[CA Pam]

I just ordered by 17' LD today!! I'm excited. I've never had a trailer before and am looking forward to the adventure!
The salesperson told me that if I'm going to get a WDH (I am) that there is a mod required of welding the hitch to the tongue of the trailer. Requires removing the propane tanks.
This is the hitch I am considering.
Click here: Equal-i-zer 400/4,000 4-Point Sway Control Hitch - Weight Distribution Hitches - Hitches - Towing & Automotive

Any input on using this particular hitch, or any info on WDH in general? Is the mod needed for all types of WDH?

Thanks!

[DirtDawg]

Hi Pam,

Congratulations! Unless Casita has changed policies recently, they stock and will only install the Curt 17000 WDH upon delivery in Rice. The Curt (or any equivalent twin spring-bar WDH) requires installing Curt Item #4 "Snap-up Bracket Assembly" using a custom weldment spacer due to geometry of frame tongues on Casita trailers. The Equal-i-zer WDH design touts no separate sway control required, so factor that on your Casita order if you go that route. In any case, an adapter weldment spacer would still be required for that Equal-i-zer product. You might consider the lighter duty Draw-Tite 3205 single arm WDH which requires no welding, but usually needs minor modifications to fit crosswise on your trailer tongue.

Me? I ordered my 17SD with sway control and had a Curt 17000 installed by Casita. It works well (actually overkill for my tow vehicle) but as a do-over, I'd likely choose sway control in combo with the lighter duty single arm WDH. You have time to research forum posts and decide...

Edited to add a couple of representative weldment pictures:

This post has been edited by DirtDawg: 28 January 2011 - 09:35 PM

[RichS]

I have one of these hitches. It is fantastic!!!! I did not move my tanks and it works fine! I don't think you can get a better WD Hitch.

[Bill & Karen]

These pix are of the single bar, works very well with the 17'ers and with no welding

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[Greg & Ann]

I have a single arm Reese and don't think it does the job. I ordered a Curt and the adapter Casita has fabricated for it and will be putting it on my trailer soon.

Greg

[travlinbob]

Greg, you have peaked my curiosity concerning the “Curt adapter Casita has fabricated”. When you get it, please post pictures of the adapter alone, then again once it is installed.

When I fabricated the brackets for my Curt WDH I copied those done at the Casita Factory. Looking at DirtDawgs factory installation of his brackets in post # 2, Casita has changed the way they were doing them before by adding another thickness of channel iron then boxing the ends in. I assume this was to clear the propane tanks more effectively.

An after market assembly, fabricated by Casita, would be an excellent way for them to answer the many requests for double arm WDH’s after delivery of their trailers.

If in fact Rice does not have an expectable alternative to the weld on brackets, this may be something for someone else to consider designing and pre-fabricating for the after market.

Bob

[Ray & Donna]

CA Pam, on 28 January 2011 - 06:56 PM, said:

I just ordered by 17' LD today!! I'm excited. I've never had a trailer before and am looking forward to the adventure!
The salesperson told me that if I'm going to get a WDH (I am) that there is a mod required of welding the hitch to the tongue of the trailer. Requires removing the propane tanks.
This is the hitch I am considering.
Click here: Equal-i-zer 400/4,000 4-Point Sway Control Hitch - Weight Distribution Hitches - Hitches - Towing & Automotive

Any input on using this particular hitch, or any info on WDH in general? Is the mod needed for all types of WDH?

Thanks!

What will your tow vehicle be?

[CA Pam]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Lots to think about.
I have a 2003 Toyota Highlander V6

[Horace & Dianne]

CA Pam

We also use the Equal-i-zer brand weight distribution hitch, however it is a 600/6,000 system, since they did not make the Equal-i-zer 400/4,000 4-Point Sway Control Hitch when we purchased ours.

