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07-22-2016, 06:05 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 8
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Creeking WD HITCH
Hi all
Some advice please.
When hooked up to my Cougar 28RB.... I don't get a lot of noise when turning. When I am hooked up to weight distribution it creeks like its gonna snap in half. Totally scary sound. The WD is level, but it clearly only happens when I am hooked under WD.
Is this a hitch weight issue ...or do i just need to grease the bars?? I a totally unsure. I pulled a PUP with WD prior to this and did not have the same scooby Doo scary noise.
BigMac
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07-22-2016, 09:59 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Las Cruces
Posts: 4,665
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You don't say what type of WDH you have, but the noise you are describing is pretty standard on many of them, especially round bar with chain setups. It's nothing to worry about and there isn't much you can do about it.
__________________
Brent
2013 Alpine 3500RE
2019 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
U.S. Air Force Retired (25 yrs)
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07-23-2016, 02:54 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Howell
Posts: 581
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Mine did the same thing until I greased the zerks where the bars go.
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__________________
2016 Passport 3350BH
2017 F350 SRW Gasser
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07-23-2016, 03:48 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Near Saratoga Springs,
Posts: 1,131
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When we had TTs, the WD bars would creak. I greased any point that had moving metal to metal contact. Of course, this means dirt and the need to occasionally clean and relube those points. The lube points were the bar trunnion heads, the lift bar chain ends (both) and the ball. Something else to look at is the bolting - hitch to TV and the bar chain adapter ends to A-frame and retighten. Our last arrangement only had a single long bolt to tighten the chain bracket and that bent, allowing the adapter to swivel and needed some welded mods to fix permanently
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07-23-2016, 05:59 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 380
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I have the cam style and it makes a lot of noise. I now dab on a little vasoline to the cams, the ball, and a couple drops of oil in the hitch where the WD connects too, now it is very quiet.
I use vasoline because when I used grease, I had a big mess, vasoline does not make near the mess and is much easier to clean up, but doesn't last as long as grease. It's a trade off, but I prefer the less mess over the better lubrication.
__________________
2016 Passport 2890RL
2007 GMC Sierra 1500
Reese 26000 Weight Distribution and Sway Control
Champion 2800/3100 Inverter Generator
American Ranger Auto Gyro
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07-23-2016, 07:31 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Solomons
Posts: 3,874
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Creeking WD HITCH
I have an equalizer WD hitch and a few drops of dish soap on the L brackets seems to greatly reduce the noise. If you drive in the rain you will need to reapply of course.
__________________
Tom
2019 Alpine 3651RL
2016 F350 CC DRW
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07-23-2016, 09:21 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 380
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What brand of dish soap, is it the one that is so clean you can see yourself?
Just kidding.
__________________
2016 Passport 2890RL
2007 GMC Sierra 1500
Reese 26000 Weight Distribution and Sway Control
Champion 2800/3100 Inverter Generator
American Ranger Auto Gyro
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07-23-2016, 09:55 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Wisconsin Dells
Posts: 41
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On my Equalizer, the noise comes from where the front of the bars go into the hitch. With the bars attached to the hitch, they creak just trying to swing them in and out. I know they make shoes for the L brackets but that isn't my problem.
I've taken it apart and sanded all of the surfaces and applied anti-seize. That made it stay quiet for one trip. I am NOT happy about taking it apart to lube it every trip. You'd think they would come up with a better idea. I feel like I might as well take the exhaust off my truck and blow the horn while driving through the campground.
One of my jobs at the dealership was to find and fix noises in everyone's new vehicle. This noise is unacceptable. Not that I'm a whiny b!@#$ but come on.
I will make a few more attempts at a "fix" before switching hitches.
__________________
Phil and Debbie
2016 Passport 2890RL
2013 GMC Sierra 1500
Wisconsin
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07-23-2016, 11:15 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Solomons
Posts: 3,874
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilDeb
On my Equalizer, the noise comes from where the front of the bars go into the hitch. With the bars attached to the hitch, they creak just trying to swing them in and out. I know they make shoes for the L brackets but that isn't my problem.
I've taken it apart and sanded all of the surfaces and applied anti-seize. That made it stay quiet for one trip. I am NOT happy about taking it apart to lube it every trip. You'd think they would come up with a better idea. I feel like I might as well take the exhaust off my truck and blow the horn while driving through the campground.
One of my jobs at the dealership was to find and fix noises in everyone's new vehicle. This noise is unacceptable. Not that I'm a whiny b!@#$ but come on.
I will make a few more attempts at a "fix" before switching hitches.
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I've never had to take mine apart to grease it. I just clean it real well and grease the mating surfaces and then manually manipulate the bars to get the different areas. I use the equalizer brand grease. I did increase the torque on those two bolts to 65flbs. That is not where mine makes the noise.
__________________
Tom
2019 Alpine 3651RL
2016 F350 CC DRW
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07-23-2016, 02:24 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 45
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilDeb
On my Equalizer, the noise comes from where the front of the bars go into the hitch. With the bars attached to the hitch, they creak just trying to swing them in and out. I know they make shoes for the L brackets but that isn't my problem.
