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 |
|---|---|---|
90-00-1600 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.
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