Equalizing/Weight Distributing Hitch Question

Get Off My Lawn

Get Off My Lawn

Artist formerly known as Pink Vapor
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We need one for the 32' camper. It appears the solid bars are a better option than the chain type. What's the best bang for the buck, and your experience?
 
Hard to go wrong with Drawtite, Curt or Reese Brands. I’ve had them on several different trailers. I prefer the chain type myself but have used both. And by chain type i mean the ones with adjustable chains at the ends of the solid bars.

Lots of choices at E trailer.
 
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I only have experience with the chain type as well. Not even sure what brand I have.

Got the whole setup - hitch, ball, bars, brackets, sway bars - off CL for $40 years ago.

My camper is also 32'. I'm going to make some adjustments to it before next trip to level it out better
 
I have a Curt, with the solid bars. It seems to do the trick.

I'll admit, though, it's my first experience with a WD hitch system, so I have nothing to compare it to.
 
My Equalizer-4 has been very good. No chains, but those friction bars make a lot of noise. Can’t hear it going down the highway, but in the campground people hear you coming.
 
From some of the research I've read, the chain type will need a separate sway bar that needs to be removed for tighter turns & parking. The solid bars are noisy, but remove sway.
 
Get Off My Lawn said:
From some of the research I've read, the chain type will need a separate sway bar that needs to be removed for tighter turns & parking. The solid bars are noisy, but remove sway.
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Do you have a picture of the chain type that you are talking about? I have a setup like @Scsmith42 described (chains on the end of solid bars) And it does not require a separate swaybar
 
DangerRuss said:
Do you have a picture of the chain type that you are talking about? I have a setup like @Scsmith42 described (chains on the end of solid bars) And it does not require a separate swaybar
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This is what I have. The camlock bars work really well to keep things stable on the highway. They do make a pop noise when turning sharply on city streets or turning at the end of an exit ramp. When I get to the campground or my house, I just remove the load bars because I don’t need them at that point, and they don’t make any noise after that.
 
 
I’ve had a Reese bar type setup on my old 22 ft trailer & tundra but after research and asking around a lot I bought a Blue Ox swaypro hitch for the newer setup 28 ft car hauler & Gmc 2500 hd. Still had a bit of white knuckle driving with the Reese.

Home - Blue Ox

Blue Ox has tow bars and towing accessories to help prevent sway and get your ride under control. High quality weight distribution hitches and other products.
www.blueox.com www.blueox.com

have been really pleased with the Blue ox ease of use and solid control. Would highly recommend
 
We have used Equalizer for our 30 ft travel trailer since 2015 and have been quite pleased. That includes a trip to the Grand Canyon and back. As others have said they do make some noise when turning. I'd buy it again without question.
 
No disrespect, but I would not want to use that Anderson design on any of my trailers.

For one thing, in order for it to work you're depending upon the friction of the clamps mounted to the trailer tongue, as the chain will be trying to pull them forward when it's in tension. I foresee clamp slippage when the truck/trailer goes over rough roads.

It might work for very light duty applications, but I would not trust it to a trailer of any significant size / weight.
 
Scsmith42 said:
No disrespect, but I would not want to use that Anderson design on any of my trailers.

For one thing, in order for it to work you're depending upon the friction of the clamps mounted to the trailer tongue, as the chain will be trying to pull them forward when it's in tension. I foresee clamp slippage when the truck/trailer goes over rough roads.

It might work for very light duty applications, but I would not trust it to a trailer of any significant size / weight.
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If you look into the design it uses set screws not clamp force. It’s not a new design and has very good reviews.
 
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Scsmith42 said:
I'm probably overthinking it. Much of what I tow is pretty heavy so I tend to go overkill when it comes to trailer components.
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I feel ya, every design has its pros and cons. Like I said I haven’t tried it yet but the internet says it’s good to go so we’ll see LOL. Main advantages to me were no bounce, noise, and no issues backing up with it. Plus it weighs less than the other styles.
 
If you are expecting less bounce,I think you will be disappointed.They work for sway but that's about it.









I towed for a friend using that style. Never again. He towed with mine, linked above, and alot more weight, and promptly switched.
 
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LeeMajors said:
If you are expecting less bounce,I think you will be disappointed.They work for sway but that's about it.




