Bolts Failing on Equalizer Hitch
I have an Equalizer Hitch with 1400 lb bars. Today I replaced the third pair of bolts and nuts that attach the head to the shank They are grade 8, 3/4" in diameter and 5" long. The threads failed on t...
Forum Discussion
I have to contribute to this discussion. I've recently had to re-set my hitch, due to changing tow vehicles. First I had to raise it, because I needed to tow with a rental F-250 which was much higher than my F-150. Then I had to lower it again, when I was back into the F-150.
In the midst of these changes, this thread popped up. Wanting to do things right, I started looking for a way to borrow or rent a torque wrench capable of getting the 320 ft-lbs setting correct. I thoroughly beat the bushes in my local area and came up with NOTHING. No one had one to rent or borrow. I called about 10 places. I could easily find torque wrenches that could go to 250 foot-pounds, but not 320.
My search ended with a call to a local trailer shop.
Me: I'm looking to rent or borrow a torque wrench capable of 320 foot-pounds. Is that something you can help me out with?
Trailer Guy: What? What are you trying to do? Is this a joke or something?
Me: (I laugh). No. No joke. (I explain what I'm doing.)
Trailer Guy: Just get a 1/2 inch breaker bar and tighten it down good and strong. Or use an air wrench and hit it hard a few times. It will hold. I guarantee you, if you try to do it the way you're going about it you'll be the first guy to do it that way. In fact, bring it in and I'll do it for you with my air wrench. I'll put my name on it. No problem. Bring it in.
Me: You're on!
So I went in, he put his air wrench on it and hit it hard a few times, and I was on my way.
But I was still a bit uneasy about it. So I called my RV dealer, where I bought the trailer, and made an appointment to have them torque it properly. (After I got assurances from them that they actually WOULD torque it according to specs.) The appointment is for tomorrow.
So today I went out to finalize all the setup adjustments. I wanted to make sure I had the right height and the right amount of weight distribution. I was set to go through the manual step-by-step. In the process of doing so I discovered that my hitch is NOT actually an "Equal-Iz-Er" hitch. It is an E2 Roundbar hitch. (The dealer had "told" me it was an Equal-iz-er, and I never questioned it.) On one of the spring bars there was a web address that I could use to find the manual. I went to the website, found the manual and read it carefully. Everything was exactly the same as the Equal-iz-er, except that the final step called for tightening the shank bolts to 250 foot-pounds!
Eureka! I could do that! Torque wrenches in that range were readily available So, I cancelled the appointment, went down to Runnings and got me a nice torque wrench, and torqued the shank bolts down to proper torques.
Long story, I know.
Thanks to all for contributing to this discussion. If you sort through the questionable stuff on forums like this one, and read with a critical eye, you can learn things. I appreciate that.
-Speak
In the midst of these changes, this thread popped up. Wanting to do things right, I started looking for a way to borrow or rent a torque wrench capable of getting the 320 ft-lbs setting correct. I thoroughly beat the bushes in my local area and came up with NOTHING. No one had one to rent or borrow. I called about 10 places. I could easily find torque wrenches that could go to 250 foot-pounds, but not 320.
My search ended with a call to a local trailer shop.
Me: I'm looking to rent or borrow a torque wrench capable of 320 foot-pounds. Is that something you can help me out with?
Trailer Guy: What? What are you trying to do? Is this a joke or something?
Me: (I laugh). No. No joke. (I explain what I'm doing.)
Trailer Guy: Just get a 1/2 inch breaker bar and tighten it down good and strong. Or use an air wrench and hit it hard a few times. It will hold. I guarantee you, if you try to do it the way you're going about it you'll be the first guy to do it that way. In fact, bring it in and I'll do it for you with my air wrench. I'll put my name on it. No problem. Bring it in.
Me: You're on!
So I went in, he put his air wrench on it and hit it hard a few times, and I was on my way.
But I was still a bit uneasy about it. So I called my RV dealer, where I bought the trailer, and made an appointment to have them torque it properly. (After I got assurances from them that they actually WOULD torque it according to specs.) The appointment is for tomorrow.
So today I went out to finalize all the setup adjustments. I wanted to make sure I had the right height and the right amount of weight distribution. I was set to go through the manual step-by-step. In the process of doing so I discovered that my hitch is NOT actually an "Equal-Iz-Er" hitch. It is an E2 Roundbar hitch. (The dealer had "told" me it was an Equal-iz-er, and I never questioned it.) On one of the spring bars there was a web address that I could use to find the manual. I went to the website, found the manual and read it carefully. Everything was exactly the same as the Equal-iz-er, except that the final step called for tightening the shank bolts to 250 foot-pounds!
Eureka! I could do that! Torque wrenches in that range were readily available So, I cancelled the appointment, went down to Runnings and got me a nice torque wrench, and torqued the shank bolts down to proper torques.
Long story, I know.
Thanks to all for contributing to this discussion. If you sort through the questionable stuff on forums like this one, and read with a critical eye, you can learn things. I appreciate that.
-Speak
