First off, let me say what an excellent video this is, I have been doing this all wrong, and I want to thank you for taking the time out and showing us how to properly and safely… THE RIGHT WAY!! God bless you and your family, in the name of Jesus!!
I just bought my 1st camper in April and mine has the exact set up. I just learned so much from this video. Thank you for explaining so clearly. Best camper video I've watched. Ps. Camper World SUCKS. I'll never go to them for a single thing again. They ripped me off knowing I'm a new camper owner, they took advantage of that.
Thank you so very much I towed my rv trailer without these two pieces of metal cause I didn’t know how to use them, Thank Goodness nothing bad happened and the ride was less than a mile, Today because of you I learned how to connect them properly together! 💕💕💕
Mate, I'm a first time caravan owner and this video is exactly what I've been looking for - your tip for stopping the chain from getting tangled is gold! Also, I was nervous about raising the caravan on the hitch but your video reassured me. THANKS!
Having been a few years for me since pulling a trailer this was a great refresher. Very no nonsense and to the point but not too much so. Perfect balance of both and well-presented. Thanks.
those using air systems to level the vehicle, it may raise the rear bumper but it does not transfer the weight to the front suspension for proper steering and handling. that is the importance of the weight distribution bars, transfer the weight not just lift the rear bumper. YES! being level and weight transfer is most important for safe towing. Good video!
DUDE- thanks for putting this out there. Not only is this a very well done video that shows all proper steps. IT also does so with exactly the same WDS system I have. So you are answering a number of questions I have on it. Thanks again!
Thank you! I am glad I watched until the end. I have been using the same WDH for probably 10 years and never realized you could swing those bars forward to release them. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve hurt my fingers trying to pry that tension plate to release the bar.
Really appreciate the time you took showing proper hook up to and from the vehicle... Mine was set up from dealer, but was not shown how to properly do the hook up.. thanks again ..good job
This is a great video and good explanation of the EAZ-LIFT 1000. I used to own this exact hitch years ago and as you stated, the dealers don't know how and so, don't show customers how to properly set these up. If I may add a few tips: As you said, always maintain at least 5 or 6 links of chain to allow for pivoting while turning. Once the amount of needed weight distribution is determined, you can increase/decrease the number of required links by adjusting the ball mount angle (in addition to the bolt you pointed out, there are spacer washers behind the ball mount that are removed/added to accomplish the ball mount angle adjustment). Each chain link is 1 1/8" long. Each spacer washer removed/added will affect the chain length by one link. Also, each of the vertical holes in the shank that the ball mount bolts to are also spaced 1 1/8" apart and an adjustment here will affect the chain length by one link. Its actually a very simple, but clever design once a person wraps their head around how they work. I remember an advertisement they ran years ago, where they hitched a front-wheel drive mini van to a travel trailer and adjusted the weight distribution bars so aggressively, they were able to remove the rear wheels of the mini van and drive away! 😂
Being a 30 plus year Crane Operator, I was taught to never twist you safety Chains because they are to long,It really copromises the safety factor of the chain by twisting it, cut them to the right length, without twisting them. just another safety tip on the setup of trailer hitches.
Twisting chains to shorten them is literally the way DOT expects it to be done. Doesn't weaken the chain at all unless you are twisting to the point of binding
@budnuthall7903 DOT prefers you to criss-cross your chains. In your over 30 years of being a crane operator I’m wondering how many folks you taught wrong on safety chains.
Been using that exact same set-up since 2009. Works very well! I was lucky. The RV dealer I bought our TT from did an excellent job of teaching me how to set this up.
I pull a 28 trailer had 6 links on a 240 mile trip. No problem it does make noise going through the campsite. So on the way home put it on 7 links-bad idea. I was swaying more the I liked in the wind. I checking my mirrors and had to keep it from 55-60 mph to avoid this. Glad I saw this video and will keep it at 6 links, Thanks!
What truck you drive tho? I think without this system my 30 foot trailer is quickly ruining my bump stops Probably gonna shell out the $1,000 for airbag installation
Thanks so much, I lost the sway bar plate and bolts within the campground. Our installer didn't explain the tension factors! I'm taking off with mine this weekend, so much great help before I get on the road. Nice truck by the way, I have the same!
Thank you so much for this excellent video. This was my first purchase of a weight distribution and sway control hitch and while Camping World did a very quick how to after installation, I was not given any "how to" reference manual or material. Appreciate you taking the time to do this.
Todays date is 08/21/2024. I am a newbie to travel trailers. Have owned 38' Class A motor home and smaller. Super easy to drive. Sold it 3 years ago. Now my wife & I are decided to go small for quick weekend get aways. Travel trailer. Definately a diffrently learning experience. Your viedo was great, got to the info needed and precautions. Wish some of these how to viedo suggentions did'nt talk so much, even though they have good advice.
