ReneeG
Meridian, Idaho
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Joined: 07/13/2005
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I posted a previous string on Hensley's versus Pullrites and got a lot of great information. In comparison shopping two more WD hitches with Sway control has come up when talking to local RV dealers - Reese Dual Cam HD and Equal-I-Zer with 4 point sway control. If Hensley or Pullrite is the best solution for sway control or stopping sway, then we will accept that but if these other types work just as good and at half the price then that's even better. The local dealer here who sells Pullrites for 5th wheels only installs Equal-I-zers on TT's including 28' plus ones. I've already gotten a response from one person with a 30' plus TT who uses a Reese Dual Cam HD and has no sway problems. What we're looking for is something to do the job without costing an arm and a leg. We have a 28' (32' from back bumper to front hitch) 2006 Komfort 282TS, 800lb hitch weight, 8096 dry weight and CCC of a little over 2000lbs. Our TV is a 99 Ford F250 Super Duty, 4 WD, Triton V10, Extended cab. Our current hitch is a WD unit up to 10000lbs with a friction type sway control mounted on the side. Water tanks on the Komfort is mid over the axles. Looking forward to hearing from those of you using either one of these with long TT's - going down hills, up, freeway/insterstate driving, over back roads etc. Our previous unit was a 25' Kit Companion, tank up front, same WD hitch and friction sway control and worked like a charm - TT and TV was one unit going down the road. Big difference now with the larger unit, so we need to do something. Thanks in advance.
2011 Bighorn 3055RL
2011 F350 SD CC DRW 6.7L Diesel Lariat, Hensley BD3 with Ford Under-Bed Adaptor
Dave & Renee plus (Champ & Molly in spirit), Missy, Maggie, and now Paris!
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fornarog
md
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Joined: 06/06/2005
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I have a 31' Prowler (7K GVW) that I tow with a Chevy Express 3500 Ext. van. The total rig is about just shy of 14K loaded. I have not had any problems with the Reese Dual Cam set-up to date, although I don't have 1000's of mile under my belt yet. Most of my driving has been on smaller interstates and back roads.
Greg
2005 Chevy 3500 Express Extended - 6.0L, 3.73, RWD
1986 F-250 reg cab, long bed 4WD - 351WHO, 4.10, 4sp man.
2006 Crossroads Belair 31BTQB
1979 Starcrafte Elite 8 Pop-up
Me, DW, 2boys, 2girls, 1 beagle
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Rolling Condo
South Carolina
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Joined: 11/22/2005
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I have a 34' triple axle Avion grossing out at 9,600 lbs. and use the Reese HP Dual Cam set up and and it does exactly as advertised. Previously I have used the friction type on a 24' Nomad with relatively good success, but found it lacking on a 31' Airstream. IMHO either the Reese Dual Cam or Equal-I-Zer will provide the security you seek for safe towing.
'90 GMC R2500 7.4L
'90 Avion 34V
Cummins Onan P4300ie
Reese Dual Cam HP
Prodigy
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Dogarms
California
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Joined: 11/10/2001
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Granting without argument that the Hensley and Pullrite hitches are superior, I can still say that I am very happy with my Equal-i-zer. My trailer as typically loaded carries around 1400 lbs on the hitch and grosses around 10,500 lbs. I have never had a sway issue or a moment’s concern of any kind relating to trailer control.
TC
'03 GMC ExCab, SB, Duramax, Allison, 4x4, Husky mudflaps, Procaps, Bilsteins, Leer shell, BedRug, Oilguard Bypass,
Caterpillar fuel filter, ISSPRO EV Pyro and Boost guages, Titan V, Equal-i-zer EQ1400, Arctic Fox 30U
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LIKE2BUILD
Mt. Zion, IL
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Joined: 09/30/2004
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Renee,
Your cheapest option, since you already own a WD hitch is to simply purchase the Reese Dual Cam Model 26001. This works exactly like the Dual Cam HP and uses Cam Adapters that you bolt to your existing WD bars to mate up with the arms that you mount onto your TT A-frame. With this solution you will get by for about $150 (including shipping) and have sway control that is far superior to a friction bar.
KJ
'02 Jayco Qwest 324G
'04 Chevy 2500HD CrewCab |6.0L|2X4|4.10:1 | Eaton Posi-Trac
Curt MagnumV receiver
Eaz-Lift Hitch with Reese Dual Cam
2000 Crownline 205BR
'96 Polaris SLT780 PWC
'94 Polaris SLT750 PWC
3 Wonderful Sons (12, 6, & 4)
1 forgiving wife!!!
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DaYooper
Land of Trolls, below the Big Mac bridge
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Joined: 04/07/2003
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Were happy with our Equalizer brand hitch, and I'm pretty certain we would've been happy with the Dual Cam too.
The EQ was about $50 cheaper when I purchased it two years ago and with all the money I had going out with the purchase of a new trailer, saving $50 was helpful.
http://www.rvwholesalers.com had some of the best prices on both units in the past.
