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Old 03-07-2019, 01:48 PM   #1
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Equalizer hitch questions

We have an F150 4x4 with the tow package and we are picking up our new 19 this summer. In going over our build sheet, we were told that if you get the equalizer hitch with the tow bar, it must be disconnected prior to backing up and/or for sharp corners? Is the only solution for this to upgrade to the E2? Is this overkill? We are unfamiliar with towing -- this will be our first camper -- so any advice is appreciated. Thanks!!
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Old 03-07-2019, 02:02 PM   #2
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To my knowledge, some anti-sway bars need to be removed when backing up. I don't have and haven't needed anti-sway. The weight distribution hitch, without sway control bars takes care of that and needs nothing removed to back up.

I've had the cheapest option from ETI, the Pro Series WDH, and have had no issues in ten years of towing with it.
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Old 03-07-2019, 02:29 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stevemcn View Post
... we were told that if you get the equalizer hitch with the tow bar, it must be disconnected prior to backing up and/or for sharp corners?
First, Escape doesn't sell the Equal-i-zer® hitch; unfortunately they call any weight-distribution (WD) hitch an "equalizer".

"Equalizer hitch with the tow bar" doesn't really make any sense; my guess is that this was supposed to be "equalizer hitch with the sway bar", which should really be "WD hitch with the sway control device"

If that's what we're talking about, only the bar-style add-on sway control device needs to be disconnected to back up... and even then only if you're not sure that it is properly installed. The potential problem is that the bar pulls apart or jams ("bottoms out" because the angle between truck and trailer is too extreme. This certainly shouldn't happen while going forward (because the angle is limited by how tightly the truck can turn), but in reverse you can jackknife the rig to a more extreme angle.

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Originally Posted by stevemcn View Post
Is the only solution for this to upgrade to the E2? Is this overkill?
To avoid this type of sway control device - which is the cheapest design of sway control device in existence - the options include:
  1. use a different WD hitch type which includes deliberate friction for sway control (such as the E2, but there are others)
  2. don't use a sway control device
The E2 is one of those alternate designs. It is not significantly heavier or more complicated than the most common WD type, so I don't know what would be "overkill" about it.
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Old 03-08-2019, 06:55 AM   #4
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Sorry -- you are correct. I meant sway bar.
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Old 03-08-2019, 11:18 AM   #5
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I have also towed with the Pro Series WDH for the last 3 years, and used another similar WDH for several years before that. I did not have to disconnect while backing or turning sharp corners. I did have a sway control bar for a short while and it made some creaking noise when going through sharp corners either forward or reverse, and I stopped using it without any sway problems.
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