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Old 01-04-2009, 11:27 AM   #1
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Equalizer Hitch

We towed our 17' with a Ford Windstar minivan using the equalizer hitch. Now we will be towing it with a Subaru Outback and are wondering if we will need the equ. bars. I think I saw someone post about towing with an Outback. The max tongue weight is 200#.
Thanks for any info. and thanks for this forum. It would have been great to reference when we were researching our '08 trailer!
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Old 01-04-2009, 12:00 PM   #2
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

Hi: And Welcome...This is just MHO that the equilizer would be more usefull on the shorter wheelbase tow vehicle. It might just prevent "The tail wagging the dog" syndrome!!! My 2wo cents worth.
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Old 01-04-2009, 03:35 PM   #3
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Re: Equalizer Hitch


I had a max tongue weight of 350# with the Ford Explorer. I was advised that I shouldn't tow my 17B with the bumper hitch rated at only 350#.
Given that I needed a new hitch, and wiring, and the truck was a '94 gas sucker, I bought a RAV4 V6 Sport with an installed class 3 equalizer hitch.

The manual for the RAV says Toyota doesn't recommend an equalizer hitch, but doesn't say you can't or mustn't. Hidden Hitch had one made for the RAV and rated at 4,000#.
So, I think you need to consult a hitch installer to determine that there is an equalizer hitch made for your vehicle. I'd also look at the manual for the Subaru.

My old Subaru Legacy had a big red X through a trailer in the manual. Still I towed the tent trailer for years ( very slowly up hills ). Yours is a different vehicle, but I'd make the checks.

baglo

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Old 01-04-2009, 09:21 PM   #4
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

you didn't mention if your outback already had a hitch or not. If you are shopping for one, etrailer is a good place to look around.
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Old 01-10-2009, 12:22 AM   #5
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

Yes, I'd say your very likely to need the EH with the Outback as it's probably pretty lightly sprung. Is it even rated to tow 3500#? I owned a Suburu decades ago and it was not supposed to tow anything per the manual.

I am not using one an my FJ Cruiser with a 3" lift and heavier springs. It drops the tail about 2-3" but otherwise handles like a dream. I had a 20' Jayco pulled by a Tundra that used an EH and I hated it. When your full timing it can be a real PITA hooking and unhooking and get real old real fast. I love the simplicity of my ball-only rig, especially since I travel with only my dog, and as smart as she is, I doubt she will ever get the trailer backing thing.

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Old 04-19-2009, 08:01 PM   #6
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

Hi all

does escape carry the friction anti sway bar in the picture

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Old 04-19-2009, 09:48 PM   #7
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

Quote:
Originally Posted by wpski
Hi all

does escape carry the friction anti sway bar in the picture

No they don't. I just talked to Reace about that last week. You can pick one up many places. They are quite easy to install. I have never done it myself, but have talked to a couple folks who have.
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Old 04-19-2009, 10:49 PM   #8
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

Quote: We towed our 17' with a Ford Windstar minivan using the equalizer hitch. Now we will be towing it with a Subaru Outback and are wondering if we will need the equ. bars. I think I saw someone post about towing with an Outback. The max tongue weight is 200#.

All I can say is OUCH! My Ford Explorer ( now Ford Expirer ) had a max tongue weight of 350 # for the bumper hitch. I was advised that I would need 500# ( as I recall ) and would have to have a proper class 3 hitch installed. I didn't want to do that on a 94 Explorer so I bought the RAV. Good thing too, since the Expirer just blew a head gasket and is now junk.

I had a Subaru years ago, and while it's not the same vehicle you have today, I was towing a tent trailer that didn't weigh that much less than the Escape 17B. I gave up on the Subaru, not because I had to crawl up the hills in second gear, but because the brakes were about the size of hockey pucks and couldn't stop in an emergency. I had brand new discs glazed by the high heat generated trying to slow down on a steep hill with a semi in front of me in the slow lane and no way to get around him. Now, the Escape has electric brakes and my tent trailer didn't, but, you best check out the brakes, check the manual regarding towing and consider a safer tow vehicle.

