Hello all,I am buying my first travel trailer and am researching hitches to get for towing it. My trailer is a starcraft ar-one maxx 19bh le:Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs) 3,373 Dry Hitch Weight (lbs) 400 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs) 4,400 Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs) 987 I am towing it with a 2011 Chevy Suburban 1500.So far I think I'm down to deciding between an Equalizer:https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Equal-i-zer/EQ37060ET.htmland a Reese SC:https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Reese/RP66151.htmlThe Reese looks like a nice setup, but I'm wondering if the break pad style is gimmicky or if I will have to replace them often??? Also, I was thinking that the 6000lb bars would be best for my size - does that sound right? On the equalizer site if I put in the "advertised" tongue weight plus another 200lbs of cargo it says to get the 6000lb bars, but as soon as I add another 100lbs to tongue or cargo it goes to the 10,000lb bars. The Reese on the other hand has both the 600lb and 800lb tongue rated bars with 10,000lb TW rating.I'd love to get some feedback on your experiences with these two hitches and opinions on what one would be best for my application.I'm still not sure if I want to pay someone to install it for me or do it myself - I don't even own a torque wrench. As I mentioned, this is my first TT and I have no WD hitch experience. So ease of install may be a factor as well.Also, the dealer that I bought my trailer through has the Reese at about the same price as etrailer, so I'm thinking about buying through them and having them put it on when I pick up the trailer for $125 just for the convenience factor. Thanks,Don

Equal-i-zer was just too noisy for us...but it did a decent job.In your search, don't discount this as an option.....Blue Ox Sway ProCongrats and..Enjoy our new trailer and all the adventures you will have with it.

downtheroad wrote:Equal-i-zer was just too noisy for us...but it did a decent job.In your search, don't discount this as an option.....Blue Ox Sway ProCongrats and..Enjoy our new trailer and all the adventures you will have with it.Thanks. I think my trailer is going to be pretty low so I've been also thinking about how far the brackets or chains hang down and possibly hit ground when pulling into parking lots etc... I guess you could help mitigate that with the tilt of the hitch head, but I'm not sure.

camper don wrote:Hello all,I am buying my first travel trailer and am researching hitches to get for towing it. My trailer is a starcraft ar-one maxx 19bh le:Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs) 3,373 Dry Hitch Weight (lbs) 400 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs) 4,400 Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs) 987 I am towing it with a 2011 Chevy Suburban 1500.So far I think I'm down to deciding between an Equalizer:https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Equal-i-zer/EQ37060ET.htmland a Reese SC:https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Reese/RP66151.htmlThe Reese looks like a nice setup, but I'm wondering if the break pad style is gimmicky or if I will have to replace them often??? Also, I was thinking that the 6000lb bars would be best for my size - does that sound right? On the equalizer site if I put in the "advertised" tongue weight plus another 200lbs of cargo it says to get the 6000lb bars, but as soon as I add another 100lbs to tongue or cargo it goes to the 10,000lb bars. The Reese on the other hand has both the 600lb and 800lb tongue rated bars with 10,000lb TW rating.I'd love to get some feedback on your experiences with these two hitches and opinions on what one would be best for my application.I'm still not sure if I want to pay someone to install it for me or do it myself - I don't even own a torque wrench. As I mentioned, this is my first TT and I have no WD hitch experience. So ease of install may be a factor as well.Also, the dealer that I bought my trailer through has the Reese at about the same price as etrailer, so I'm thinking about buying through them and having them put it on when I pick up the trailer for $125 just for the convenience factor. Thanks,DonI have the Equal-i-zer brand hitch, it's about 9 years old. I love it, and prefer it to the chain style snapup design. I also think it's safer to hitch/unhitch.

I had the older chain style, worked but wanted more control. purchased an equalizer 4 point system, never took it out of box, because we bought a 5th wheel.

I have a Reese SC hitch and really like it. It allowed me to pull a trailer with 4000 GVWR with a Nissan Frontier. Very stable ride. The Frontier squatted pretty good when hitched up and the Reese brought the rear end up and kept the right amount of weight on the front axle. Trunnion style spring bars typically provide 2 - 3 inches more ground clearance. My first hitch, Fastway E2 was round bar and I did drag brackets and spring bars occasionally. Haven't dragged the Reese on anything. Yet!The brake pads are not gimmicky and are wearing well. I haven't changed them yet, (3,200) miles towing with the Reese.Recently got a full size truck and adjusted the Reese for taller truck and still using it.

Thoughts/opinions between Equalizer and Reese SC hitches?

12 Replies

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Mar 22, 2016
The older directions say to use a light dab of vaseline on the cams on tongue weights under 1200lbs If you find noise objectionable. Over 1200lbs may need a light dab of grease to avoid excessive wear of the cams!
DRKMinWA
Explorer
Mar 22, 2016
As for the grease, that's not recommended. Reese says only a light coating of Vaseline to reduce noise, but that no grease is needed - maybe correct for a dual cam.

