Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution System

[PK in CA]

I think everyone would agree that the weight distribution system by Equal-i-zer is one of the best. I know I love mine and I have absolutely no sway issues with my trailer. However, upon going around corners while towing the trailer I get a lot of very loud pops, cracks and squeaks coming from the trailer tongue. I would expect some squeaks etc. but these noises really sound like the tongue is about to break right off the front of the trailer.

Has anybody else experienced these types of noises with their Equal-i-zer?

Thanks!

[ls1mike]

Mine is loud.

[JoeofNSB]

I experienced the same thing. My children always thought the trailer was going to leave us!!

[campingcpl]

Ours makes a lot of noise too and it has ever since we first got it. This is common for these types of hitches that use the sway control built into the leveling bars. The Reese version of the Equal-i-zer does the same thing.

[f6bits]

I get that too. Normal. Equalizer does have little plastic sleeve things you can put on the L brackets to quiet things down. I’ve not tried them, nor do I care to. I’d rather have the noise than something that may interfere with the original design.

[jbsmith]

The plastic pads will not interfere with the operation of the hitch. I had them on my last trailer before going to a 5er and they made a world of difference. The pads are designed by the hitch manufacturer and simply sit on top of the L brackets. The trunion bars then slide on the pads instead of having metal to metal contact, i.e. resulting in grabbing, popping, and groaning. As an alternative, you can also lightly lubricate the bars and L brackets since the hitch works on mechanical leverage, not friction. However, the plastic pads are a much cleaner way to go.

[campingcpl]

This is from the Equal-i-zer web site, read the ATTENTION section at the bottom. The sway control on the Equal-i-zer hitch needs the friction of the leveling bars to help reduce the sway. Personally I would never use these or even think of putting grease on the L-brackets. As you can see from the attention section these will reduce the sway control the most. I would rather deal with a little sound when I make a slow speed turn then lose any of my sway control.

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/store/images/95-01-5150.jpg

larger image Sway Bracket Jacket (pair)
$19.95
The NEW Sway Bracket Jacket was designed to quiet the ride and reduce wear on the L-brackets. Injection molded from high density polyethelene plastic (HDPE). Each package contains two (2) SBJ's, one for each L-bracket.

ATTENTION: Utilizing lubrication on the Equal-i-zer L-Bracket, in the form of the Sway Bracket Jacket or any grease type lubricant, will likely lessen or decrease your sway control by a small degree. Steel on steel is the highest level of friction, steel on lubricated steel second, and steel on plastic third (but also the cleanest). The hitch head can be lubricated, as per the instructions, with no detriment to sway control.

[jbsmith]

I've gone painted (new), dry (after the paint rubbed off), rusted (after a few days in the weather), lubricated (grease to mitigate the rust), and with the plastic pads (after I degreased, sanded and painted over the bare metal). Each of these cases was with my 2008 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 V8 Limited, i.e. very short wheel-base for a 24 foot trailer.

As the disclaimer states, it "will likely lessen or decrease your sway control by a small degree." However, I experienced no noticeable or at least negligible difference in sway control while trailering north-south on I-75 with gusty winds from the west and semis blowing by me like I was sitting still. It seems the weather came up every time I got ready to pull that trailer. :confused:

I can tell you from my experience that without the pads the bars popped sometimes so loud when making tight turns that I thought something broke. I got tired of people asking me if everything was ok, "boy that didn't sound good...you oughta get that checked." The grabbing and popping can't be a good thing and was carving grooves in the L-brackets. I'd rather not experience (eventual) failure of one of those L-brackets as a result of wear or weakening through constant stress of the bars binding under load.

One nice thing about the pads is that if you feel they're seriously impacting your sway control, you can remove them in seconds.

Just my $0.02...YMMV

[PK in CA]

WOW! Thanks for all the information and feedback guys. I feel much better now. I think I will just let them make noise as along as no damage is being caused to the trailer (or my truck).
I really do appreciate all the feedback.

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

Before I bought my 5'er, I had a TT with an Equ. hitch.....
from my background of OTR trucking I'd learned about using
liquid soap as a lubricant. No greasey mess, nice-n-quiet, cleans off when you
drive in the rain or splash thru a puddle ;). Besides they are (mine was),
only noisey when you first get going during the day or make a tight turn
(new rust/metal/whatever). A few drops of dawn (or your preference), on the
'L' brackets and a thin schmear on the ball, and a cat won't hear ya sneak up on it...

hankaye

[PK in CA]

Thanks for the tip Hankaye. That's a great idea! Thanks again to everyone.

[chuck&gail]

Just to be sure. You ARE? lubing the ball, and pivot points (a number of places on each pivot) with ball or wheel bearing grease, right?

Personally I ALSO add a very thin amount of grease on the L bracket under the bars.

No troubles yet in over 100,000 miles.

Love my Equalizer.

[AlCorr]

Howdy All;

Before I bought my 5'er, I had a TT with an Equ. hitch.....
from my background of OTR trucking I'd learned about using
liquid soap as a lubricant. No greasey mess, nice-n-quiet, cleans off when you
drive in the rain or splash thru a puddle ;). Besides they are (mine was),
only noisey when you first get going during the day or make a tight turn
(new rust/metal/whatever). A few drops of dawn (or your preference), on the
'L' brackets and a thin schmear on the ball, and a cat won't hear ya sneak up on it...

hankaye

Thanks hankaye, I may give the Dawn a try.

[Fsm09]

I have the 281 BHS with equalizer hitch get the same noises. I actually keep a bottle of anti seize in my vehicle and put a small ammount on my ball. My trailer and hitch being new are a tight squeeze and it eliminates the majority of my loud noises. Just something I tried and it worked for me.

[Philip Saran]

Also keep in mind just how tight are you sinching up the chains when you hitch up?
I don't have much problem with sway since I tow with a long wheel base F350.

[Mac123]

I read these comments on this thread the day we went to pick up our new TT at the dealership. They installed the Equalizer as part of the whole deal. I asked their service chief about the noise and told him about all that I read here. He said," You want to hear those noises. It's perfectly normal and tells you you system is doing it's job correctly. If you lubricate the slide bars it will help reduce the noise but it will also reduce the effective opperation of the unit. You can buy the pads. I could even sell them to you if you insist. But I wouldn't recommend them for the same reason I don't recommend lubing the rods. The system works on friction and pressure which is the reason for the noise. My recommendation is learn to welcome those sounds and be safe. You'll get used to it and your Equalizer will be doing the job it was designed to do." Mine makes those noises but I'm gonna let it keep on talking to me, telling me all is well.