And, I would recommend the equalizer hitch. You get a better ride in the tow vehicle and I'm not sure that anti-sway bars are capable of doing anything useful if your front wheels are unloaded due to all the weight on the back.

What is the Outback rated to tow? My RAV is rated for 3,500# as equipped and the hitch manufacturer rates it at 4,200#.

Had my Subaru for 13 years BTW.

baglo

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Old 04-20-2009, 12:18 AM   #9
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

Note that the original post was on January 4th, and it is the only post by that member.

Most Legasy-based Outbacks are only good for 2400 lbs. Our Forester has the same rating so we are either getting a 13' Escape trailer or a used Ford Escape to tow a 17' trailer. Still have a bit of time to decide. The Ford Escape with the V-6 can be had for a reasonable price - lousy resale value. And, since the OP is stale, I am not apologising for getting off-topic.
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Old 04-21-2009, 07:32 PM   #10
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

This may seem a silly question but, what happens if you don't have an equalizer hitch?
I'm planning on driving a 17B' with a RAV4 V6. It's rated for 3500 lbs, so do I need an equalizer hitch for safety?
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Old 04-21-2009, 07:49 PM   #11
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

What worked out for us was Reace had a WDH on site.. We hooked up the Escape and looked at how the "Back end" of our Highlander reacted to the weight of the trailer and then basically decided to purchase the WDH from Escape.. What was pretty cool is once the WDH was dialed in it you could see the difference on the "back end suspension" .. It somehow took/pushed 1/3 of the tounge weight to the front of the car, 1/3 on the back & 1/3 to the back axle of the Escape.. So for us it was worth it as it really gave us the piece of mind that we not overloading the suspension..
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Old 04-21-2009, 10:39 PM   #12
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

Quote:
Originally Posted by deb h
This may seem a silly question but, what happens if you don't have an equalizer hitch?
I'm planning on driving a 17B' with a RAV4 V6. It's rated for 3500 lbs, so do I need an equalizer hitch for safety?
Good question and so timely.

This afternoon I pulled Toad out of the carport and on to the driveway. I couldn't be bothered with the EQ hitch so I just had the ball installed. The rear of the RAV dropped a good 2-3 inches and when I cranked the hitch post up as far as I could, I couldn't remove the post wheel. I had to use a hydraulic jack to raise the back of the RAV enough to get the wheel off. When I pulled it out to the driveway, the RAV now on the street, something scraped the pavement briefly ( probably the hitch post ). All in all, I could have saved a lot of time if I had just installed the EQ.

So, to the issue of safety, you can see that the front wheels were un-weighted and that is bound to affect stability. The EQ hitch transfers weight to your front wheels, give you a better ride and traction since the rear isn't bouncing going over bumps.

I wouldn't tow without it. Toyota doesn't have a Class III hitch for the RAV, but Hidden Hitch does ( and rates it at 4,000 lbs or maybe more - can't remember the exact number ).

baglo

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Old 04-22-2009, 07:13 AM   #13
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

Hi All

Another question? I have a toyota tacoma quad cab 2007 SR5 4wd 6 speed manual with the tow package how hard is it to install a brake controller for the 19 we are buying. I know several of you own similar tugs also I have decided to upgrade the rear shocks to bilstein gas shocks and forgo the equilizer hitch I tow a 2100 pound boat now and have experienced no problems towing it. thanks for all the info on this site it really makes decisions easier because of the been there done that from all of the input here.
THANKS Walt & Linda
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Old 04-22-2009, 08:16 AM   #14
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

wpski

It is my understanding that a WDH is just about required on front wheel drive vehicles, but not on rear wheel drive. One may help for you in tweaking and dialing in the hitch weight on your ball, but is not required.

