Community Forums

cathybil · 02-16-2015, 06:27 PM

I have friends who say the Reese Dual cam is the BEST! In addition to great stability and WD, they say the ease of use is superior. They say backing up is easy too.

The dealer sells both, but insists the Equalizer E4 is easier on my back and great WD and reduction of sway. He claims backing up can be performed.

I’m pulling a new Passport 26’ TT with a Silverado 1500.

Thoughts?

Thanks for your time.

MagnaPilot · 02-16-2015, 08:15 PM

I can't speak for the Reese, but can say that Equalizer (we have the original) is a very good WD/Sway hitch setup. We pull our '14 Passport 3320 (37' total length) with a Silverado 1500 without any issues. We've got about 3K miles so far on the setup. Adjustments for the hitch weights are quick considering its a bracket design, though you'll rarely have to make any changes (only if your tongue weight changes a lot). The hitch is quiet for the most part, but makes a little noise at low speeds when articulating, which is normal. We originally purchased it because you didn't need to disconnect anything to backup, and the sway bar design allowed better ground clearance, which we needed since we park it on a hill.

That all said, nearly anything is better than the standard bar/chain WD setup that requires a separate sway bar that must be removed to backup. They work, but forget one time, and it isn't pretty.

scbwr · 02-17-2015, 05:13 AM

When we downsized to the Minnie, we bought an Equalizer hitch and we're very happy with it. It does what it suppose to do and you just have to live with a few squeaks and groans. The nylon tabs that slip over the L brackets do help. We had a Hensley with our Sunline trailer, and the Hensley is a heck of a hitch, but the Equalizer is much easier to use. Now, if I were pulling a really large and heavy TT, I'd probably still have a Hensley.

brulaz · 02-17-2015, 09:04 AM

Just installed an Equal-I-Zer 1400# hitch, and can't say it's that easy on my back!

Heard they're both good. Certainly the Equal-I-Zer is working well. Heard the Reese might be a bit more difficult to "dial-in" and get working the way you want.

I chose the Equal-I-Zer over the Reese because of the clearance issues mentioned earlier and because I didn't want to drill any more holes in the frame. It was bought & installed while in Florida so wanted an "easy" install.

The install was pretty straight-forward. But am still adjusting the weight-distribution to my liking.

PushedAround · 02-17-2015, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brulaz

Just installed an Equal-I-Zer 1400# hitch, and can't say it's that easy on my back!

Heard they're both good. Certainly the Equal-I-Zer is working well. Heard the Reese might be a bit more difficult to "dial-in" and get working the way you want.

I chose the Equal-I-Zer over the Reese because of the clearance issues mentioned earlier and because I didn't want to drill any more holes in the frame. It was bought & installed while in Florida so wanted an "easy" install.

The install was pretty straight-forward. But am still adjusting the weight-distribution to my liking.

I had a Reese Dual Cam and towed over 30K miles with it. No problem backing up and I set it up correctly on installation and never had to touch it again. Unless you are getting the Hensley, which is the best hitch made, I prefer the lifting function of the Dual Cam to control sway over any friction system, regardless of how many points it has.

Cumminsfan · 02-17-2015, 09:37 AM

Reese is harder to setup. EQ is easier, but noisier. Also the EQ requires constant greasing of the socket ends. I'd give the Blue Ox Sway Pro a look. The dealer is going to sell you what they have and what's easier to hookup.

PushedAround · 02-17-2015, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

Reese is harder to setup.

I really don't have any vested interest here, but why do you say that it is harder? Measure everything out as per instructions, assemble and set the cams loosely. Make sure that you pull out the trailer or use a laser to make sure that everything is straight and then adjust the cams so that they set right in the crooks of the WD bars. Other than that, the setup in no different than just using WD bars.

SmokeyWren · 02-17-2015, 12:15 PM

I have thousands of miles on my Reese Strait-Line dual cam trunnion bar WD hitch. Works great on both my 5,000-pound TT and my 7,000-pound cargo trailer. I don't have any experience with an Equal-I-Zer, but theoretically I prefer the dual cam sway control design to the friction-based Equal-I-Zer sway control design.

RVGuy1966 · 02-21-2015, 12:54 AM

I have the Hensley Arrow and I have to say in my humble opinion its the best hitch. nanny nanny poopoo....
lol

PushedAround · 02-21-2015, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVGuy1966

I have the Hensley Arrow and I have to say in my humble opinion its the best hitch. nanny nanny poopoo....
lol

I don't think that people who know hitches would disagree with you; they are the best at sway control. It's just that they are not necessary if your tow vehicle is larger vs your trailer. When I pull my open trailer with my 2500HD I only use a ball hitch. Sway control isn't necessary if it ain't swaying.

SmokeyWren · 02-21-2015, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PushedAround

Sway control isn't necessary if it ain't swaying.

The problem with sway is that it can bite you in the butt after you've towed thousands of miles with no indications of sway. With the right conditions of gusting cross winds or big truck going by and sucking your trailer sideways, combined with an unexpected bump on a curve, and the next thing you know is you're upside down in the ditch.

I have an excellent Reese Strait-Line Dual-cam trunnion bar WD hitch that I still use on my 7x14 enclosed cargo trailer. but for my TT I wanted that tiny bit more protection from sway, so I invested in a ProPride. You can buy a new Strait-Line for about $600 from ETrailer.com or Amazon.com, but a new ProPride costs over $2,000. Is the ProPride (or older design Hensley Arrow) worth it? I think so, for "just in case".

PushedAround · 02-21-2015, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeyWren

The problem with sway is that it can bite you in the butt after you've towed thousands of miles with no indications of sway. With the right conditions of gusting cross winds or big truck going by and sucking your trailer sideways, combined with an unexpected bump on a curve, and the next thing you know is you're upside down in the ditch.

Agreed, and I wouldn't tow an enclosed trailer without proper sway control. Aero doesn't affect an open trailer very much though, even with a car or equipment on it.

drewtk · 02-21-2015, 08:13 PM

I have both: an Equalizer on my enclosed car trailer and Reese Dual Cam on our TT. I installed both myself. Short answer is that the Equalizer was easier to install and adjust. The Dual Cam required drilling into the trailer tongue and more work with the initial setup.

Once installed, they're about the same in terms of hitching up and they both seem to work well. I haven't noticed any sway from either so it's hard to say which one actually works better in terms of sway control.