Another equal-i-zer question

gates59 wrote:
I think level in front is better that higher. I did read that too that ford should be a little higher in front. I'm still trying to figure out if my trailer sits 2 inches higher in the back than the front is bad. Kind of hard to get it perfect.
I did bring up psi to 37 this past weekend but will try more the next time.

gates59 wrote:
Ok I have another question about my current receiver. The bars are rated for 550. My trailer is 5000 from factory which means tongue weight is 600 lbs or so unloaded. Is this really bad. My truck seems to sit right. Same in front and 1 inch lower at the back. I do find it bounces a little and do have some sway in strong winds. My point is that it will be well over $700 for me to buy and have shipped a equalizer. I just hate wasting money on things I may or may not really need. Also how perfectly level should a trailer be.

Caboose66 wrote:

joshuajim wrote:
One of the keys to a quiet Equalizer is ti make sure the L brackets are perpendicular to the bars not the frame. After hooking up, take a carpenters square and check the angle between the bars and brackets. If not exactly 90*, loosen the brackets and square up. Most of the noise is caused by the bar riding on one "edge" of the bracket. It will also increase your sway control if it rides on the whole bracket.

Interesting. I guess I wouldn't have thought this would be an issue, nor would I have thought any of these parts would be less than square relative to each other... silly me :S

So, since there is not much play in these brackets once you get the whole assembly attached securely to the frame, I assume the only thing you can do is put a washer (or two) between the L bracket(s) and the outside link plate. This will give you some adjustment in the horizontal plane. What about the vertical plane? Seems like the link plate assembly (inside and outside) would always want to migrate into a position that is square with the frame. Or, are you able to tighten the link plate bolts enough that you are able to gain enough angle to make the bottom edge of the attached L bracket square with the bar?
I have not received my trailere yet so I cannot attach the link plates and L brackets to the frame to test out getting the right angles. This advice will be very helpful when I am able to try it out.

Thanks, Dean

Caboose66 wrote:

gates59 wrote:
Weird thing about buying a equalizer hitch localy is no one carries any. Also none of them ever sell anything for sway control. I talked to the owner of the main dealer out here and he said all the years he has been in buisness he has never sold a receiver like that. Also very rare he sells a friction sway bar. He had one in stock and you could see dust on it. Been there for a while. I'll hold off for a while and see how it goes. If a trailer is setup properly no sway control should be necessary. Nice to have though for just incase.

Hmmm, could be that he doesn't sell any because he doesn't carry any.... and he doesn't carry any because he doesn't sell any.. :h

I will tell you that I was prepared to buy mine from a large RV retailer and even possibly have them install it. Then I saw that they were almost $300.00 more than I could buy it for from RVW. I'm not interested in paying that kind of premium.

I did not go to only one dealer i went to all 6 local dealer with no reciever with built in sway control.

The camping season is almost over here in canada but will look into some new tires in the new year. I was wondering if just adding 5 pounds of air in my rear tires would do for now. I'm only running 35 pounds as marked in my truck door. Tires are rated for more.

On a side note... curious as to how much agreement you will get with the statement about a properly set-up trailer not needing any sway control. The only deciding factor I have seen where sway control is considered optional is when your TV is wayyy more size/capacity than you need, which isn't as common as a lot of people first think - especially after they start crunching numbers... or after their first long-ish Interstate trip with big-rigs blowing past.

Good luck, Dean