14k Equalizer Hitch-Max TW when not using the bars?

[dragr1]

I occasionally tow another trailer with my equalizer hitch but I do not use the weight distribution bars when towing it. Is the max tongue weight still 1400 pounds if you're not using the bars?

[CEddy]

JBarca wrote:

CEddy wrote:
I used my old Equal-i-zer head in weight-carrying mode to pull a loaded car trailer once. The effect I noticed after is that it distorted the small bolt at the bottom of the hitch head that tensions the head against the shank.

When using it in weight-distributing mode the moment applied to the head is opposite and no forces are applied to that little bolt.

Good point!! That is a difference between the Reese and the Equal-I-zer is the lower pivot set set screw. This would hold true on most any WD head that uses the washer tilt method with the set screw to hold and lock the head during setup. If the TW is high enough it may overcome the friction hold of the head to shank bolts and start working on the set screw. That and a few impact bumps may do it. The high clamp friciton from the head bolts may help hold some of it, but may not all of it. Do you know if your head bolts were torqued to spec?

Like this one which is a generic round bar head.


Thanks

John

Don't know if they were torqued to spec, but they were torqued as high as I could get them by hand using a 1/2" breaker bar. Even then, the torque did not squeeze the 'clevis' on the head down to create friction on the shank. I'd have to go out and check my newer one, but I believe it fits tighter.

[JBarca]

CEddy wrote:
I used my old Equal-i-zer head in weight-carrying mode to pull a loaded car trailer once. The effect I noticed after is that it distorted the small bolt at the bottom of the hitch head that tensions the head against the shank.

When using it in weight-distributing mode the moment applied to the head is opposite and no forces are applied to that little bolt.

Good point!! That is a difference between the Reese and the Equal-I-zer is the lower pivot set set screw. This would hold true on most any WD head that uses the washer tilt method with the set screw to hold and lock the head during setup. If the TW is high enough it may overcome the friction hold of the head to shank bolts and start working on the set screw. That and a few impact bumps may do it. The high clamp friciton from the head bolts may help hold some of it, but may not all of it. Do you know if your head bolts were torqued to spec?

Like this one which is a generic round bar head.


Thanks

John

[CEddy]

I used my old Equal-i-zer head in weight-carrying mode to pull a loaded car trailer once. The effect I noticed after is that it distorted the small bolt at the bottom of the hitch head that tensions the head against the shank.

When using it in weight-distributing mode the moment applied to the head is opposite and no forces are applied to that little bolt.

I now have a bigger trailer and larger Equal-i-zer hitch, but I would do as you did and buy the proper weight-carrying drawbar if I needed to pull another trailer without using weight distribution.

[LarryJM]

dragr1 wrote:
Been out of town for a while, but I did talk to equalizer. They actually called me back and the guy I spoke with was very nice. He didn't really give me a number as for tongue weight in weight carrying mode (no weight distribution bars). All he said was it isn't designed to be used that way and they don't recommend that it be used without the weight distribution bars.

So I spent $139 and bought a regular adjustable hitch that has a
2 5/16" ball and a 2" ball (they flip over) and 1000 pounds of tongue weight carrying capacity. I wanted the larger one that has 1400 pounds of capacity but it wasn't in stock and I was about to leave town.

Hmmm that is very interesting. Clearly Reese rates their WD hitch head/drawbar setup in the WC mode as JBarca's pics show, but Equal-i-zer doesn't and even goes as far as not recommending it at all it appears. I wonder if it has something to do with the hitch head to drawbar attachment configuration or if it's simple a matter of actual testing protocols.

Larry

[dragr1]

Been out of town for a while, but I did talk to equalizer. They actually called me back and the guy I spoke with was very nice. He didn't really give me a number as for tongue weight in weight carrying mode (no weight distribution bars). All he said was it isn't designed to be used that way and they don't recommend that it be used without the weight distribution bars.

So I spent $139 and bought a regular adjustable hitch that has a
2 5/16" ball and a 2" ball (they flip over) and 1000 pounds of tongue weight carrying capacity. I wanted the larger one that has 1400 pounds of capacity but it wasn't in stock and I was about to leave town.

[JBarca]

BarneyS wrote:
Interesting info John. Like I have said many times before, I learn something new here every day! Thanks and have a very Merry Christmas! 🙂
Dragr1, please disregard my previous post.
Barney

Hi Barney,

Merry Christmas to you and Marlene too.

To make this topic even more interwoven...

http://www.reeseprod.com/content/products.aspx?lvl=2&parentid=1600&catID=1625∂=0

Reese hitch head pn 58167 is used on 600,800,1200,1500 and 1,700# WD bars. Yet they market it as a Straightline 2 ways. Up to 1,200# WD mode and in this case they declare the hitch head only good for 600# in weight carrying. See the 1st paragraph under Trunnion WD.

