bracket location

It is not necessary for the socket to rotate relative to the hitch head in order to generate sway-resisting torque.
In fact, the ability to generate torque is greater when there is no relative motion because the static coefficient of friction is greater than the dynamic coefficient.

The upward force applied at the rear end of the WD bar produces a very large contact force between the top side of the rear end of the socket and the underside of the hitch head.
The large contact force generates a large friction force which tends to prevent the socket from rotating relative to the hitch head. And, if the socket cannot rotate relative to the hitch head, the trailer cannot rotate relative to the TV.
After the socket does begin to rotate, the friction force is determined by dynamic friction force rather than static friction force, but the sway-resisting torque still is quite large.

If the coefficient of friction between bar socket and hitch head is the same as the coefficient for the bar/L-bracket interface, the socket/head will generate about 5 times as much sway-resisting torque as will the bar/bracket interface.
However if the socket/head contact surface is lubricated and the bar/bracket contact is not, the difference might drop from a factor of 5 to a factor of 2.

Based on the photos posted by the OP, I would guess that his socket/head contact surfaces were generating significantly more sway-resisting torque than were the bar/bracket surfaces.

Ron

I'm not going to look for it, but I'm pretty sure there have been multiple posts quoting the engineers at Equal-i-zer confirming that the majority of the sway control comes as you have state from the sockets on the hitch head and not as others are mistakenly assuming are from the WDH bar/"L" bracket interface. I think I would believe the folks that designed and I assume have tested their system over the "arm chair" engineers here.

Larry

Set up a camera to video the hitch head and do some light side-side turns. those sockets will not move relative to the trailer. "engineers" will always come up with creative ways to make their design look superior.