Installing an Equalizer Hitch

It's no problem for someone handy. You will have to be able to torque some of the bolts to 125lbs or somewhere around there.

crazy, after i had taken it in to a local dealer, they told me the WDH was bad. i asked them to check the weights. they did not.. i took to scales and found the weight on hitch was only about 11%. i put on two mor batteries for weight test, and it runs real smooth. just saved some bucks. trailer weight about 6500, and hitch weight is about 850. is this ok. thanks

i now have round bar EQ, but is still get a sway. took it in to a local hitch house, and they said the bars had ovalled ??? out the holes and it is to much play. does that sound possible? i do not mind paying a little more. i can pick EQ from Amazon for aboout 529 right now. having 4 friction points might make a difference. any opinion?

bbaker2001 wrote:
thanks quick reply
book says UVW is 4800
CABINET door says 5400
GVWR 7540
CCC 1612
when loaded 6400

I don't think need to go to the real expensive type unless they do that great of job
Bruce from sunny 74 Ca

That's almost identical to my old trailer. I used an EZ Lift wd hitch with the round bars and single friction control and it worked OK. You can pick that type up for under 300 bucks. When I went to the bigger trailer I went with an Equilizer setup.

thanks quick reply
book says UVW is 4800
CABINET door says 5400
GVWR 7540
CCC 1612
when loaded 6400

I don't think need to go to the real expensive type unless they do that great of job
Bruce from sunny 74 Ca

Your rear axle can only support 2K per tire. Look at a tire loading chart. 60 lbs is more than enough. I would not buy 1200 lb bars. I would probably go with 800 lb for a 5K dry weight trailer. What is the dry hitch weight?

oh heck. i was just getting ready to buy the equalizer 1200 on amazon. and then read about being to heavy.
23.5 Komfort
loaded weight 6600 max
tounge 800--825
2009 gmc 1/2 extended
5.3
3.75
michlin E rated tires. set at 75lbs whem towing

we had a small 5th wheel before, and we love this trailer. was told old hitch was worn out and like the Equalizer. will the 1200 be to stiff?, and is running 75lbs OK.
i also have air bags
thanks for the help. will wait for response before buying.

I installed my Equalizer myself and it's not too difficult if you're handy and have the tools. As mentioned above, have a shop install the ball for you. This requires a BIG socket that most people and even some shops don't have lying around. You also need a 1/2" drive torque wrench. I ended up buying a couple of the larger size sockets that I did not have on hand (like 1-15/16" if I recall) but these are readily available at Sears (Craftsmen), etc and not too expensive. Good to have these anyway so you can check nuts and bolts periodically.

First, the tongue weight is what determines how heavy a hitch you need. My trailer is 5400 lb as shipped and 6800 loaded. The tongue is heavy - 1000 lb. The Equalizer 1200/12000 is a very good match for this setup.

I purchased the hitch new and installed it myself at the dealers yard before leaving with the new trailer. Before install I had a truck shop properly torque the ball since it needs a very large socket and very high torque. For the rest I bought a torque wrench and the needed socket. This allows me to check the torque periodically to ensure everything is in spec. A couple of times some nuts had backed off a bit.

The instal was straightforward. I had the hitch head assempled before going to the trailer.

They all have Locktight on them now and I also used nail polish to mark the nut positions so I can easily check visually that nothing has moved.

I hope this helps.

A 12k is going to be way too stiff for your 5K TT. You won't be able to get the spring bars adjusted so that they both transfer weight forward in the TV AND don't make the back of the TV too springy. That is, the back of the TV will tend to bounce up and down over bumps and highway undulations.
I had the same issue when I tried to use a 7500lb systen with a 4400# TT.