Ty for the video the camper world salesman who delivered mine Tuesday never said anything bout any othe the extra equipment. He just said you good to go and drove off. This is my first time owning on and now I have to check prices for that equipment
I have a WDH setup like this, the one thing that I always do, and strongly recommend, is to NOT stand or let anyone stand in the arc of the bars. You mentioned that during your removal portion of the video. But this is true during installation and removal. If something happens and the force is released before the safety pins are installed, or the chains are released from the hangers, they are dangerous and can break a leg if you're in the arc.
Helpful video, with a clear presentation. Btw, you might want to add a comment about greasing the bars once they're in place. Apparently that's pretty important. Edit: The zerk fittings make it simple.
Tks, I did not know that you could remove the bars by swinging fwd. I always use a screw driver to pull the spring strip to release the bars…Now I know how to do it (after 4 years of RVing). 😊
Great video! I’m looking for a trailer right now. I haven’t worked with a load distribution system since the early 80’s on my parents trailer. Good to see the system hasn’t really changed too much (except we did a lot of hand cranking back then).
The side of your sway control bar explains how to set it up. Essentially, the handle gets cranked down until it bottoms out and then you adjust the tension tightening or loosening the bolt on the bottom side.
You did a great job on how these work. Then only thing is the way you hook your safety chain cross yes. The hooks work best if you bring them up from the bottom instead of on top they could bounce out if on top. I do what you did but my van still bounces in the front looking for help with that. Thanks
Good video - but 1 thing I noticed was on the sway control the top lever is just to release the tension. The bottom bolt is where you adjust the tension.
Very helpful. Thank you! I just bought a used trailer (Lance 1685) from original owner. New to travel trailers. Having a hard time getting away bars to hook on install. Hoping you have a video on air suspension as my truck has but I’ve never used.
Thanks for asking this, I honestly do not use the load distribution bars with my air suspension anymore. This my half ton the air suspension has the load leveling function that does the work for you so no need for the load distribution system. I found that the air suspension would work against the load distribution hitch and I was afraid it would mess up the air system. I still use my sway bar as this is critical for a bumper pull, but I have driven over 5k miles with no load distribution bars and it has had no issues. Just make sure you air system is rated for the load you will be pulling. Hope this helps!
Good Video. Please pin the ball retainer first once you get the weight of the trailer on the ball. Once the spring bars in place, if the retainer pops out, the tongue may well jump off the ball. I also never cross over the hitch when linking things up. Lots of heavy things that can go flying,
Good to know I am doing it right. How do you stop a trailer from hobby horsing after going over a bump? It eventually stops, but very annoying while it is happening.
Great video👍 I did not see where you hooked up the breakaway cable. I would recommend having a tube of lubricant handy to keep the ball joints lubed. :-) Also, it would be a good idea to have extra pins, I have been known to lose one now and then :-)
I was hoping for a walkthrough on the mounting the quick attach pieces on the trailer as well as the sway control ball on the trailer. The directions mentioned welding and it got me worried. Looks like yours are just bolted on so that makes me a feel a little better
Great video thanks. I have a new camper/truck combo, and when I took it for a practice run there was quite a bit of creaking and groaning, so I stopped and went down a couple links. The noise stopped but the tension was pretty loose. Thoughts on this?
Regarding the tension, CURT says to tighten until the lever is horizontal with the ground. It comes factory set and can be adjusted with the secondary nut.
Yes that is what the manuals say but my logic is why would I bring a wrench along everytime when there is a handle to control the tension of the bottom screw is set properly. That is why I use the bar.
If you are having an issue with trailer sway, you can also try shifting weight within the trailer to the tongue. If there is too much tongue weight, the trailer may bounce, but too much axle weight will cause the trailer to sway. Bouncing is much less dangerous than sway, and if your trailer is heavy enough, it shouldn't bounce at all.
Is it bad on your trailer jack to use it to lift up your truck like that? I just got a trailer and did t want to pay the crazy dealer price for an equalizer hitch.. I’m currently ordering one and need all the tips and tricks for installing it and using it.. thank you!
So...My setup with a small, (19ft) trailer with tandem axles looks very good-even measuring...can I put my sway bar on, even if I dont use the weight distribution bars?????
this is good information, but what do you say about putting the weight distribution hitch on, it may force more stress on the "A" frame of the trailer and could cause problems down the road. just asking your thoughts. pro or con. there are a video on RU-vid in reference to this.
Been doing this for almost 50 years.. just a little criticism The saddle on the tongue on the passenger side needs to be adjusted back so your 6 links are hanging straight so when you go around corners it will allow the chains to move properly… That bar you call sway control is actually to help an improperly loaded trailer from fishtailing.. a properly loaded trailer will never need that bar! Sway bars are found on axles
