Equal-i-zer wdh question

wrvond,
It might just be an illusion but the blue truck sure looks to be sitting a little nose high in your photo.

Ha! Guess I showed my ignorance ! I did not realize the Equalizer worked differently.

I've continued to use the old (circa 1989) Reese dual cam WDH with sway control. In fact, I set the chains to the same links on each side with the F250 as I did on the F150.
My camper weighs the same as it always has, as does the tongue. The F250 has a lot more capacity than the F150 did, but I'm only using a fraction of that capacity. By setting the bars the same, I'm still distributing the same weight I always have between the front and rear axles.
While the F250 has electronic sway control built in, I prefer not to engage it, and allow the mechanical sway control of the WDH to handle it. Keeping in mind that I have never experienced any problems with sway, I suppose if it got bad enough that the mechanical couldn't handle it, the truck's on board control would take over.

I would definately stay with the Reese Dual Cam as it works to resist the tendency for sway and the cams work to return from any offset or sway. This is not present in the Equalizer hitch that simply resists sway and also resists a return from sway.
.

leftybj wrote:
I have a half ton truck and 28 foot trailer. I use an equal-I-zer hitch and am very satisfied. I am thinking of buying a larger truck. If I buy a truck that does not squat down when I hook up the trailer, I won't need tension to level everything out. Without tension on the spring bars I loose sway control. Anybody have experience with this?

I went from this:


To this:


I've continued to use the old (circa 1989) Reese dual cam WDH with sway control. In fact, I set the chains to the same links on each side with the F250 as I did on the F150.
My camper weighs the same as it always has, as does the tongue. The F250 has a lot more capacity than the F150 did, but I'm only using a fraction of that capacity. By setting the bars the same, I'm still distributing the same weight I always have between the front and rear axles.
While the F250 has electronic sway control built in, I prefer not to engage it, and allow the mechanical sway control of the WDH to handle it. Keeping in mind that I have never experienced any problems with sway, I suppose if it got bad enough that the mechanical couldn't handle it, the truck's on board control would take over.

Any trailer connected to a bumper hitch will remove weight from the front axle causing it to rise. Pure physics. Levers and fulcrums and such.

Any WDH will transfer some weight back to the front axle causing it to lower. Same physics, levers and fulcrums.

Putting weight back on to the front axle will go a long way toward mitigating sway caused by a lightened front axle.

A weight distribution hitch isn't a sway control hitch - per se

But if I understand it correctly, the Equalizer WDH is indeed a sway control also.....Please correct me if I'm wrong.

leftybj wrote:
I have a half ton truck and 28 foot trailer. I use an equal-I-zer hitch and am very satisfied. I am thinking of buying a larger truck. If I buy a truck that does not squat down when I hook up the trailer, I won't need tension to level everything out. Without tension on the spring bars I loose sway control. Anybody have experience with this?

:) Hi, if your larger truck is a Kenworth, otherwise, you will still need your hitch. (no experience)

Keep your Equalizer. You will need it

A weight distribution hitch isn't a sway control hitch - per se. It might afford you a small amount of anti-sway, but don't count on it. A weight distribution hitch is intended to insure you have a balance of weight on the towing vehicle, so that the steering capability isn't lacking... which will give you that small amount of sway control. Sway control can be affected by installation of sway-control bars (brakes).

I have a half ton truck and 28 foot trailer. I use an equal-I-zer hitch and am very satisfied. I am thinking of buying a larger truck. If I buy a truck that does not squat down when I hook up the trailer, I won't need tension to level everything out. Without tension on the spring bars I loose sway control. Anybody have experience with this?

Your assertion is absolutely correct. BTDT. Without weight on the spring bars this hitch does not provide sway mitigation. It is a serious shortcoming of this hitch for those that tow with stout tow vehicles. The Hensley and ProPride do not need any weight on the spring bars to provide full sway control, a major benefit of premium hitches.