Downsizing and Equalizer

[NY_Surveyor]

Hi everyone,

We are downsizing from a 32' trailer that weighs approx 7500lbs dry to a 21' hybrid with a dry weight of 3600lbs. I'm towing with a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 with the Hemi V8.

I purchased an equalizer rated at 10,000lbs for my old trailer. I'm assuming that this is going to be overkill for my new trailer. Am I assuming this is correct, can I still use the 10000lb hitch? I see the sell smaller bars separate but they say only use with the same rated hitch.

Or should I just sell this setup and get a smaller WD/Sway hitch.

Thanks
Rob

[Ron3rd]

Hornnumb2 wrote:
I have a E2 and you are able to just replace the bars, the hitch head is the same. I went from a 600lb bar to 1000. Equalizer says no problem.

I believe you're correct, but I think the 1400 lb model is it's own animal and the other bars are not interchangeable.

[BarneyS]

The E-2 and the Equal-i-Zer 4 point are two different hitches and share no similarities in the hitch head.
Barney

[Hornnumb2]

I have a E2 and you are able to just replace the bars, the hitch head is the same. I went from a 600lb bar to 1000. Equalizer says no problem.

[atreis]

10K Equilizer was the smallest available when I bought my trailer. Yes, it's overkill, but it works fine.

[SoundGuy]

atwowheelguy wrote:
http://www.equalizerhitch.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4_24

Yes, Equal-i-zer says the spring arms are not interchangeable. Sell the hitch to the person who bought your camper. He needs it. Buy one with the spring arms matched to your tongue weight.

Ron3rd wrote:
Some of the bars are interchangeable. If I recall, the 12K bars are not interchangeable with the other hitch heads. Call EQ and find out. I know you can swap, say 800 lb bars with 1000 lb and vice versa. On a lot of the models the hitch head is the same and you just choose your bars.

The Equal-i-zer 4-point sway control hitch is available in five sizes - 400 / 4,000 lb, 600 / 6,000 lb, 1,000 / 10,000 lb, 1200 / 12,000 lb, and 1400 / 14,000 lb ... there is no 800 lb variant.

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4_24

... and as you can see each spring bar must be used with the head for which it was designed - i.e. spring bars are not interchangeable.

[Ron3rd]

atwowheelguy wrote:
http://www.equalizerhitch.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4_24

Yes, Equal-i-zer says the spring arms are not interchangeable. Sell the hitch to the person who bought your camper. He needs it. Buy one with the spring arms matched to your tongue weight.

Some of the bars are interchangeable. If I recall, the 12K bars are not interchangeable with the other hitch heads. Call EQ and find out. I know you can swap, say 800 lb bars with 1000 lb and vice versa. On a lot of the models the hitch head is the same and you just choose your bars.

[jamesbeam4ever]

if your worried about it u can back the tension down on your bars alittle and it should be fine then atleast if your truck ever ends heavy in rear atleast youll have the option to tighten the bars up and dustribute some of it

[NY_Surveyor]

Thanks everyone, the dealer said the same thing, that we will be fine with the setup we have. I'll contact equalizer to confirm though.

The reason were keeping the hitch is that we are giving the camper to my uncle who will be parking it on a piece of land as a hunting camp.

[kvangil]

You'll be fine keeping the EQ hitch you currently have.

[kknowlton]

We have the same Equal-i-zer we started with, going from a 22' HTT (can't remember the weight but probably around 5000#) to a 34' TT (GVWR 7600#) to our current 27' TT (GVWR 6500#). It has worked fine with all 3. Same TV with all 3 trailers as well.

[tonymull]

Pretty sure you will be fine. I used the 10K model with a hybrid that only weighed 2800. You can always go too much just not too little. Just look at Costco;)

[Earl_E]

Call Equal-i-zer and ask. I think you will be OK to keep your set-up. The company is very helpful on the phone.

[APT]

The EQ 1000 pound bars are designed for 400-1000 pounds of TW. Your hybrid will be in that range if you want to keep it.

[SoundGuy]

NY Surveyor wrote:
We are downsizing from a 32' trailer that weighs approx 7500lbs dry to a 21' hybrid with a dry weight of 3600lbs. I'm towing with a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 with the Hemi V8.

I purchased an equalizer rated at 10,000lbs for my old trailer. I'm assuming that this is going to be overkill for my new trailer.

When we sold our 24' triple bunk bed KZ Spree I also sold the 10,000 / 1,000 lb Equal-i-zer I had used when towing this trailer as we too also intended to downsize to a shorter, lighter couple's trailer and I knew I'd need a lighter rated WD system. Unfortunately, one of the downsides to the Equal-i-zer is that you can't just change out the spring bars for those with a different rating so you might as well sell the one you have and buy a 6,000 / 600 lb Equal-i-zer for use with this new hybrid you're downsizing to. OR, better still (IMO) invest in a Blue Ox Sway Pro, either a 550 lb or 750 lb version, 'cause it'll also work well, is much easier to set up and readjust later on if necessary, AND if you ever change trailers again you can keep the system and if necessary just swap out the spring bars for those with a different rating. 😛