As some of you folks know from other posts, our family just completed a San Jose, Ca to Toledo/Waterville, Ohio moving trip just a couple weeks ago.
My wife pulled our 27 foot Komfort Trailblazer TT with our 05 2500 Dodge Quadcab cummins. We took I40 to avoid the heavy snowing weather and stayed South and traveled across Arizona on through to Nashville where we veered Northeastward towards Ohio.
On our last day before getting into Toledo/Waterville Ohio, while leaving a motel in Sparta Ky, our equalizer/tow setup started making "groaning" sounds when we would make turns left or right out of driveways. Driving straight, and using the trailer brakes, no sounds; just when doing slow sharper turns.
It did rain on us in Sparta the night before leaving. That's the only rain we had across the Southwest. So the hitch system was dampened when my wife pulled out of the motel, and I heard the "groaning" sound coming from the equalizer system.
Upon unhitching and storing in Whitehouse, Ohio, the Dodge truck exhibited no groaning sounds when turning left or right, so the sound was coming from the equalizer system.
What do you think was ocurring/happening. Do I need to lube the hitch ball and the two equalizer bars where they go into the hitch, or could it be my anti-sway friction/slider bar?
Regards, Eightballsidepocket
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT 4x2 Quad Cab, Cummins, 48RE Tranny, Lg Bed, Line-X Spray-on Bed Liner.
06 T25BS Komfort Trailblazer TT
"If you can't say it in person, it isn't worth saying while hiding behind an anonymous P.C.!"
It would help if you let us know the model of hitch you have. The Equalizer hitch is a brand made by Progressive Mfg. and as I was reading your thread thought you had this hitch. However in your last line it appears that you might have a different manufacturer's weight distribution hitch when you discuss your sway friction slider bar.
'05 Dodge Cummins 4x4 dually 3500 white quadcab auto long bed.
'09 299bhs Tango.
It is common for the standard friction sway control to moan or make noises when it is wet. This often occures in the morning when there has been a heavy dew overnight. Usually however, the noise will go away after a few turns although not always. I suspect there is nothing wrong with your hitch. You should be using grease where the WD bars insert into the hitch head and also on the ball. DO NOT put any grease on the slider part of the sway control.
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook Titan 30FKS TT
Hensley "Arrow" 1400# hitch
2002 Ford F250 Super Duty, 7.3L PSD Visit our website here
i agree with jmtandem, your post says it's an Equalizer but then you mention a friction bar.
so, i'm also confused.
there's only one Equal-i-zer which has weight bars but no separate friction anti-sway bar.
many use the term "equalizer" when they aren't the Equal-i-zer but are just a regular weight distributing hitch.
Dan- Firefighter, Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur, Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever, 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
Quote: I'll check the brand of our hitch and get back to you folks.
Friction bar made me suspicious. Should of disconnected it and tried turning the truck trailer and watched/heard what happened.
One reason why I asked about the hitch manufacturer is due to the fact that the Equalizer brand hitch is known for creaking, popping and groaning while turning. That is (unfortunately) normal with that hitch.
If you disconnect the sway bar on your hitch and drive around the block a few times and the noise is gone, you have just isolated the culprit.
Quote: I'll check the brand of our hitch and get back to you folks.
Friction bar made me suspicious. Should of disconnected it and tried turning the truck trailer and watched/heard what happened.
One reason why I asked about the hitch manufacturer is due to the fact that the Equalizer brand hitch is known for creaking, popping and groaning while turning. That is (unfortunately) normal with that hitch.
If you disconnect the sway bar on your hitch and drive around the block a few times and the noise is gone, you have just isolated the culprit.
There is a lot of metal-on-metal contact and pressure with a weight distributing hitch. Of course it is going to moan and groan and creak, especially when there's SUPPOSED to be friction.
2002 Chevy 3500 DRW 8.1L/Allison
2000 Palomino B1500
...and the reason why I need a DRW to haul a Palomino:
2004 United 7x14 tandem axle enclosed toy trailer
2011 PJ 8x20 7-ton deckover equipment trailer
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, Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur
, Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever
, 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
