mrad
Zimmerman, MN
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Joined: 08/23/2007
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Yesterday I picked up our first TT. The owner helped me install a new Equalizer Hitch on it. As we were taking the TT trailer for a test ride, I would often hear a clunking sound on turns. The seller told me that was normal because of all the tension. Just wanted to check with others who have used this hitch to see if the clunkng sound is normal?
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HedoTravelers
Rochester, New York & Jamaica, W.I.
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Joined: 07/12/2007
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Thats why I bought the Reese Pro Series. It works in a similar way, but the friction arms are not steel on steel. They have a brake like material pad that provides more friction than the steel on steel Equalizer, and it is almost silent. You will get clunks occasionally on both, but most Equalizers squeel & screach too from the tension. Some will say to grease it, but that defeats the purpose of the friction bars. You'll get used to it. 
Respect,
Brent
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Cadillac Escalade EXT, Prodigy BC, Reese Pro Series SC
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Starcraft Travelstar 21RBS, Alcan Traveler Tent Camper
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rwynkoop
St. Louis MO
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It's normal. I know its working, if its making noise. Only does this(when the bars slide) when making slow turns. You will also hear the trailer axles make noise(pop noise) as they do their job.
2003 Chevy 1500 HD Crew 4x4, 6.0L gas.
2007 Jayco 29BHS TT.
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newsomer
Northeastern Illinois
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Joined: 03/24/2007
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Progress Manufacturing also sells the Sway Bracket Jacket (see picture). It's a pair of durable plastic like pads that go on to the "L" brackets and does a fair job of reducing the racket.
I have them and they don't get rid of all the noise but I'm glad I got them. You can order them {here}
2007 Chevy Silverado extended cab, 5.3L, Z85 - 2008 Starcraft Travel Star 27RBH - Equal-i-zer
To Infinity, and Beyond!
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KC8WX
OH IO
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Joined: 12/23/2007
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I have found that most of my Clunking was coming from the slop in the Hitch Receiver and the Equal-i-zer Shank. I put a Roadmaster Quiet Hitch on it and the Clunking stopped. However, I recently bent and broke off the bolt on the Quiet hitch plate so now am back to clunking. Found out I caused it by not First loosing the Locking Bolt before Un-Hitching. Bent the bracket at the bottom and eventually the bolt.
The Popping and Creaking is normal with an Equal-i-zer. I'm even using the Bracket Jackets (actually doing Field Testing of new materials for Progress Mfg.). Still makes the usual noises however they are reduced if I don't miss any lube points on the Head.
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2006 Durango SLT 4.7L, 545RFE, 4.10 Motive Gears with TracLoc 2WD AIRAID Cold Air Intake, PML Deep Tranny Pan, KYB Shocks
2007 Wildwood LE 27RB
Equalizer Hitch
Prodigy Brake Controller
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amxpress
Clayton, NC
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From page 3 of the Equal-i-zer owner's manual:
Quote:Lubrication between the L-Bracket (item #15) and the spring arm is optional. Lubrication of this area will not diminish the sway control capabilities of the hitch and may quiet the hitch when turning.
I used the pads and lubricated the areas as recommended in the manual using their grease. It helped a whole lot and didn't change the sway control.
2007 Dodge RAM 2500 Quad Cab w/6.7 Cummins
2008 Palamino Sabre 31RKTS
Reese 15K Pro Series manual slide
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mrad
Zimmerman, MN
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Thanks for the replies. I can definitely live with the noise, just wanted to know if it was normal or if I had installed it incorrectly.
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havedreamwilltravel
Southern California
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Give it some time. With some travel miles - the metal will "seat" and it will quiet down.
Also, make sure you do lube where the socket heads are (where the sway bars install into) and the other points shown in your manual. Keeping your hitch lubed is VERY important.
and I've not noticed ANY reduce in sway with just a bit of lube on the L-bracket at all.
2007 GMC Yukon Denali - 6.2L 380hp/417ft-lbs,0-60 in 6.2 seconds
2007 Jayco Jayflight 27BH
Equalizer Hitch, Prodigy Brake Control
Our Truck and Trailer
Easy Trailer Mods-NEW pics added 4/10/08
Visited a lot of states, haven't camped in many...yet. 
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mitch5252
NW Tennessee
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Hi!
I'm very new to towing (2008 Fun Finder X-160), with an Equalizer hitch, so thank you so much for this thread. I never knew any of this before! (all I knew was that the noise was unnerving at times, especially for a new tower!!!)
So, how often do you lubricate those spots mentioned, including the ball?
And I should wipe surfaces clean with a paper towel before applying new grease?
I just went out and lubed what you all said on my hitch, using "Stay-Lube Multi-Purpose Super White Grease". Is that grease okay?
Thanks again for helping me keep myself and others safe (and alive!)
Regards,
Michelle
2008 Fun Finder X-160
2006 Toyota Sienna Limited
Equal-i-zer Hitch
Prodigy Brake Controller
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havedreamwilltravel
Southern California
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mitch5252 wrote:Hi!
I'm very new to towing (2008 Fun Finder X-160), with an Equalizer hitch, so thank you so much for this thread. I never knew any of this before! (all I knew was that the noise was unnerving at times, especially for a new tower!!!)
So, how often do you lubricate those spots mentioned, including the ball?
And I should wipe surfaces clean with a paper towel before applying new grease?
I just went out and lubed what you all said on my hitch, using "Stay-Lube Multi-Purpose Super White Grease". Is that grease okay?
Thanks again for helping me keep myself and others safe (and alive!)
Regards,
Michelle
Re: lubrication of the hitch. We do the ball each time as we wipe it off before we remove it from the car so we don't get grease all over our clothes so it gets the grease each time we hook up. My L-Brackets and sway bars don't need it every time. I have a special rag that I use to swipe across the sway bars when I remove them (again, so grease doesn't get everywhere). There's usually enough grease on the L-Brackets to last a couple of tows before I need to apply more. The socket arms not as often - about every 3 trips or so and yes, when I'm applying new I always wipe off the old. I have a set of "grease" rags to do this but paper towels probably work fine too.
You will get a "feel" for when it needs to be done.
Your grease is fine. I use the grease by Equalizer and I like it but most any grease will work fine.
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