Need to go pick up a weight distributing hitch to haul my new RV with my 2022 F250 6.7. The RV dealer sells Husky band WDH for $550 but I've heard good things about the Equal-i-zer WDH. Are they going to be similar in performance?

Also - should I buy a model spec'd closest to what I'm going to be hauling for today's application (my RV), or buy closer to max capacity of the truck so I could tow heavier with the same hitch in the future? They sell 1k/10k (tongue, trailer weight) 1,200/12k, 1,400/14000, 1,600/16k.

 

I would go higher than spec'd as most RV manufacturers lie about weights. You want to order your hitch based on the actual tongue weight (with batteries installed, water filled, toys packed etc). My Outdoors RV trailer lists a tongue weight of 1k, however its actually closer to 1700pds.

 

What John said.

The WDH is not the place to cheap out. IMO it is safety equipment and worth the extra spend. I had the Equalizer and it was a good hitch and did the job for me. That said, I will never use one again. As you get older it gets harder and harder to install and remove for each tow.

Proper set up is also key. DO NOT rely on the RV dealer to set up your WDH. Bring the needed tools to a CAT scale and do it right.

What are you towing for a TT.

Bob

 

Basically 3 types of WDH. Cheap ones with the friction control bar, Mid range like you are talking about and the best (most expensive) either a Propride 3P (way better customer service) or Hensley. As mentioned go heavier since your tongue weight will be well above the fantasyland brochure weight. I had a Blue Ox and hated it ever time trying to tighten the chains. I bit the bullet and ordered a Propride and the trailer tows like a dream. Easier to hook and unhook once you under stand it.

 

I have an Equalizer and it works well. No issue with it. I have the 10K version for my 7k# TT. If I had to do it again, I would go one size larger as my tongue weight is always around 900#.

 

As others have said, you can never go wrong with buying more capability, in this case higher weight rating. I've had several of instances where over time things change and all of sudden I needed the stronger rig and in the end bought it anyway.

 

The problem with Propride is they don't make a hitch rated higher than 1400 lb's of tongue weight. I have an ORV on order as well, and it can hit 2200 lb's of tongue weight, even though it's listed at around 1700 lb's. Because of this, and the fact I want a 3" shank, I'm going for a GenY 32k/3500 lb tongue weight drop hitch with adapter to attach a 1600/16000 Equalizer. It's overkill but this type of set up will more than handle any upgrades you do in the future. You can buy an Equalizer without the shank since Equalizer only makes up to a 2 1/2" shank. Bulletproof also make 3" shanks with overkill ratings and you can buy an adapter as well which will accommodate most WDH's.

 

More capability aka Overkill? Like buying an F350 diesel while only currently owning a 7k# travel trailer? LOL. Guilty as charged.

 

Does your truck have the heavy tow package, or 3" receiver?

 

I'm in this camp. Bought a Husky from the dealer when I purchased my trailer. Tried many times to adjust & couldn't get it right. I now have a Hensley and it is the last wdh I will ever purchase. Much easier to hook & unhook plus it pulls great. I have heard a lot of good things about the equalizer though if you are thinking of going that route.

 

How long is the trailer and what is the gvrw? Is it a 28 to 30 foot 5k to 7k trailer or a 33 to 38 foot 8k to 9k trailer? Weight distribution and sway are two different things. All weight distribution hitches will handle the weight distribution component, but some handle sway better than others. The longer the trailer the more likely you will experience some sort of sway.

As other have said don’t go cheap. Whatever you decide to get, go with a setup that matches the trailer. If you replace the trailer in the future with many hitches you can just get a new set of bars to match the new trailer specs.

 

Bought my trailer off my neighbor, and he included an equalizer 10,000/1000lb hitch. My Trailer specs say it's 5600lbs dry with a 740lb tongue weight. The equalizer was near impossible to get the bars on, and didn't transfer enough weight. Moved to a Blue Ox sway pro rated at 15,000lbs/1500lb Tongue weight. Much much better, and easier to hook up. I later weighed my trailer, and it is 7100lb, with 1250lb tongue weight. TW is almost twice the "dry weight" once loaded.

Perhaps if I had the proper sized equalizer, it would have been fine, but hated the noise is made. Even properly lubed, and with the noise reducing pads, it turned heads as it creaked and moaned while driving through the camp ground. The Blue Ox is silent. Swapped the 2" shank for a 2.5" to eliminate free need for a reducer.

 

When I bought my camper in 2018, the dealer threw in a WDH for free. It was the EAZ Lift 1000 with the friction sway control. The camper was a 6000 GVW camper that I pulled with my Pathfinder Platinum... I was always over payload, and often times even a few hundred lbs over GCWR, but I never actually exceeded the axle ratings... but boy was I close!

Anyway, the WDH was great! I rarely ever felt sway, even when big trucks would pass me on the highway, easily doing 15-20 mph faster than me, or when coming the opposite direction on 2 lane roads. I don't know if it was because the Pathfinder sat so low to the ground, or what, but I was happy with the way the camper felt connected to the vehicle... however, the Pathfinder struggled when pulling the camper... After renting a couple of diesel 3/4 ton trucks, I knew what pulling a camper should feel like... like it wasn't there! But, again, this was no reflection on how I felt about the hitch, as much as the fact that I was too far over weight and the Pathfinder just struggled...

So, now that I have my 22 SD, I decided to upgrade my WDH... I had "learned" with this hitch, plus, it was on a 2" shank and my new truck came with a 3" receiver... So, new truck, new WDH! I opted for the Anderson WDH. I could get it with a 3" shank, so no reducer sleeves were necessary, and I'm not as concerned with actual weight distribution as much as I was before (although, I still want some). But, I have read a lot about how good the Anderson did with sway... so I wanted to try it out. Plus, at $650 (MSRP) it was still cheaper than some fo the others... and, it's quite a bit lighter! I also hear that all the popping, and breaking and moaning and groaning isn't a thing with the Anderson... and there is no grease to apply and then get all over me if I rub against the ball!

I have the hitch here now, but haven't gotten to set it up yet... I am hoping to get it done next week now. It looks pretty simple though, and I like how the hitch looks like, and functions like a standard hitch when not connected to the rest of the WDH... it's not this huge beast hanging off the back of the truck! It's just a hitch with a ball, and it can be used like a normal hitch too... assuming I need the same size ball...

Anyway, if you aren't pushing the limit on your weight rating on the new truck, or the new camper isn't super heavy, maybe give the Anderson's a look...

 

I've used an Equalizer for 14 years. I'm not sure about the poster saying it's hard to hookup/unhook, it literally takes 60 seconds once it's initially set up. Great hitch and great support. And go with the 14k model.

 

I'm not sure how this all works, but do you really need to transfer more than 1400 lbs of weight on a 2k tongue weight trailer with the truck you have now?