I towed for a friend using that style. Never a
gain. He towed with mine, linked above, and alot more weight, and promptly switched.
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That style but a different brand? Did a lot of research on that particular brand and model and pretty much everyone loves it. Time will tell I guess.
 
Same hitch. About 6 weeks ago.



That style but a different brand? Did a lot of research on that particular brand and model and pretty much everyone loves it. Time will tell I guess.
 
Whoknows said:
That style but a different brand? Did a lot of research on that particular brand and model and pretty much everyone loves it. Time will tell I guess.
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The challenge with so many online reviews is that many of the reviewers are inexperienced, and quite frankly don’t know what they are talking about. They’ve never tried different products and thus have a one dimensional opinion Based on their new experience. They don’t have anything to compare it to.

I have hundreds of thousands of miles of towing experience over a 45 year time period. Lee Majors probably has something similar. Everything from towing with cars to towing with semi’s, and everything in-between. Single, dual, Tri-axle and dual tandem trailers, as well as low boys. I’ve owned three different WD hitches just in the past 22 years. I currently own eight on road trailers and four off-road ones and previously owned large campers.

And since I’m the guy who is repairing them when they break, I’m pretty focused on what works and what doesn’t.

The Anderson design is not one that I’d have high expectations from.

YMMV.

I‘m not trying to beat you up over this; I’m really interested in what your experience is. It’s just that the OP is a personal friend who has done me some favors and I don’t want him to have a bad experience.
 
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Here's one cheap enough to try out, imo.

NC/SC - Reese weight distribution hitch

10k lb, Reese weight distribution hitch. Works fine, came off a camper that got set up permanently.
carolinafirearmsforum.com carolinafirearmsforum.com

I haven't really looked at the ad. I just seen it, copied it, and pasted it.
 
Very dumb question - when is a WD hitch needed?

I've heard some say if trailer is heavier or longer than tow vehicle a Weight Distributing hitch is needed.
 
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Lots of factors go into the equation. Trailer weight, tow vehicle weight, trailer tongue weight, trailer wind sail area, and distance to the axles all play a role.

We have a thoroughbred size (tall) two horse trailer with a mid area for a 3rd horse and dressing room at the front. Due to the height - there is a lot of wind surface area on the front of the trailer that becomes more noticeable the faster you drive. Behind a 3/4 ton truck, we'll use a WD hitch on it. Hooked up to an F450 crew cab dually, we don't bother with the WD hitch. The F450 has a lot more mass to the truck, double the tire contact area in back and much stiffer rear springs, which reduce the need for a WD hitch.

If the trailer axles are somewhat centered to where there is a lot of vertical tongue oscillation when going down the road, a WD hitch can smooth the ride out. Also, if the trailer axles are back more than 60% to where the tongue weight is causing the tow vehicle to squat in back, a WD hitch can help a lot. Their claim to fame is that you can remove the front tires from your tow vehicle and the trailer / WD hitch combo will keep your truck's front end from resting on the ground.
 
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Scsmith42 said:
The challenge with so many online reviews is that many of the reviewers are inexperienced, and quite frankly don’t know what they are talking about. They’ve never tried different products and thus have a one dimensional opinion Based on their new experience. They don’t have anything to compare it to.

I have hundreds of thousands of miles of towing experience over a 45 year time period. Lee Majors probably has something similar. Everything from towing with cars to towing with semi’s, and everything in-between. Single, dual, Tri-axle and dual tandem trailers, as well as low boys. I’ve owned three different WD hitches just in the past 22 years. I currently own eight on road trailers and four off-road ones and previously owned large campers.

And since I’m the guy who is repairing them when they break, I’m pretty focused on what works and what doesn’t.

The Anderson design is not one that I’d have high expectations from.

YMMV.

I‘m not trying to beat you up over this; I’m really interested in what your experience is. It’s just that the OP is a personal friend who has done me some favors and I don’t want him to have a bad experience.
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I get it people tend to stick with what they know.
 
DangerRuss said:
Do you have a picture of the chain type that you are talking about? I have a setup like @Scsmith42 described (chains on the end of solid bars) And it does not require a separate swaybar
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Looking through yootoob RV folk reviews, this one looked to be the best bang for the buck. There was one on FB for $150. Unlike CFF, FB let’s losers lie and not get banned.
I didn’t initially see yours has chains and friction bars.
 
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