Steve
IAFF # 2289
SE Michigan
2005 Dodge 2500 CTD QC
4x4, Auto, 3.73
2004 Jayco Jay Feather 27P
Prodigy Brake Controller
Equal-i-zer
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campnhuntmn
Minnesota
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Joined: 01/19/2006
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Renee,
I can't add to the towing experience, but... I upgraded our purchase to the Dual Cam, I felt the cam was an active and forceful way to prevent the sway where the Equalizer uses friction.
Equalizer advertise four points of sway control, but two of those points are the trunion pivots and though might tite fitting they are not going to do much in the way of sway control. The two rear points will do all the work (better then a pair friction units).
I had a tech at the local show try and steer me tword the equalizer. When I pushed him as to why - They are faster to install and setup (15 min. vs 1+ hr.). That may matter to the dealer but it doesn't matter to me. Another advantage of the Reese is you can easily add or drop a chain link to adjust the force if needed (extra gear, water, bikes).
'06 Palomino Thoroughbred T-26BHSL (loaded 5500#)
'05 Jeep Grand Cherokee - 5.7L Hemi (rated 7200#)
Reese HP Dual-cam hitch, Prodigy BC, McKesh Mirrors
Kipor 3000Ti (2600watt) Generator
Dual 6V Trojan T105 batteries, PD9160 converter w/Charge Wizard
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lonekazoo
Utah
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Joined: 06/21/2005
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campnhuntmn wrote:Another advantage of the Reese is you can easily add or drop a chain link to adjust the force if needed (extra gear, water, bikes).
You can adjust the Equal-i-zer as well by adjusting the L-brackets.
They both have their pros and cons. I like the "no holes drilled" mounting of the equal-i-zer and the extra ground clearance, but I hate getting grease on my pants.
* This post was
edited 03/08/06 09:14am by lonekazoo *
2005 KZ Frontier 2809PQS-F
2003 GMC Yukon XL 2500 SLT/4x4/8.1L/3.73/Autoride
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luckeydr
Virginia Beach, VA
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Joined: 01/13/2004
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Renee,
I have a 32 foot Sunnybrook. I have towed it using an Equal-i-zer and a Reese Dual Cam. My Equal-i-zer broke, hence the Reese. Both work equally well and both are easy to hook-up, but both also require some fine tuning with a fully loaded trailer to get the best from the hitch. Looking at your figures, and the floorplan on the manufacturer site, I really don't believe either of these hitches will work for you. Simply put, I believe loaded, your tongue weight will still be around 10%, so even though you are within specs, your handling might be adversely affected. I base my assumption on the fact that you have a rear kitchen (lots of heavy items here), the water tanks are located over the axles (per you) so putting water in them will not add to the tongue weight that much. You have basically a rear slide. My rig has front slide, tanks are forward of the axles. Loaded, my rig has a 1200# tongue, so there is a lot of difference between your trailer and mine. I know that if I had a 900-1000# tongue weight, my handling charcteristics would be greatly changed. I pull with an 04 Excursion, much the same vehicle as your 250 SD. Even though the price is high, I would opt for the Pull-rite or Hensley to pull this trailer sway free. The Pull-rite (used) can be had for not much more than you would pay for a new Reese Dual Cam, as I mentioned the Equal-i-zer broke while I was on a trip, and I needed a hitch. Camping World had one the right size, installed it cost me about $800 (too much, I know, but you do what you have to do). I did get my money back on the Equal-i-zer (less than 5 months old). I believe you really need to get the weights of your trailer loaded and ready to go, and then make your decision based on those weights. If you want to use the Equal-i-zer or Reese Dual Cam, you need a tongue weight to be about 12-15% to get the best from those hitches. Just my opinion, your milage may vary.
Don
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rolnrolnroln
WA
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Joined: 02/15/2004
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Just to put 2 cents in on a concept that is in the above posts. The idea that a Dual Cam or an Equal-I-Zer brand is "just as good" as the Hensley or PullRite is not correct, IMHO. I towed for many years with a Dual cam on a couple of different trailers. I used it for long enough to wear out the trunnions. I thought it did a fine job and might have posted similarly to some of the above posts. Then I got my first PR. There is a considerable difference in the towing experience. Among other things, there was a LOT less correcting while going down the freeway. Most of these corrections are so tiny that it is easy to ignore them. But, they tend to make me tired at the end of a long towing day. With the PR, I have many fewer corrections (same rig) and end the towing day much less fatiqued. It is simply a more relaxing drive with the PR. I'm not trying to talk you into buying any particular brand, just stating my opinion that there is Hensley and PR... then everything else. Until someone has towed a long time with both the DC and the PR, they cannot know how much better the PR is. The lesser hitches are not "just as good." They might be adequate, but not the same.
BTW, be careful of info from dealers. There is a local hitch installing/sales firm that sells both DC and Equal-I-Zer. He told me that the DC was no good and needed to be "adjusted" occasionally. Since I had owned a DC for several years at that point, I knew he was full of $&*^. A newbie might get takenn in.
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