Check eTrailer.com for instructions on a brake controller install on your vehicle. Last month I spent 2+ days installing one on my 2000 Sienna van, working on a hard, cold garage floor. Wiring needed to be installed from the hitch to the battery and thru the firewall. A pain to do, but not rocket science, mostly grunt work. All that work for naught, as the seller decided to cancel my purchase of her used 17B due to apparent fears that I was trying to scam her. US buyer, Canadian owner, complications of money transfer. I'm still spitting mad. New model vehicles may have all the wiring in place and you only have to mount the controller and hitch plug and plug in the controller. Not so in my case.
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Old 04-22-2009, 08:35 AM   #15
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

Toyota has a good document on towing ratings:

http://mediap04.toyota.ca/media/pdf/...ng_guide_e.pdf

It takes a bit of time to decipher all the stuff on Page 2, but you have to read it all. Among other things, for traditional hitches, the tongue weight is supposed to be no more than 15% of the actual trailer weight.

Baglo, have you ever measured your toad's weight distribution?

Ron
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Old 04-22-2009, 09:39 AM   #16
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Re: Equalizer Hitch


I haven't. How do you go about that?

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Old 04-22-2009, 11:43 AM   #17
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

I have never done it myself, but it seems that this would work.

1. Unhitch.
2. Weigh your front axle.
3. Weigh your back axle.
4. Hitch up.
5. Weigh your front axle.
6. Weigh your back axle.
7. Weigh your trailer axle.

Your front axle weight will be lower on the second weighing, while the back axle will, of course be much heavier.

Your tongue weight will be hitched front + hitched back - unhitched front - unhitched back.

Your trailer weight will be tongue weight + trailer axle.

I imagine that you can weigh the little hitch wheel to get the tongue weight directly.

I know that there is a truck scale at the Esso in Chilliwack at Lickman Road near the freeway. I am having trouble finding other ones by googling "commercial scale BC" or "truck scale bc." Anybody have ideas on where baglo can weigh his toad closer to home?

Ron
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Old 04-22-2009, 12:00 PM   #18
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo

Good question and so timely.

This afternoon I pulled Toad out of the carport and on to the driveway. I couldn't be bothered with the EQ hitch so I just had the ball installed. The rear of the RAV dropped a good 2-3 inches and when I cranked the hitch post up as far as I could, I couldn't remove the post wheel. I had to use a hydraulic jack to raise the back of the RAV enough to get the wheel off. When I pulled it out to the driveway, the RAV now on the street, something scraped the pavement briefly ( probably the hitch post ). All in all, I could have saved a lot of time if I had just installed the EQ.

So, to the issue of safety, you can see that the front wheels were un-weighted and that is bound to affect stability. The EQ hitch transfers weight to your front wheels, give you a better ride and traction since the rear isn't bouncing going over bumps.

I wouldn't tow without it. Toyota doesn't have a Class III hitch for the RAV, but Hidden Hitch does ( and rates it at 4,000 lbs or maybe more - can't remember the exact number ).

baglo

baglo,
Once again you bring forth excellent info. Thanks
I'll be asking the dealer to add the tow package to an '09. Should I ask them not to apply a hitch, then go get one on my own? I don't want to pay them to apply a hitch I won't be using anyway.
Deb

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Old 04-22-2009, 01:19 PM   #19
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

Deb, as I understand it, there is no "tow package" for a Rav4 - at least not in Canada. A tow package might be upgraded suspension or transmission cooling. These are not necessary for the V6 Rav4 with these trailers. Again, as I understand it, "tow package" does not refer to the hitch by itself.

You are going to need a hitch and brake controller - and your Toyota dealer will gouge you on these items.
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Old 04-22-2009, 03:49 PM   #20
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Re: Equalizer Hitch

As I recall, the transmission cooler is standard on the V6 sport, but best check ( I just threw out the brochure yesterday). My Toyota dealer brought in an installer from outside to do the wiring, install the hitch and brake controller ( which I supplied ). The "factory" class II hitch from Toyota was $1,000 and included only wiring. The class III hitch I got, installed at the Toyota dealer, was about $650 as I recall and included the standard ball. The equalizer part of the hitch came from Escape.
I'm not sure you'll get the same deal from your dealer. But, you'll certainly find a Hidden Hitch dealer. Note too that U-haul doesn't just rent trailers, they install hitches, so you might want to price them too. Although, I think they wanted $150 just to install the brake controller.

baglo
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