I'm learning many things during my search for an open car-hauler trailer. What I don't understand, though, is what the advantage is to using an equilizer hitch when I hauling a 5,000# gross weight tailer behind my stock 2009 Toyota Tacoma (max tow rating of 6,500#). I mean, does using an equalizer hitch mean that I won't have to add air bags or helper springs to my truck (to eliminate rear end squat)? Does it help stability during towing? If so, how does it work? I just don't get it. Thanks again,
The only thing that I ever hauled with the equalizer hitch was a fair sized travel trailer that we used as a mobile office for out of town projects. It did tow a lot better, now sway, didn't feel it as much. I know that there was a thread about this in the last month or two, every side of the coin and every opinion aired in that one. You might do a search and see what everyone had to say in that thread too.
Eliminates rear squat,trailer sway & enhances control. Not really noticeable until you try one. Just imagine the 5000 lb. loaded trailer deciding to go it's own way at highway speeds on a windy day. The 6500 lb. truck on it's own doesn't have the mass to control it. I pulled our own 33' travel trailer with a 3 point equalizer hitch behind an F150 quadcab 4X4.
http://www.equalizerhitch.com/productinfo/weight_distribution.php I posted this to the other site as well but its good info anyway
It really is a no brainer. It's the best money you will spend for towing. I have one and use it for towing my 20' open car trailer, 18' enclosed cycle trailer and 30' boat trailer. And I use it on the trailers behind my Chevy Avalanche, Ford F350 Dually and a 30' diesel pusher motor home! It gives you unbelieveable control of the trailer compared to not having it at all. I agree, if you tried it once, you will never travel without it. And yes, it will save you from buying "extras" for your tow vehicle to handle the situation. But, most importantly, make sure your trailer has brakes! :TU:
I tow with an Extended Express. 13 foot wheel base and I still use the distribution hitch because the ride is so smooth. I usually tow the car to my brother's shop without them. It's about 8 miles on 95 and what a difference. Without them hooked up the truck bobs over the bumps. You're constantly bouncing forward in your seat. Very uncomfortable riding. With the bars on the truck and trailer feel like one. When I hit a dip in the road the whole rig goes straight up and down without any bobbing. :TU:
Thanks for your input on equalizer hitches, you guys. David Cowell - Ill go ahead and search out the information. Steve Craig - My Toyota Tacoma truck only weighs in at 4000+ pounds. The 6500# I referred to is the max tow capacity of the truck. My goal is to keep at least the dry weight of the trailer/race car combo at about 5,000#. No reason to beat up a new Tacoma by towing at max capacity, even though Ill be doing very little towing overall. Michael - As I stated on the other site, thank you very much for your input. I went to the equalizerhitch web site and read the information from end to end. Bruce and David - Thanks, guys. Im convinced! Actually, I always thought that these set-ups were only necessary for really large and heavy truck/trailer combos. It sounds like its also a benefit to smaller combos, too.
Dan, Inexpensive & probably the best insurance you can ever buy. We sold our travel trailer last year. I just sold my 3 point hitch set-up about a month ago to a local chap. $ 100 complete. Look for good used as well.
With the Toyota Tacoma I would definitely get an load equalizing hitch. I have always had HD 3/4 and 1 ton tow vehicles and haven't felt the need for one unless I was towing over 8000lb gross trailer weight. In your case I would NOT tow 5000lb without an equalizing hitch unless you were only going a couple miles down the road. Its will be money well spent on your new truck.
No, I don't think so, Chris. I done my time with driving and parking a big, overweight, difficult to manuever gas hog of a truck every day in southern California traffic just so I'll have a powerful, heavy vehicle to tow with once or twice a year. The Tacoma crew cab is a really great everyday driver and, according to owners, will tow heavy loads quite well... if you are able to compromise a little. Obviously, there'll be no blasting over the grapevine at 70 MPH in it while I'm towing a 5,000 lb load, though. I'm sure that I'll be spending some time in the far right lane with the heavily loaded trucks in really hilly country. Besides, the Engineer in me considers this a challenging project. Moderate power tow vehicle + lightweight (1,000-1,400#) trailer + 3,000# race car + skinny girl friend in the passenger seat should work out OK... Well, that's my theory, anyway. We'll see, I guess.
it's going DOWN the grapevine with 18 wheelers flying by that tacoma might feel a little light:beer skinny blonde is good though
how bout one of these for impractical? sure is nice when youre going to famoso for the weekend though.............. I do, however, agree with Chris-you are going to find it interesting once you get that thing loaded and start DOWN a mountain with it.
Going down hill-- gear down and use you thumb control on the brakes to help!!! (Flatlander giving his 2 cents). What mileage are you getting out of your truck? When I borrowed a friends trailer and my Dad's '01 Chev Z-71, we made 13 mpg. My car weighs in at 4000#. He does not get great mileage because he runs around on the farm.
SmallHurst, Assuming you're referring to my Toyota Tacoma, I'm getting almost exactly 18 mpg city and ocassional freeway driving. I've been keeping track during the last 800 or so miles on my less-than-2,000-mile Tacoma. Pretty soon I'll be making a round trip to/from Texas, so I should get good numbers for this almost all-highway mile trip. My guess is 21 or 22 mpg average for the entire trip.
Is this the "Equalizer Hitch" ad-on that is being suggested? Equalizer Hitch Seems like $300 shipped anywhere in the US. Would you need to buy anything other than what is in this kit? Is this item BOTH an Equalizer AND a Sway Control device? I also hear others suggest a "Sway Control" for larger trailers. Thanks! Rob
There are many advantages in using a weight distributing hitch. An Equalizer hitch is a brand of hitch that does not use a friction sway to control side to side movement, nor does it have the old style chains many people are used to seeing. Yes and no at the same time. Air bags always help with load. but a properly setup weight distribution system can take off alot of the weight that is on your hitch. For your load rating and depending on what exactly your hitch weight is going to be you need to look at a system that has a bar rating of around 750lbs to 1000lbs, these bars may be a little stiff but a Tacoma with 5000lbs behind it is going to need all the help it can get. Yes greatly, with a properly set up hitch and friction sway you are removing alot of the bounce and sway going down the road. Think of it as a bridge between the towing vehicle and your trailer. This bridge comes complete with an adjustable under truss called spring bar/arm or trunnion bars which join the trailer "V" tongue of the trailer to the hitch head and receiver hitch that arches the bridge upward to spread out the weight.. The head with the trailer ball attached to the trailer coupler/hitch, bolts to the shank which is "L" shaped with adjustment holes for proper hitch height. The shank slides in to your receiver hitch which is bolted to the towing vehicle's frame or sub-frame. This union allows you to distribute the trailer weight evenly to all axles of the truck/SUV and trailer. Thus the name "weight distributing" hitch. The best thing you can do is find a reputable RV dealership (do not go to U-haul) and get some advice. The rule of thumb when towing with a light truck/van/suv/car is aim for 80% of what your max tow rating is. This way you can always play it safe. Also a good brake controler is good to have, I suggest the Tekonsha line of products because they are cheaper start up and reliable with alot of features.
