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The Equal-i-zer has a reputation as strong as its American-made steel. We love this hitch's solid build quality and that it helps to proactively stop trailer sway instead of just dampening it after it starts. Ball and shank included.
Features:
Specs:
| Included w/ System | Required - Sold Separately | Optional Add-Ons |
|---|---|---|
90-00-1400 Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution Hitch
| n/a |
|
Pro Tip: Before you invest in a weight distribution hitch, make sure your cargo is evenly loaded in your trailer to keep the weight balanced. If you still have a hard time even after balancing your tongue weight, a weight distribution hitch should help.
Does it seem like no matter where you go, you meet someone who owns - and has vouched for - the Equal-i-zer weight distribution system? There's one really good reason for this: the Equal-i-zer's build quality is second to none. Many companies have tried to imitate it, and they just can't. Sure, they might preempt trailer sway just as the Equal-i-zer does. But for over 75 years, using American-made steel, the Equal-i-zer's unique design has kept haulers from white knuckling the steering wheel.
Let's talk about how it does that. Essentially, this system is built to hold your trailer in place both at the connection point and along the trailer's frame. Inside the system head, the trunnions are tightly pinched in place to create resistance. Because the trunnions are held in so tightly in the head, with the help of some torqued socket bolts, once the spring bars are installed, they won't be able to move side to side without a ton of resistance. At the other end of the bars, frame-mounted L-brackets provide a rigid surface that also helps prevent any unwanted movement. Just like the tension in the head, these brackets help hold your trailer in place. All of this tension throughout the system helps to create a rigid steel-on-steel setup that keeps your trailer in line and your ride level.
If a particularly strong wind gust crosses your path and your trailer starts to get off track despite the Equal-i-zer's firm hold, the steel-on-steel friction of the bars on their brackets will stop the bars from moving, and ultimately dampen any remaining trailer sway. Between the 2 friction points inside the system head and the 2 that you get at the L-brackets, the Equal-i-zer creates up to 3 times more side-to-side resistance than other weight distribution systems, or the equivalent of adding 8 friction sway bars. And because you won't need any of those add-on sway bars, you'll actually be able to use this system when towing in the rain or over gravel roads, and you can back up without having to disconnect a thing!
Because the steel-on-steel friction between the bars and brackets is noisy, don't be alarmed if you hear a lot of banging, creaking, and grinding. It's just the system working to correct sway in much the same way that locomotives keep multi-ton railcars from swaying. If the noise becomes too much of an issue for you, there are a few things you can do to address it. You could get some of Equal-i-zer's replaceable nylon sway bracket jackets (EQ95-01-5150). Or you could lubricate any friction points with their high-performance lubricant (EQ91-00-4250). But keep in mind that cutting down on noise isn't the only thing this will do. These quick fixes will limit the system's ability to prevent sway, too.
If you're determined to have a rock-solid towing setup without making any compromises, and you have to have an an American-made weight distribution hitch, and noise is kind of a deal-breaker for you, you may want to spring for the B&W Continuum or the Blue Ox SwayPro instead.
Once you've got the hitch ball torqued down, you'll have to adjust the tilt of the head to ensure proper leverage. To do this, simply slide washers onto the spacer rivet and insert it into the head assembly. Once the spacer is in place, tighten the shank bolts to secure the head to the shank. To check if your truck and trailer are level, you'll need to hook up and release your tongue jack. If you find that the rear of your truck is still sagging, add washers to increase leverage. If it looks like too much weight has been taken off your truck's rear axle and is sitting on your front axle, try removing a few washers.
While the washer-stacking method allows you to fine-tune the setup at the time of installation, it's going to require some patience. It can be time consuming because, if you don't get everything right the first time (which, you probably won't), you'll have to take the head unit apart to adjust the washers. You might have to raise or lower the L-brackets too to get the tension just right, and that's a bit of a pain also. Not to mention that you might have to repeat this process if your tongue weight changes or if you swap out your tow vehicle.
Pro Tip: For a step-by-step guide on how to fully install the Equal-i-zer, check out our videos at the top of this page. Our installers even have some advice to offer on measuring your vehicle's squat.
Your tongue weight is the first thing you need to know when figuring out which weight distribution system you need. Most people think that if they get the highest-rated system possible, it'll be smooth sailing. But actually, this will create a rigid ride and a bouncing trailer. On the other hand, if the system isn't strong enough, it won't be able to distribute the weight properly, making it virtually useless.
