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RickeyS1's avatar
RickeyS1
Explorer
Jan 12, 2018

Hitch Head Question

Anyone have two different tow vehicles, and if so do you have a hitch head adjusted for each vehicle or do you adjust every time you swap/change vehicle. I have a equalizer hitch and just bought a new truck but may tow with either vehicle (which are way different). So was wondering what other people do.

Thanks,
Rick

15 Replies

  • I have different trailers I tow (same thing but different). I have two hitch heads and drawbars I use depending on which trailer I'm towing. I also have different bars, 600 lbs and 1000 lbs.

    I would not want to be raising and lowering a hitch, adjusting or whatever depending on what vehicle I was using. Just me but it would be worth it to me to spend the few hundred $ to get a different hitch and drawbar.
  • The OP referred to his hitch as an "equalizer" but if it truly is an Equal-i-zer brand hitch then another potential issue is the head angle may have to be changed when switching from one vehicle to the other. Anyone who owns an Equal-i-zer knows this is a real PITA as it means pulling the head apart and changing the number of washers in the head, which in turn means having a torque wrench on hand that will properly torque those two shank bolts. :( Perhaps the OP could be more specific and tell us just which hitch he really has. ;)
  • I have just one adjustable hitch head and adjust it as necessary when switching tow vehicles. Pretty expensive hitch head cause its an Equal-I-zer. For a while I was loaning my TT to my son, so had a third adjustment to make for his '05 Dodge Ram. He's since bought one.
    Don't mind it at all, I have all the big tools in the back of the Burb so they are easy to access.

    1965 Chevy Van
    1994 GMC Suburban
  • Too much hassle to re-adjust each time you switch. Keep it simple and get a 2nd head.
  • If there is a height difference between the two tow vehicles, you will probably want to get two hitch heads, each specific for the tow vehicle. The trailer height will never change, so the hitch head height will need to be adjusted (up or down) with a rise or fall in the shank so it's always level to the trailer hitch. Otherwise, if you use just the one, you'll need to make the adjustment every time you switch back and forth.

    I think in time, you will probably end up towing with only one vehicle as the primary tow vehicle, and use the second one as a back-up only in case the primary vehicle is down for repair. If this is the case, then a second purchase is probably not necessary. However, if you are sharing the trailer with someone else and thus, the reason for 2 vehicles, then definitely get the correct height hitch head for each vehicle.

    It's really your call, it's just a matter of convenience to have both so you don't have to unbolt everything and adjust every time you switch.

    As for me, if I had 2 different tow vehicles .... yes... I'd get 2 hitch heads if the height was different between them. I have a utility trailer, and a specific hitch I use for it, as it's a fairly long drop-down. I have no problem getting the right tool for the right job, even if it's used only 1 time.