Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: weight distribution/equilizer hitch

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weight distribution/equilizer hitch

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11022
Printed Date: 29 Jun 2025 at 6:48am
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Topic: weight distribution/equilizer hitch

Posted By: garyd
Subject: weight distribution/equilizer hitch
Date Posted: 25 Dec 2017 at 11:11am

I installed this hitch a few months ago and it worked great. I now have a grinding sound when I make a turn? I ask fellow campers and they said it was normal? unhitched the trailer and saw grooves in the metal on side bars. Did I do something wrong?

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gary

Replies:

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 25 Dec 2017 at 12:18pm

What kind of WDH is it? Chains or trunnion bars? The E2 hitch is a trunnion style, and it will make noise at low speeds. I usually put a dab of lube on it before each pull.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 25 Dec 2017 at 1:14pm

I've been told never ever put lube on the friction bars on the camper side, or there is not any friction to control sway. But on the hitch side, I grease the ball, and both trunnions top and bottoms posts. I dont get any noise out of my E2 WDH.

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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding

Posted By: Richand Cindy
Date Posted: 26 Dec 2017 at 5:24pm

We have the Equalizer E2 and it started grinding. Read the instructions and you are supposed to grease it after every trip. As mjirpod says not on the bars just where the bars attach to the hitch, No more grinding and no more scratching. I could have ruined it. Just got some white grease at home depot

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OLD 2017.5 RPOD 180 + 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
NEW: 2018 Passport Elite 23RB + 2017 Ram 1500 Diesel

Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2017 at 3:39am

I agree with the other campers you talked to that it is normal. If it is a Equalizer hitch there are hard plastic pads you can buy that help to quite the friction points where the metal bars slide against the L brackets. Check amazon.com they are about $20.00 for a pair.

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2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019)
2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014)
Middle Tn
2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab

Posted By: riotkayak284
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2017 at 8:43am

Never grease the friction pads....

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2017 at 10:32am

Yes, the Equal-i-zer has the Sway Bracket Jackets available. However, they are not for the E2 hitch. I agree with not greasing the L brackets on the E2.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: SC for Huskers
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2017 at 11:11am

Last summer I too noticed a noise coming from my hitch. I was in a parking lot and asked a passerby if he would listen and tell me where the noise was coming from. I have the same equalizer and plastic rub platforms. He said it was coming from where bars rotate. I oiled the pivots and the noise disappeared. When I got home I greased the pivots and haven't heard the noise since. It is hard to grease, but well worth the attempt.

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Happy Traveling,
Tom
2017 172pod
2011 F150 STX

Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2017 at 1:23pm

If you have an E2 Fastway WDH, best to read the instructions. https://www.fastwaytrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/e2_trunnion_instructions_0212.pdf

At part 5, Installation of the Spring Arms, at f. and g. they explain the lubrication needed:

Frequently apply a small amount of bearing grease to the trunnion knuckles and retainer pins in the hitch head to reduce wear and make insertion easier. is will also help reduce hitch noise.
It is not necessary to apply lubricant to the joint where the spring arms rest on the L-bracket. is may decrease the amount of friction at this joint which could prevent the hitch from dampening trailer sway as well as possible.

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

Posted By: NAP1947
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2017 at 6:42am

We don’t pickup our 179 until April but I have invested in an Anderson WDH as it includes sway control, means less weight for an old F—t to handle and very easy hook up and disconnect.

I am also considering the electronic anti-sway control that Stephen recommended for his very good point that if sway gets going I would probably not have time/presence of mind to use the manual brake activation on the Techonsha brake control.

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Susan and Norm
2016 Venza, V6 factory tow
2018 RP179

Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 31 Dec 2017 at 10:00am

Originally posted by NAP1947

We don’t pickup our 179 until April but I have invested in an Anderson WDH as it includes sway control, means less weight for an old F—t to handle and very easy hook up and disconnect.

The Andersen will work great for the R-Pod, and light travel trailers in general. I used one for a little over a year of R-Pod camping, and it definitely dampens the vertical bounciness "porpoising" from tongue weight.

I also never had sway issues, whether not using any sway control devices, or a friction style sway control, or the Andersen WD system.

I only bought the Andersen because of the ease of setup (clamp on frame brackets), lighter weight, and ease of connecting (electric tongue jack). It isn't cheap when new.

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2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD)
2013 VW Touareg TDI