Once you know your trailer's tongue weight, add it to the weight of the cargo behind the rear axle of your tow vehicle. Then just choose a weight distribution system rated for that combined tongue weight.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (772 Customer Reviews)
The Equal-i-zer has a reputation as strong as its American-made steel. We love this hitch's solid build quality and that it helps to proactively stop trailer sway instead of just dampening it after it starts. Ball and shank included.
We've had a long and sordid history with distribution hitches. The failures are always in the same two places: at the hitch where the bars "click in" to the spring pins or at the brackets where the chains hang from. Don't use a chain-style distribution hitch for heavy duty use. This design alleviates both those issues and has been holding up great.
From my limited experience with the hitch, it appears to be very high quality. Have not had it out on a long trip yet, but did do a 20 mile road test with speeds up to 70mph and it was very stable. It is on a Toyota Tundra 5.7 and is pulling a 23.5 foot toyhauler that probably weighed around 6500 lbs. at the time of my short road test.
Product is fine but shipping is horrible. Items arrived in boxes that were falling apart. UPS had to tape a whole box and parts were falling out when it arrived. Haven’t had a chance to check to see if everything is even in the box. Not acceptable.
I like the hitch itself. Camping world installed it but the rear of the trailer really sways
Brooke M.
4/4/2023
Hmm... I have a couple questions. How long is the trailer you are using this with? What is the tongue weight of your trailer? If there is anyway to more evenly distribute weight in your trailer, I would start there.
I had been using a less expensive competitor sway hitch with chains on a 27 ft. camper. I didn't think the performance of the hitch was too bad but I didn't know what I was missing. We recently purchased a 32 ft. toy hauler and I tried using the old hitch. The performance was horrible. After a recommendation on the correct hitch from etrailer and reading the reviews, I purchased the Equalizer 14,000 pound hitch. Man what a difference! The toy hauler pulls straight as an arrow. In addition, the semi trucks don't suck and push the rig all over the road when they pass. Lastly, the wife doesn't have a death grip on the door arm rest. She actually reads a book during the trip which says it all.
The only complaint is that it is noisy when pulling through the campgrounds. But who really cares when it performs flawlessly on the road. Thanks so much etrailer!
Walt
Walt
11/21/2018
I It’s working out great! I bought the plastic clips for the L brackets to reduce the hitch noise when entering and leaving in the campground but didn’t help. Nonetheless, still a wonderful hitch and would buy again.
Mike L.
11/21/2018
When it arrived the packaging was torn apart. Sooooo I don't know if I received all the parts as there was not a packing slip included.
Cuts down sway considerably. Noisy on turns because it uses friction on bars to control the sway. Definatly worth the price but not as good as a Hensley. Would I buy again, yes. Hook up is a little more physical getting the friction bars onto the L brackets but easier once you learn not to put full weight of trailer on the ball until you position the friction side bars on the brackets. Own several trailers and this purchase allows me to move to trailer needed by just buying an extra set of L brackets for each trailer. Seems to be well built and no problems after a year of use. Glad I paired my purchase with power post. This helps find the sweet spot when hooking up.
Mike L.
8/27/2018
If you hitch up the trailer, and use the trailer jack to raise both the front of the trailer and the rear of the tow vehicle by a few inches, youll find that enough of the tension is taken out of the system so the spring bars are easier to put in place.
etrailer was great. Great service and quick and easy. The actual hitch itself was easy to install despite not having the clearest instructions and then difficult to get the sway bar socket to swivel. A lot of grinding metal and leftover burrs in the sockets making them hard to move even when the socket bolts and bush were loosened and all moving parts greased. That part was not machines well. Rest was. I filed and wire wheeled it and got them to move but still very stiff. But it works now and rides well. An hour and half job though took four hours.
Katrina B.
4/21/2022
It is possible that the weight distribution system could be over your tongue weight. Ideally your total TW will fall in the middle of the systems operating range. This ensures the system is stiff enough to provide the weight shift to your front axle, but without being so stiff that it causes weird handling from the trailer. If your actual total TW is 1200-1300-lbs then a system rated for between 1000- and 1400-lbs would be perfect. There are a couple of other possibilities that could be causing the grinding, however, we would need some more information.
The Ram 1500 handles this big trailer with ease using this hitch set up.
great hitch, easy installation
Great product! I noticed a big difference in towing 12k pound toy hauler, loaded, versus not having the equalizer. I wish the instructions mentioned points of lubricantion during each step, not at end of assembly...had to retorque many bolts. After about 1000 miles it has become noisy, so it may be time to relubricate/retorque.
Eric P. from e-trailer helped get my shipment delivered in a quick manner without breaking the bank, so thank you Eric for your help!
