I raised my L brackets one hole today to apply more weight to my steer axle. I was on level ground. I needed to use the tool to lift the bars onto the L Brackets. I could have gone higher with the jack but i dont want to overstress the electric jack to where it breaks. How many of you need to use the tool and not because you find it easier but out of necessity. My bars were level once on the L brackets and I feel the hitch is dialed in. Just to clarify I don't need the tool due to health or strength issues. Tks

I have the tool but rarely use it unless I an uneven ground where one bar is much tighter while the other is loose. But I am pretty aggressive with the power jack. So long as the TVs rear tires are still on the ground, I keep raising it.:B

Same here. I used to have to use it all the time but a few months ago we bought a 3,500lb tongue jack and I almost never use it. As the previous poster said, I only have to use it if parked on pretty uneven ground and the low side has way more weight on it. Otherwise, I just raise the jack till they fall in place.

So even though the jack is starting to raise the back end of the truck higher than what it would be level you keep raising the jack? I have a Barker 3500lb VIP so I know the jack is very stout. Tks

So far I have used it only when on side to side uneven ground when one slips on without the lever and the other one won't. I just use the lever on the one that won't rather than raise the tongue jack even more. Other than that I manhandle both bars on by hand.Speaking of tongue jacks - all that slow speed travel that seems to go on forever is getting pretty old. I will be investigating using my Fastway Flip or at least a plastic cone. I suspect the existing hole is too far from the end for the Flip.

Cecilt wrote:So even though the jack is starting to raise the back end of the truck higher than what it would be level you keep raising the jack? I have a Barker 3500lb VIP so I know the jack is very stout. TksThat is normal procedure when hooking up. Don't be afraid of over stressing your jack.Barney

Who needs the Equalizer Tool to lift bars | Good Sam Community

camperdave
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
wrvond wrote:
The tools are not intended to be used under pressure. They are simply a safety item to keep your hands out of harm's way. If you are having to exert effort to lift the WD/AS bars or chain hooks into position or release them, then you either have too much tension on the bars, or the hitch head is too low.
Remember, too much tension on the WD bars is just as bad (or worse) than not enough. If your bars are rated too high for the job, they will result in a much harsher ride.

Are you saying that with the trailer hitched up and the tongue jack up, that the bars should just slip onto the L brackets? that makes no sense at all. If it required no pressure to lift the bars on, then they would not be doing anything once up there.
wrvond
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2013
The tools are not intended to be used under pressure. They are simply a safety item to keep your hands out of harm's way. If you are having to exert effort to lift the WD/AS bars or chain hooks into position or release them, then you either have too much tension on the bars, or the hitch head is too low.
Remember, too much tension on the WD bars is just as bad (or worse) than not enough. If your bars are rated too high for the job, they will result in a much harsher ride.
camperdave
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
My electric jack died a few years ago and I never replaced it (just put the original manual cranker back on). I use the Equal-i-zer lift tool every time so I don't have to crank so much. I really should buy a new electric jack I guess.
Farm_Camp
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
The service guy that installed and set up mine showed me how I can use it if needed.

That was the last time it was ever out of the storage bay.

As the others have said I just keep jacking it up till the bars slip on easy. Use a couple of blocks under the foot if you want to cut down some on how much you need to run/crank the jack.
MNRon
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
Ditto. Use the jack, not your back. Much easier :)
skipnchar
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
On my rig I have to jack up the tongue at least a foot in order to latch up the bars. Your tongue jack SHOULD be able to stand up to the task with no issues.
WayneAt63044
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
I use the Flip and don't hesitate to lift the truck with the tongue jack until the bars slide onto the L brackets.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Oct 10, 2013
Cecilt wrote:
So even though the jack is starting to raise the back end of the truck higher than what it would be level you keep raising the jack? I have a Barker 3500lb VIP so I know the jack is very stout. Tks

That is normal procedure when hooking up. Don't be afraid of over stressing your jack.
Barney
wmoses
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
So far I have used it only when on side to side uneven ground when one slips on without the lever and the other one won't. I just use the lever on the one that won't rather than raise the tongue jack even more. Other than that I manhandle both bars on by hand.

Speaking of tongue jacks - all that slow speed travel that seems to go on forever is getting pretty old. I will be investigating using my Fastway Flip or at least a plastic cone. I suspect the existing hole is too far from the end for the Flip.
Cecilt
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
So even though the jack is starting to raise the back end of the truck higher than what it would be level you keep raising the jack? I have a Barker 3500lb VIP so I know the jack is very stout. Tks

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