load equalizing hitch - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Toy 4Runner Man · 09-30-2002, 09:44 PM

I was wondering what the recomended procedure is for loading a load equalizing hitch? My dad always use to always totally load the traler on the truck, and then put the load bars on. I would think that some preload would be wanted on the bars? If so, how much?

Thanks

kwrangln · 10-01-2002, 08:22 AM

Hook up trailer, load trailer, then attach bars. They take a pretty good load this way, think if you tried to preload them you would overstress the brackets which are usually stamped 1/4" steel that can and will bend.

Toy 4Runner Man · 10-01-2002, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kwrangln
Hook up trailer, load trailer, then attach bars. They take a pretty good load this way, think if you tried to preload them you would overstress the brackets which are usually stamped 1/4" steel that can and will bend.

Thanks. I was just wanting to get a work one way or the other. Thanks!

Tusker · 10-02-2002, 01:15 PM

Also, if you overload the bars, you can get the joint (at the hitch) so stiff that the rear of the tow vehicle loses most of its "suspension" and starts to feel squirrely. This sepends a lot on the relative weights of tow vehicle, trailer, length of hitch, and so on. But a freind of mine was towing a 9,000 bumper-pull trailer with his lifted Suburban and it scared him to death (since the trailer was heavy he thought he would REALLY crank down on the spring bars) until he eased up on the bars.

09-30-2002, 09:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Toy 4Runner Man Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Member # 6002 Location: Kelseyville, CA Posts: 1,122	load equalizing hitch I was wondering what the recomended procedure is for loading a load equalizing hitch? My dad always use to always totally load the traler on the truck, and then put the load bars on. I would think that some preload would be wanted on the bars? If so, how much? Thanks __________________ [URL="http://www.pulsetelecom.biz"]pulsetelecom.biz[/URL]

10-01-2002, 08:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
kwrangln Doublewide engineer Join Date: Sep 2001 Member # 6971 Location: Gulf coast Posts: 5,904	Hook up trailer, load trailer, then attach bars. They take a pretty good load this way, think if you tried to preload them you would overstress the brackets which are usually stamped 1/4" steel that can and will bend. __________________ I'm the "tack tack tack" welding nazi. http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showp...&postcount=218 "I didn't mean to kill nobody ... I just meant to shoot the sonofabitch in the head. Him dying was between him and the Lord." R. L. Burnside

10-02-2002, 01:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tusker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Member # 2752 Location: Fairfield, CA Posts: 2,043	Also, if you overload the bars, you can get the joint (at the hitch) so stiff that the rear of the tow vehicle loses most of its "suspension" and starts to feel squirrely. This sepends a lot on the relative weights of tow vehicle, trailer, length of hitch, and so on. But a freind of mine was towing a 9,000 bumper-pull trailer with his lifted Suburban and it scared him to death (since the trailer was heavy he thought he would REALLY crank down on the spring bars) until he eased up on the bars. __________________ 86 Samurai w/gun rack, 92" WB, VW 1.9 TD, Toyota 5-speed and dual cases with 4.7 gearset, Toyota axles with Longfields, 5.29's, ARB's f&r, YJ's, 35's, FJ-60 power steering, high steer, ............. <>< <>< <>< Hey, if this rig is for wheelin', what are all these animal parts doin' in here?

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