I've taken it apart and sanded all of the surfaces and applied anti-seize. That made it stay quiet for one trip. I am NOT happy about taking it apart to lube it every trip. You'd think they would come up with a better idea. I feel like I might as well take the exhaust off my truck and blow the horn while driving through the campground.
One of my jobs at the dealership was to find and fix noises in everyone's new vehicle. This noise is unacceptable. Not that I'm a whiny b!@#$ but come on.
I will make a few more attempts at a "fix" before switching hitches.
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I have the e2 hitch. I got a lot of noise at first, then after the paint wore in the primary friction spots I used the equalizer brand lube where the bars install in the head and on the ball. The only noise I have now is when the bars move on the L brackets. I'm used to it and understand why it makes noise so it doesn't bother me.
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07-23-2016, 03:13 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Wisconsin Dells
Posts: 41
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I'll give that a shot. Thanks guys!
__________________
Phil and Debbie
2016 Passport 2890RL
2013 GMC Sierra 1500
Wisconsin
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07-23-2016, 04:42 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 8
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Hi all....this is the OP. thanks for the great responses. I am with PhilDeb. When I drive somewhere or through a campground I feel like the whole place is staring at the creaking cruiser laughing. I guess it's somewhat normal though. I will may be try some grease or soap etc.
Mine is an EZ2 I think. Not chains....the other kind, square bars. I noticed where the square bars attached to the hitch side they are sort of light rusted ...maybe that's the issue.
What kind of grease would I use for this. Or what kind of dish soap !!!!
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07-23-2016, 04:55 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Solomons
Posts: 3,874
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On the L brackets a couple drops of Dawn or something similar. I use the Equalizer brand grease per the manual.
__________________
Tom
2019 Alpine 3651RL
2016 F350 CC DRW
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07-23-2016, 05:04 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 8
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Tks Tbos
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07-23-2016, 05:58 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 380
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Make sure it is set up correctly too.
I had mine set up and it made noise, I lubricated it, then had no noise. I adjusted the tilt of the ball, then got all kinds of noise I didn't have before. I have since changed it back to where it was but hasn't tried it again yet.
__________________
2016 Passport 2890RL
2007 GMC Sierra 1500
Reese 26000 Weight Distribution and Sway Control
Champion 2800/3100 Inverter Generator
American Ranger Auto Gyro
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07-24-2016, 05:13 AM
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#16
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Site Team | Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
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Scared the crap out of me the first time I pulled mine. Thought I'd torn the whole bottom out of the camper.
Someone told me, so this is their opinion, not mine, that if it is making noise, it's working! Makes sense to me. On the flip side, if it's not making noise, maybe it's not working as well? Just food for thought.
The noise is annoying, but short lived. Get parked quickly and disconnect. For those in the campground staring, wave at them and smile. Maybe share a cold brew with them later. I'm pretty sure 30 minutes after you drive by, they don't even remember what happened. If they do, wow!
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__________________
Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
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07-27-2016, 06:02 AM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Glen Burnie, MD
Posts: 4
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Equalizer 4-point
I have had a similar issue when I first got mine. The heavy creaking and insanely loud screeching sound coming from the hitch. I did purchase the L-bracket pads, and they did help. I also add lithium grease to the ball and to the tops of the receivers, where the bars attach. Just add a little and move the bars back and forth to work the grease in. I have not had a problem since and have not noticed a reduction in anti-sway of weight distribution.
See the picture attached.
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07-27-2016, 09:21 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 211
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I have a Reese dual cam, it makes loud popping noises when turning sharply, but that is how the cams function. I have never been around the equalizer hitch, but I believe the purpose of the L brackets is to create friction to eliminate sway. If you are greasing or lubing the L brackets, it seems like there wouldn't be any friction to stop the sway. The manual for the Reese Dual cam said NOT to lube the cam area for that very reason, except a very small dab of vaseline. The noise really bothered me when I first started using it, but I have gotten used to it. If you watch in campgrounds they all do it. Maybe the best way for me to get rid of the noise is by spending $100K on a new truck and 5ver.
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07-27-2016, 01:26 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 3,153
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Just remember that the square bar on the L bracket is your sway control through friction. If you great or lube it to get rid of noise then you get rid of you sway control as well.
Noise is just part of the package and what is wrong with being noticed when you pull into a campground, be proud of your rig.
__________________
2013 Premier 31BHPR
2014 F350 6.2L
Soon to be just DW and I
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07-29-2016, 04:38 AM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cocoa, Fl
Posts: 50
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I used to be mortified pulling into the campground and making such god awful noise. Then it occurred to me...... nobody cares. It's part of the deal, and honestly if anyone's delicate psyches are damaged from 30 seconds of creaking as a result of you properly and safely towing your TT, it's their problem, not yours.
Per Equalizers instructions I do lube the bar pivot points on the hitch, however after ruining a few pairs of shorts with the grease, I think I'm going to try graphite or the dish soap idea.
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