Check WD hitch bolts for tightness

I also put a 1/2 inch bolt through one of the top holes on my L bracket to make it impossible to fall out if the bracket ever gets that loose.

If the OP is referring to the bolts that hold the entire assembly on the trailer frame they shouldn't come loose but sometimes they still do as things flex going down the road. Some people have added a spacer near these bolts so that the mounting plates can't flex and bend as you tighten the bolts.

Good tip!

Although if I had that much problem with bolts loosening I would do something about it.
There are many options to achieve this. I would start with grade 8 locking nuts.
Then move to loctite and external locking tabs if needed. Also if the two brackets are moving that much that the bolts become loosened there is not enough clamping load provided by the bolt to bracket interface. Removing the paint from the two mating surfaces might resolve this.
Having the two brackets welded at there "position" might also help.
The newer brackets seem to really help as well.

Periodically checking bolts for correct torque is something that should be done on all hitches but not something should be a daily job, IMO.

We had ours come loose too at least twice. What is the correct torque for tightening?

I have periodically checked the bolts on my equalizer hitch for correct torque. They have always been tight after the first couple of tows.

Yesterday I checked them again before leaving Tucson. The 2 nuts on the right hand "L" bracket were loose! The bracket could be wiggled by hand.

So ....please check your hitch bolts. I'm glad (and lucky) that I checked before the next tow.

You have been fortunate. I learned early on with an Equalizer hitch that I needed to check and often re-tighten the bolts after every tow. Not at the end of a trip, but at the end of every day's towing. Also, be sure to re-grease the sockets where they move in the hitch head. I think the newest L brackets are redesigned to make it harder to for them to loosen up by themselves. Some have completely fallen out of the bracket so I inserted a half inch bolt and nut in a hole to keep from losing it on the road if it comes loose before the end of the day's tightening session. It is not a hitch I am impressed with.

Good advice, I check my nuts often.

:B

Good advice, I check my nuts often.