Equalizer 12k - Uneven Spring Bar Tension

[Marcm157]

I have a 12k Equalizer WDH and have it dialed in pretty well except when hitching / unhitching the curbside springbar takes considerably greater effort to seat onto the L bracket than the roadside one.

I lift the rear of the truck and the roadside bar can be placed simply by pushing it on by hand but even after lifting the truck a good deal higher the snap up tool is required on the other bar.

All measurements have been double checked and are accurate as per the install instructions.

Any thoughts?

[Screwby]

Hopefully no offense taken, but my seeing the forest for the trees question is, have you counted links to be sure the chains are the same length?

[Marcm157]

Originally Posted by Screwby

Hopefully no offense taken, but my seeing the forest for the trees question is, have you counted links to be sure the chains are the same length?

No offense taken at all - the Equalizer hitch system doesn't use chains!

[Screwby]

See, I don't even know what I'm talking about!

[Marcm157]

Thanks for trying - definitely "A" for effort...

[Dondeb]

Originally Posted by Marcm157

I have a 12k Equalizer WDH and have it dialed in pretty well except when hitching / unhitching the curbside springbar takes considerably greater effort to seat onto the L bracket than the roadside one.

I lift the rear of the truck and the roadside bar can be placed simply by pushing it on by hand but even after lifting the truck a good deal higher the snap up tool is required on the other bar.

All measurements have been double checked and are accurate as per the install instructions.

Any thoughts?

We have the exact same question! Interested to see what people have to say here.

[homer1959]

usually when you are parked on a street you are not level, you are leaning to the right , i would beleive that there is some sort of weight transfer that you have to compensate ...my two cents , just try to hook up where you can be level you will see the difference im pretty sure

[Coldfusion]

Originally Posted by homer1959

usually when you are parked on a street you are not level, you are leaning to the right , i would beleive that there is some sort of weight transfer that you have to compensate ...my two cents , just try to hook up where you can be level you will see the difference im pretty sure

This


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[Dondeb]

Originally Posted by homer1959

usually when you are parked on a street you are not level, you are leaning to the right , i would beleive that there is some sort of weight transfer that you have to compensate ...my two cents , just try to hook up where you can be level you will see the difference im pretty sure

We have this issue when sitting level at our storage lot or on a concrete pad at a campground. We had a 10K Equal-i-zer on our old trailer and it also varied but not to the extreme of the 12K now. Really makes no sense.

[TWP723]

Not being level is most likely the culprit. I have the same system and have never had that problem..UNLESS I'm not level. The only other reason(s) could be: the L bracket is not at the same level as the other L bracket - the square receiver in the head of the hitch could be bent - the bar could be bent.


Park on a level spot and put the bars in the head...no trailer. Let them hang and see if they're an even distance from the ground.

[Marcm157]

Thanks - I will try this and see. I measured the L brackets and they are correct as per instructions.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by homer1959

usually when you are parked on a street you are not level, you are leaning to the right , i would beleive that there is some sort of weight transfer that you have to compensate ...my two cents , just try to hook up where you can be level you will see the difference im pretty sure

When I am in my driveway, I park on a compound angle. I level the HTT. but hooking up the TV, it is not level from side to side. In order to connect my Equalizer hitch I must lift the rear of my TV an additional few cranks to get enough clearance to mount the bars.

At most campsites, that are fairly level I never notice much of a difference.

[Dagwood]

Is it possible that when you load up the bar on the one side, you have now added some torque and thus the other bar needs help to get it up into position? I have the 10K Equalizer and have always found one side easier than the other depending on which way the HTT is sitting. Forward lean/Backward lean, Left or right lean. So many small variables that can be amplified once you put a load on one bar. ???

[bansai]

I have the same issue with mine, but as most have replied, it's normal. I actually park with my TT And TV tires on the sidewalk now so I don't have to jack up my truck as high. I'm pretty close to maxing out what I can tow with my truck anyway, so I have a *LOT* of tension on my bars.. I'm probably within 2 inches of actually having to raise the rear wheels of my truck off the ground just to hook up. It's the only thing I don't really like about the equalizer.. guessing most WD hitches have similar issues, but this is my first, and only...

[Marcm157]

Originally Posted by bansai

I have the same issue with mine, but as most have replied, it's normal. I actually park with my TT And TV tires on the sidewalk now so I don't have to jack up my truck as high. I'm pretty close to maxing out what I can tow with my truck anyway, so I have a *LOT* of tension on my bars.. I'm probably within 2 inches of actually having to raise the rear wheels of my truck off the ground just to hook up. It's the only thing I don't really like about the equalizer.. guessing most WD hitches have similar issues, but this is my first, and only...

I actually used stacked 2 x 6's under the tough side yesterday to make it a bit easier to hook up.

My biggest concern with this issue is not so much the hitch up or un-hitching but is there too much weight on that one spring bar after I set the truck down on the hitch???

[bankr63]

I would say not only are you level, but is your TV straight? I have Husky round bar (chains), and one side is always more difficult if the TT is even a bit to the left or right.


Also, have you tried reversing order? Do the tougher one first to see if it makes a difference.

[bansai]

Originally Posted by Marcm157

I actually used stacked 2 x 6's under the tough side yesterday to make it a bit easier to hook up.

My biggest concern with this issue is not so much the hitch up or un-hitching but is there too much weight on that one spring bar after I set the truck down on the hitch???

I think it all evens out while on the road. If the 'problem side' is the same side, every time, regardless of what order you install the bars, and regardless of where you are parked, pitched, etc.. you might have an 'alignment' defect in your hitch head. With my setup anyway, the bar that is the hardest to hook into the bracket varies depending on all of the above, so it's not always the same side. If yours is always on the same side regardless of the situation, there's more to look into. Also making the obvious assumption that both of your bars are straight. I have heard of a rare event where someone has actually bent one of them.

[Marcm157]

Originally Posted by bankr63

I would say not only are you level, but is your TV straight? I have Husky round bar (chains), and one side is always more difficult if the TT is even a bit to the left or right.


Also, have you tried reversing order? Do the tougher one first to see if it makes a difference.

Originally Posted by bansai

I think it all evens out while on the road. If the 'problem side' is the same side, every time, regardless of what order you install the bars, and regardless of where you are parked, pitched, etc.. you might have an 'alignment' defect in your hitch head. With my setup anyway, the bar that is the hardest to hook into the bracket varies depending on all of the above, so it's not always the same side. If yours is always on the same side regardless of the situation, there's more to look into.

I'm going to change the order I do things when hitching up for our next trip in 2 weeks and see if it makes a difference.

Thanks for the replies...

[homer1959]

Originally Posted by Marcm157

I'm going to change the order I do things when hitching up for our next trip in 2 weeks and see if it makes a difference.

Thanks for the replies...

Look at the play you have at the hitch head , with both bars in press down on one , and look at the other she will go up by a good inch if not more there is almost 1/8 of play between the head and the receiver in mine so at the end of the bar you might be a good inch higher when one bar is on the L bracket