Equalizer Hitch Problem

[trackvs2wheels]

Ok guys/gals...I know I might sound totally retarted here, but I cannot figure out how to hook my newly purchased equalizer hitch up to my 29' enclosed American Hauler...

The trailer has the builet in slots in the frame for you to drop the chain through...but if I back up to the trailer, hitch on the truck, and put the chains in the slots and then lower the trailer down onto the ball of the hitch the chains actually get looser...not tighter like they should...

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE RESPOND ON HOW TO HOOK AN EQUALIZER HITCH UP CORRECTLY...

Again, sorry if I am being retarted, but I just don't see how they work...

track~

 

[woodzy]

not trying to be a smarta$$ at all...

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/pdf/equalizer_instructions.pdf

 

[trackvs2wheels]

I beleive you, but mine does not have the part where you fasten the torsion bars to the frame of the trailer...it just has a slot for the chains to hook into.

I will read your research now and see what I come up with tho.

Thanks for posting!

track~

 

[woodzy]

any option to tighten said chains?

 

[DaveB]

There has to be an over-centering lever on each side of the frame. Ball on the hitch, bars properly inserted in the device under the ball, chain hooked to ever-centering device, snipe tight.

http://www.reeseprod.com/fitguides/enlarge.asp?img=65509_b

 

[Kong]

You put the trailer on the hitch and close the latch as if you were just going to tow away.

Then crank up your trailer stand (trailer jack) (with the trailer and vehicle hitch ball connected) until you can hook up your chains where you want them to be. If your device uses the lever type that you crank over to do the final tightening... then crank the chains shut.


Now the kind you show in the manual don't use chains??? But the principle is the the same. You have to take the weight off the hitch/truck/trailer to get the bars in place on the trailer side. You put the bars into the slots on the truck side first.

After you get the bars locked in place on the trailer, then lower the rig and put the wheels up etc.

You will have to experiement to see how far (how many links) to use to counteract your tongue weight.

THEN lower your trailer jack and your truck will barely move down.

If this isn't clear the suggest you go to a trailer dealer and have them show you how if you are having any trouble. They all work basically the same.

Good luck.

 

[trackvs2wheels]

Thank You

I think I understand now...

You have to use the jack on the trailer to actually lift the back of the truck up and then put the chains into the frame and when you dolly the trailer down then it will tighten the chains up and hold the back of the truck more level.

Thanks for the input guys...I could not for the life of me figure out how to get those chains tight as the manual with my hitch didn't explain this very well.

track~

 

[diggerdown]

I had trouble getting enough chain tension on mine using just the trailer jack so I kept an old screw style scissor jack and jack up the arm ends and hooking them up.

 

[trackvs2wheels]

diggerdown,

Sounds kinda like a pain in the arse if you ask me...hopefully I can get enough tension using the trailer jack.

Thanks for responding!!

track~