Then scroll down to HD Trunnion WD. The Titan and Ultra Frame fit in this group. This is one of the hitches I have. Same hitch head however this needs the 2 1/2" shank to gain the higher ratings. Now they rate the hitch system as 1,700# in WD mode and 1,000# in weight carrying.

Here is the sticker that showed up on one of my newer all cast steel trunnion bar heads. Reese hitch head pn 58167 has gone through many rev's since the early 2000 time frame when it came out as a 3 piece forged and welded head. And now back to all cast steel head.



Since the head itself does not appear to be the limiting factor, it may be the WD shank being used that is governing the weight carrying rating. Yet those sticker do not talk at all about weight carrying mode. Only WD mode. Again on the vintage I have.

The 2.5" shank


The 2" shank. Note these are older ones, The standard cast steel shank on the right is now 1,500# WD rated on a new one


Since I am on all Reese products on the F350 including the 2.5" receiver which is capable of 1,700# in WD mode, Called the Tow Beast back when I bought it, only has a 1,200# weight carrying rating.


The new 2.5" Titan has a higher rating. 1,800# WC and WD.
http://www.reeseprod.com/content/products.aspx?lvl=2&parentid=1000&catID=1065∂=0

It appears if you need/want to carry 1,800# in WC mode you need to buy a 2,000# rated WC draw bar. Reese Titan Draw bar

Or go to the Titan Pintlehook setup

In my case, I do not have enough truck or "want" to be using WC mode that high. The truck bob's enough on the flat deck in WC mode so now I put the WD bars on that too.

John

[RE_Todd]

Each piece of the hitch has it's own limit. The ball has a limit, the hitch has a limit, the receiver has a limit, etc.

[Ron_Gratz]

When you're using the hitch as a WDH with a 1400# TW and the bars adjusted to restore the front end to its unhitched height --
the coupler will be exerting about 3100# downward force on the ball,
the WD bars will be exerting about 2000# upward force on the bar pockets,
the WD bars will be exerting about 5000 lb-ft of pitch-axis torque on the hitch head, and
the WD bars might be exerting about 3000 lb-ft of yaw-axis torque on the hitch head.

When you're using the hitch as a weight carrying hitch with 1400# TW --
the coupler will be exerting 1400# downward force on the ball,
the vertical force exerted on the bar pockets will be zero,
the pitch-axis torque on the hitch head will be close to zero, and
the yaw-axis torque on the hitch head will be close to zero.

I guessing it would be okay to use the hitch in weight-carrying mode with a 1400# TW.

But, as stated before, only the hitch manufacturer can give the correct answer.

Ron

[BarneyS]

Interesting info John. Like I have said many times before, I learn something new here every day! Thanks and have a very Merry Christmas! 🙂
Dragr1, please disregard my previous post.
Barney

[JBarca]

Do not know about the Equal-I-izer, however the Reese HP trunnion bar head rated at 1,700# TW in WD mode, is only rated at 1,000# in weight carrying mode. At least the vintage I have. I never called Reese to ask why. I suspect Equal-I-zer may have a similar de-rating. Again do not know why.

It is sort of like the 2 1/2 to 2" reducing sleeve for the larger receiver. The sleeve is only rated for 1,200# yet I can buy a 2" shank now a days rated at 1,500# in WD mode.

[jerem0621]

I think the OP is referring to using the Hiitch Head in Weight Carrying mode.

I looked up the owners Manual online Here and I could not find any reference to weight carrying applications. The rated tongue weight is just that. The rated tongue weight.

However my Reese WD hitch head had a WC rating of 500-600 lbs iiirc.

I had this same issue and I just bought a separate shank for my non WD needs. I didn't want to risk damaging my WD hitch head just to tow a non WD needed trailer.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[BarneyS]

What makes you think that the hitch head is rated for less weight carrying ability than the receiver? I tried to answer your question in my first post when I said "it is not a condition of the hitch head..." I suspect, but don't know for sure, that the hitch head is fully capable of carrying the weight, or more, that the receiver is capable of.
Do please let us know what Equal-i-zer says.
Barney

[Campin_LI]

dragr1 wrote:
Most everyone here is missing the point, I know the weight ratings of the receiver and the truck. The rating of the equalizer hitch has nothing to do with either of those since it is rated much lower. I would like to know what the rating of the equalizer hitch head is when not using the weight distribution bars.

I have called equalizer, but have not received a return call yet.

Please let us know what Equal-i-zer says. I'm interested in their answer.

[dragr1]

Most everyone here is missing the point, I know the weight ratings of the receiver and the truck. The rating of the equalizer hitch has nothing to do with either of those since it is rated much lower. I would like to know what the rating of the equalizer hitch head is when not using the weight distribution bars.

I have called equalizer, but have not received a return call yet.