I would like to see more discounted offers/codes...
I ordered a 14,000 pound Equalizer hitch from etrailer. I was extremely pleased with everything. Ordering , price, free delivery to Florida. There was a follow up on when it would arrive. Hitch arrived in perfect condition and all parts were there. George follow it up from you trailer with a call to make sure everything was perfect and it was. Have told all my friends about the trailer and great service
Love it . A +
The box that it came was pretty beat up during shipment. The hitch is real stiff
where the bars go in to the hitch. The installer in my area said they would loosen up with usage
Product works as advertised. We pull a 10,000 lb 24' catering trailer that the weight distribution is far from even with convection oven, 2 door commercial refrigerator and more. We were having severe swaying problems on the highways. Bought this sway control and it stopped all swaying. Before I couldn't hit 55mph without uncontrollable sway and now there is no speed limit that causes sway. Very easy to hook up, follow directions and its a no brainer. After 1 year I still use it every time and seems to work just as well. Re-adjusted for a new truck in minutes. Doesn't interfere with any wire or chains and we have 3 camera system along with custom frame platform on front of trailer to support 2- 100 lb propane tanks and a generator and was still easy to fit on and works great.
Would highly recommend this hitch. My new travel trailer weighs 9,500 empty and was swaying like crazy in a cross wind. Switched over to the equalizer and now the setup is rock solid at all speeds and even with a substantial cross wind. We needed to make this upgrade since many of our trips are on the Columbia River, Washington, and Oregon Coasts. Don't purchase a cheaper hitch, I bought a less expensive 14k hitch and then bought this one after the 3rd trip. I cant seem to find a buyer for the cheapo one now and its just taking up shop space and my money. I installed and set up the hitch in about an hour with a socket set, torque wrench, level, and tape measure.
The sway control is awesome. The quality and durability of American steel is impeccable in this WDH. I had one on my previous trailer. When my new trailer came with a chain type WDH last year I couldn't wait to replace it with an Equal-i-zer WDH. I highly recommend Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution System w/ 4-Point Sway Control - 14,000 lbs GTW, 1,400 lbs TW. I tow a 2020 Rockwood 2604 SW with a 2017 Toyota Tundra.
Very pleased with this hitch purchase, reasonable price, quick delivery, minor issue resolved quickly. I found out that I had been using an undersized Equalizer hitch for my new trailer. When I started using the new hitch, towing was like night and day, to the better!! For all of you reading this do your self a favor... double check your capacities, order the correct size hitch, and get it from Etrailer. You wont regret it.
I experienced no sway problems after changing to the Equal-i-zer hitch. I pull a 30 foot travel trailer with a 1200 lbs TW. My original 2500 Dodge Ram had air bags. I recently bought a new truck and discovered I didn't need to install air bags thanks to the Equal-i-zer hitch. One year and over 5000 miles of towing I can say, I am very, very satisfied with this product.
Exactly what I wanted at half the price than other dealers, Customer service top notch, very friendly on the phone and delivered everything as promised. I recommend etrailer for all your needs, they care and I will be their customer for life.
David S.
10/27/2017
It is always a pleasure doing business with you! I have never been disappointed with your products I purchased.
Couldn’t be happier with the product and product support from etrailer! Following the easy to follow instructions that were provided with the hitch, I was up and running in about an hour. The only thing I would purchase along with the hitch, is the sound dampening pad that is now available. I purchased the item with the help of customer service and support, got me squared away in no time. Nothing but silence now when I tow. Pulling a 34’ prowler with a 2014 f350.
This is an outstanding hitch. Easy to install, we did it on our camping trip and the drive home was so much more comfortable then with the old weight distribution hitch. There was no sway whatsoever. We pull a 30 foot camp trailer with an F150 and the weight distribution with this hitch is unbelievable. I now have peace of mind knowing my new hitch will keep my trailer from swaying anymore.
This is a great product and I highly recomend it.
The Equal-I-zer hitch was a night and day difference. The trailer tracked perfectly with no sway what so ever, even with a very windy day. The whole unit (truck and trailer ) has become very easy to handle and docile on the road. Thank you very much. The hitch worked as advertised and is easy and quick to install. I would recommend this hitch to anyone needing an anti-sway weight distributing hitch.
I purchased this hitch to use with my new travel trailer and have been traveling from the west coast to the northern Rockies and Midwest over the past 2 months. Hitching up and getting the bars on is a cinch. Sway control is superior to other systems I have used. I would buy this product again.
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Thomas M.
1/14/2022
I will have Customer Service reach out to you.