Forum Discussion

EddieTT's avatar
EddieTT
Explorer
Jan 31, 2015

2nd guessing my new WDH / bar choice...still can change

Totally excited...just got what we feel is a great deal on a Venture RV Sonic 200VML, which will be built fresh off the line. Part of the deal was that I am buying the hitch thru the dealer as well. I have a Blue Ox SwayPro listed right now as the hitch that I want. I’ve based this decision on many of the threads that I’ve read here on these forums. And I mean many. I haven’t taken this decision lightly at all.

BUT...this afternoon, when talking with the sales guy, and I know he is a sales guy, he said told me that he, his service guy, and parts guy, all recommend the Equil-i-zer. He stated that they have only sold two Blue Ox’s to date, and both customers had returned them. When I asked why they were returned, he did not know the reason. So now he has me second guessing my decision.

AND... I had also asked him what bar they were recommending, with tongue weight of the trailer (Dry wt 3700, tongue wt 330). I know that tongue % needs to be adjusted/balanced. With a GVWR of 4,800, call it 500 lbs. max tongue wt. So, if I go with the Blue Ox, the two choices that I feel I would need to decide between would be the 550 and 750 bars. He said that they recommended the 1,200 lb. bars, due to “you never know when you will get a different, and heavier camper, and hitches do not retain their value, so you will want to keep it for your next one”. This statement made me say to myself “okay, this guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about, that will make for a very rough ride”.

So, in my head, I’m still thinking that I want to go with the Blue Ox. Guessing that maybe they get more $ maybe when they sell an Equil-i-zer, since that is much more prominently displayed on their website, and for some reason, they also cost the same, when purchasing thru them. Every place that I have looked, the Blue Ox was a lil bit more.

If you read all this and want to chime in with some feedback, I’d appreciate it. I don’t think that I can wrong with either hitch, but recommendations on which bars to get with either system would certainly be welcome.

Thanks in advance….
  • dadmomh's avatar
    dadmomh
    Explorer
    Feb 01, 2015
    We've had both. Our HTT had the Eq and it did a fine job, just as it was supposed to do. The downsides were that it was noisy as all get-out, it was dirty and the bars we so heavy I could not lift them. In an emergency, I could not have hooked up. With the TT our dealer recommended the Blue Ox 1000, which we'd never heard of. He said to do some research and whichever we wanted was fine and there was about a $50 diff with the Eq being the higher. DH went to the Blue Ox website and did some reading. There are 2 videos he watched and felt that it was the better choice for us. It's quiet, clean and I could hook up if need be. Very easy to use. I have no idea why the salesman would make the comments he did - maybe Blue Ox is newer and those he mentioned just still have the Eq and no desire to change. First suggestion is to head for the Blue Ox website and spend some time. BTW, our TT is a Rockwood Ultra Lite 2604, dry wt is 5585 and GVWR is 6629, if that gives you any helpful info. Certainly not being critical of the Eq...they've been around a long time, many satisfied customers, good reputation. The Blue Ox is newer and for us has been a much better and easier to use choice. Both tow well and no issues. Take a look.
  • Mike_Up's avatar
    Mike_Up
    Explorer
    Feb 01, 2015
    beemerphile1 wrote:
    gmw photos wrote:
    Not to pick a fight here, but saying choose the bars based on "15% of the GVWR" is a bit too hard and fast for me.

    Example: my trailer has a 6000 pound GVWR, and yet in reality, it only weighs 4000 pounds ready to camp, as I pack it ( verified on the CAT scale ). So, in my mind, it's better to choose the bar rating based on what the trailer really weighs, and what the tongue weight really is, "for that user".

    My funfinder weighs 4000, the tongue is just under 600, and I use 550 pound bars. Am able to restore the steer axle to 100%, and I still have a nice compliant ride over dips and undulations, so I feel these are the correct bars for my setup. Blue Ox agreed that 550 bars were what I needed when I asked them.


    How does a buyer know the loaded weight of a trailer that hasn't been built yet? Fifteen percent of GVWR is a safe estimate.


    My trailer loaded is 6500 lbs. 12% to 15% tongue would be 780 lbs to 975 lbs. The Reese Strait Line trunnion system goes from 800 lbs (which I have from my last smaller trailer) to the next size up, being 1200 lbs. Since my true tongue weight is most likely well over 800 lbs, the 1200 lbs spring bars were needed.

    Truck rides great with 1200 lbs bars.
  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    Feb 01, 2015
    gmw photos wrote:
    Not to pick a fight here, but saying choose the bars based on "15% of the GVWR" is a bit too hard and fast for me.

    Example: my trailer has a 6000 pound GVWR, and yet in reality, it only weighs 4000 pounds ready to camp, as I pack it ( verified on the CAT scale ). So, in my mind, it's better to choose the bar rating based on what the trailer really weighs, and what the tongue weight really is, "for that user".

    My funfinder weighs 4000, the tongue is just under 600, and I use 550 pound bars. Am able to restore the steer axle to 100%, and I still have a nice compliant ride over dips and undulations, so I feel these are the correct bars for my setup. Blue Ox agreed that 550 bars were what I needed when I asked them.


    How does a buyer know the loaded weight of a trailer that hasn't been built yet? Fifteen percent of GVWR is a safe estimate.
  • Mike_Up's avatar
    Mike_Up
    Explorer
    Feb 01, 2015
    New system uses bars that flex. If you use a spring bar that's to stiff for the lower tongue weight of your camper, it won't flex correctly. The flex is for sway control although I don't see much control coming from that.

    I feel the Reese Strait-Line and Equalizer brands are the way to go.

    My Strait Line system with 1200 lbs bars
  • gmw_photos's avatar
    gmw_photos
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2015
    Not to pick a fight here, but saying choose the bars based on "15% of the GVWR" is a bit too hard and fast for me.

    Example: my trailer has a 6000 pound GVWR, and yet in reality, it only weighs 4000 pounds ready to camp, as I pack it ( verified on the CAT scale ). So, in my mind, it's better to choose the bar rating based on what the trailer really weighs, and what the tongue weight really is, "for that user".

    My funfinder weighs 4000, the tongue is just under 600, and I use 550 pound bars. Am able to restore the steer axle to 100%, and I still have a nice compliant ride over dips and undulations, so I feel these are the correct bars for my setup. Blue Ox agreed that 550 bars were what I needed when I asked them.
  • rbpru's avatar
    rbpru
    Explorer II
    Jan 31, 2015
    I have a Blue Ox that the dealer matched to my 25 ft. Dutchman. It has been superb.

    I have never had a problem with TT sway and the chain cam system works very well.

    The Equalizer hitch does seem to be a bit noisy because of the bar slides but any of the major brand hitched work just fine.

    Unless you have a reason not to, I would stay with the Blue Ox. A call to the company should answer any questions.

    It could be the dealership an their service techs are used to working with Equalizers or they may get a better mark up.
  • EddieTT's avatar
    EddieTT
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2015
    Thanks again for all the assistance everyone...Blue Ox recommends the 550 lb. bars for TT we have on order.
  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2015
    Your hitch weight rating should be 15% of the GVWR of the trailer. Do not go with the 1,200 pound hitch, it could bend your tongue.

    The Equal-I-zer is a good hitch, I have had two of them.
  • EddieTT's avatar
    EddieTT
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2015
    forgot to mention that the bar choice will be dependent too on what Blue Ox recommends as well. I did shoot them an email, thanks for that advice too!

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