Hitch moans and groans

NinerBikes wrote:
$21 for 2 pieces of plastic makes my anus sore. I'll deal with creaking instead.

I believe they are supposed to be used on the L brackets, not on any part of your personal anatomy. :)

$21 for 2 pieces of plastic makes my anus sore. I'll deal with creaking instead.

Chappy and Junker wrote:
I have an Equalizer WDH with the friction style anti sway bars with retaining pins vice hanging chains. Works very well. But when slow maneuvering in turns it makes some very loud annoying creaks and moans. I have grease every surface and it helps. But then the grease wears off and the noises return. Should it make noises? Should I not grease it? :h

The noise is normal for an Equalizer hitch. It will get better when it gets some wear on it. Being wet seems to make it worse, for some reason.

Once we missed a turn somewhere in Montana and made a U-turn in the large (empty) parking lot of a vet's office. That hitch was groaning and moaning horribly.... we were surprised the vet didn't offer to come out and euthanize our poor dying cow!

You absolutely DO NOT want to put any grease or oil on the L bracket where the bars rest. This defeats the friction that prevents the sway. Clean off the grease on the bars and the L bracket. It should be bare metal against bare metal. Yes, it will make some noise, but just ignore it.

As others have said, Equal-i-zer makes a pad that rest on the L bracket to help reduce the noise and still retain the friction. I purchased them when my system was brand new and those pads are still in good shape. I've not removed them in 2 years now. They do help on the noise.

Any RV dealership that has a parts store should have them, or order on-line. Here's a link to what they look like. I just did a simply Google search and this was the first "hit", so nothing special about this specific business or web site.

Click here. Equal-i-zer Sway Bracket Jackets

Equal-i-zer hitch actually offers a neoprene type pad that goes on the "L" bracket where the bars ride. We have used the pad and it does reduce noise and does not seem to negatively affect sway control.

I don't have the Equalizer but it's normal for that make and model BUT DO NOT apply grease or any lubricant on the anti sway. Read the manual!

Their Website states under "My hitch is noisy, what can I do?" in the support section.

Grease is good and noise is normal for your style of hitch.

Should have stated, grease is good in those places that use grease. Like all the grease fittings only.