Weight Disributing Hitch Boosts Towing Capacity

Weight Disributing Hitch Boosts Towing Capacity TRACTORS Hitches 28-2-16 Kent Sundling of Denver, Colorado is a huge advocate of weight distributing hitches for bumper-type trailers. Sundling is an automotive journalist who tests a wide range of truck products and posts his descriptions, explanations and recommendations at his popular website, www.mrtruck.com. He sells some of the products he thinks are best. According to Sundling: "Being able to adjust where the weight is distributed on your truck and trailer can give you the capacity of a gooseneck or 5th wheel with a bumper-type trailer. Weight distributing hitches also reduce trailer sway and improve safety. "Because they create a more level, stable rig, weight distributing hitches also provide better steering control and braking. They can do more to safely level your sagging vehicle rear end than all the springs, shocks and air bags combined. They also place the trailer a few inches back to give you more room for tight turns. "I know that for most folks who know the benefits of using a weight distributing hitch, but who still don't use one, it's because of the hassle of hooking them up. It does take a few extra minutes," Sundling explains. "I'm against hassles myself, and that's why I can recommend Equal-i-zer hitches. They have the anti-sway device built right into them at two points û at the hitch head, and at the back, on the trailer bracket. This makes Equal-i-zers easier and quicker to hook up than other hitches. Other types require that you separately attach and adjust an anti-sway friction device, and it needs re-adjusting every time it snows or rains." Sundling says the Equal-i-zer weight-distributing hitch doesn't require you to drill holes on your trailer hitch. Everything bolts on so it's easier to position, he says. It also works very well on boats because the spring bars can slide backwards with the surge brake. "Weight distributing hitches are widely used on travel trailers but vastly under-used by horse trailer people," says Sundling. "It's more critical on horse trailers because of the tall center of gravity and the movement of the animals." Sundling's website includes a detailed article and numerous photos that explain and show how various weight distributing hitches work. He sells three models of Equal-i-zer Weight Distributing Hitches, and each one offers three choices in shank length. The model 1216B is for a maximum trailer weight of 6,000 lbs. and is priced at $470. Model 1722B is for a maximum 10,000-lb. trailer weight and costs $510, and the model 2332B is for 12,000 lbs. maximum trailer weight, with a price of $520. There is a $60 shipping charge for any hitch (continental U.S. only). Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kent Sundling, Mr. Truck, 1020 Downing Way, Denver, Colorado 80229 (ph 303 288-2082; email: kent@mrtruck.com; website: www.mrtruck.com).

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