LUBRICATION
•
Lubricate the ball mount sockets, hitch ball, and spring bar trunnions to prevent unnecessary wear. Trunnions should be lubricated daily when in use with heavy oil or grease. Lubricate upper and lower trunnion pivot pins and the contact area in the ball mount sockets. Excess oil and dirt should be wiped out whenever the trailer is uncoupled.

The above is from the owner's manual for my Reese SC hitch. I follow these directions.
LIKE2BUILD
Explorer
Mar 21, 2016
DRKMinWA wrote:
Grease - it's metal on metal so I slather it on pretty heavy. I wear gloves when hooking up and haven't gotten it all over the place. Disposable rubber gloves like I wear when hooking up sewer hose.

I only have experience with a Reese Dual Cam system but I love it. 34' long TT and never any sway. Oh, maybe pushback from a semi or a little crosswind caused a wiggle, but never has the trailer really started to wag.

As for the grease, that's not recommended. Reese says only a light coating of Vaseline to reduce noise, but that no grease is needed.

KJ
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Mar 16, 2016
With 550lbs of tongue weight you will need the lightest of bars. no more than 600lb bars! I would go with the Reese.
Need-A-Vacation
Explorer
Mar 16, 2016
Don,

One advantage the Reese has is the ability to swap the bars out if you change trailers down the road! The Reese hitch head also has more fine tuning adjustment capability. The Equal-I-Zer, if you change the hitch head by one washer, is about the same as moving the tongue brackets up or down a hole.

Congrats on the new rig!!!
DRKMinWA
Explorer
Mar 15, 2016
Grease - it's metal on metal so I slather it on pretty heavy. I wear gloves when hooking up and haven't gotten it all over the place. Disposable rubber gloves like I wear when hooking up sewer hose.
camper_don
Explorer
Mar 14, 2016
DRKMinWA wrote:
I have a Reese SC hitch and really like it. It allowed me to pull a trailer with 4000 GVWR with a Nissan Frontier. Very stable ride. The Frontier squatted pretty good when hitched up and the Reese brought the rear end up and kept the right amount of weight on the front axle. Trunnion style spring bars typically provide 2 - 3 inches more ground clearance. My first hitch, Fastway E2 was round bar and I did drag brackets and spring bars occasionally. Haven't dragged the Reese on anything. Yet!

The brake pads are not gimmicky and are wearing well. I haven't changed them yet, (3,200) miles towing with the Reese.

Recently got a full size truck and adjusted the Reese for taller truck and still using it.

Thanks for the info. Do you have to grease where the bars connect to the head? I see a few people talking about the blue ox and not having any exposed grease - just keeping things cleaner I guess. What are your thoughts on keeping the Reese SC greased?

Thanks,
Don
DRKMinWA
Explorer
Mar 13, 2016
I have a Reese SC hitch and really like it. It allowed me to pull a trailer with 4000 GVWR with a Nissan Frontier. Very stable ride. The Frontier squatted pretty good when hitched up and the Reese brought the rear end up and kept the right amount of weight on the front axle. Trunnion style spring bars typically provide 2 - 3 inches more ground clearance. My first hitch, Fastway E2 was round bar and I did drag brackets and spring bars occasionally. Haven't dragged the Reese on anything. Yet!

The brake pads are not gimmicky and are wearing well. I haven't changed them yet, (3,200) miles towing with the Reese.

Recently got a full size truck and adjusted the Reese for taller truck and still using it.
bbaker2001
Explorer
Mar 12, 2016
I had the older chain style, worked but wanted more control. purchased an equalizer 4 point system, never took it out of box, because we bought a 5th wheel.
Fordlover
Explorer
Mar 12, 2016
camper don wrote:
Hello all,
I am buying my first travel trailer and am researching hitches to get for towing it. My trailer is a starcraft ar-one maxx 19bh le:
Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs) 3,373
Dry Hitch Weight (lbs) 400
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs) 4,400
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs) 987

I am towing it with a 2011 Chevy Suburban 1500.

So far I think I'm down to deciding between an Equalizer:
https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Equal-i-zer/EQ37060ET.html

and a Reese SC:
https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Reese/RP66151.html

The Reese looks like a nice setup, but I'm wondering if the break pad style is gimmicky or if I will have to replace them often???

Also, I was thinking that the 6000lb bars would be best for my size - does that sound right? On the equalizer site if I put in the "advertised" tongue weight plus another 200lbs of cargo it says to get the 6000lb bars, but as soon as I add another 100lbs to tongue or cargo it goes to the 10,000lb bars. The Reese on the other hand has both the 600lb and 800lb tongue rated bars with 10,000lb TW rating.

I'd love to get some feedback on your experiences with these two hitches and opinions on what one would be best for my application.

I'm still not sure if I want to pay someone to install it for me or do it myself - I don't even own a torque wrench. As I mentioned, this is my first TT and I have no WD hitch experience. So ease of install may be a factor as well.

Also, the dealer that I bought my trailer through has the Reese at about the same price as etrailer, so I'm thinking about buying through them and having them put it on when I pick up the trailer for $125 just for the convenience factor.

Thanks,
Don

I have the Equal-i-zer brand hitch, it's about 9 years old. I love it, and prefer it to the chain style snapup design. I also think it's safer to hitch/unhitch.