I had the bracket made and we carried them with us to Rice, Texas when we picked our 17 SD in 2008. Casita welded the bracket to the trailer tongue but I had to do all of the adjustments on the Equal-i-zer, but it took us about 45 minutes to get everything adjusted. I have used Reese WDH's for 40 years but this WDH made by Equal-i-zer is much supperior and I would not go back to any other brand, but that is my opion.

The brackets are constructed using two sections of channel iron (same as the Casita Trailer tongue) 3inches wide by 6 inches long. Then I just welded the Equal-i-zer bracket to the channel iron, of course I cut off the bolt on sections.

I have attached two pictures they may help. If you have any questions please let me know and I will try to address them. Good luck.

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[Greg & Ann]

travlinbob, on 30 January 2011 - 08:42 AM, said:

Greg, you have peaked my curiosity concerning the “Curt adapter Casita has fabricated”. When you get it, please post pictures of the adapter alone, then again once it is installed.

When I fabricated the brackets for my Curt WDH I copied those done at the Casita Factory. Looking at DirtDawgs factory installation of his brackets in post # 2, Casita has changed the way they were doing them before by adding another thickness of channel iron then boxing the ends in. I assume this was to clear the propane tanks more effectively.

An after market assembly, fabricated by Casita, would be an excellent way for them to answer the many requests for double arm WDH’s after delivery of their trailers.

If in fact Rice does not have an expectable alternative to the weld on brackets, this may be something for someone else to consider designing and pre-fabricating for the after market.

Bob

The adapters are exactly what DirtDawg is showing in his photos. I was curious because the arrived in a box with no explanation on how to install them. Now I know! (Thanks DirtDawg).

Greg

[Ms. Patti]

I had the factory install the Curt WDH when I picked up my Casita two weeks ago (to the tune of $494.00). Although, I have to give them credit for trying to talk me out of spending the money on something they said I definitely did not need.

I almost fell to the ground when I saw the size of the hitch after they installed it! It's huge and heavy. When I got home, I had to have my brother take it off my truck for storage.

Even though it is overkill and a PIA for me to handle, I feel better having it.

Patti

[Bill & Karen]

Greg & Ann, on 30 January 2011 - 12:12 AM, said:

I have a single arm Reese and don't think it does the job. I ordered a Curt and the adapter Casita has fabricated for it and will be putting it on my trailer soon.

Greg

thanks for telling me, I've towed our trailer a bit over 30,000 miles with it and didn't realize it wasn't doing its job

This post has been edited by Bill & Karen: 01 February 2011 - 05:11 PM

[Bobinyelm]

Bill & Karen, on 01 February 2011 - 05:04 AM, said:

Greg & Ann, on 30 January 2011 - 12:12 AM, said:

I have a single arm Reese and don't think it does the job. I ordered a Curt and the adapter Casita has fabricated for it and will be putting it on my trailer soon.

Greg

thanks for telling me, I've towed our trailer a bit to 30,000 miles with it and didn't realize it wasn't doing its job

Remember, much of this is perception, and beside, both of you tow with different vehicles that could affect that perception.

The Single Bar Reese works for a lot of people, so does the two-spring type.

Maybe after installing the Curt, Gregg will see a noticeable improvement, and maybe he won't.

I hope he'll report back. I don't know of anyone else who has swapped, and therefore could give impressions of BOTH when used on the same exact towing equipment.

Bob

[travlinbob]

Greg, thanks for your response. Bob

[Greg & Ann]

Bill & Karen, on 01 February 2011 - 05:04 AM, said:

Greg & Ann, on 30 January 2011 - 12:12 AM, said:

I have a single arm Reese and don't think it does the job. I ordered a Curt and the adapter Casita has fabricated for it and will be putting it on my trailer soon.

Greg

thanks for telling me, I've towed our trailer a bit over 30,000 miles with it and didn't realize it wasn't doing its job

Cute. I'm happy as heck for you Bill and Karen. The world needs a few more wise guys. If you call a hitch that leaves the rear of my Tacoma a full 3 inches down after engaging (AFTER I had the rear end of the truck beefed up), then I'm happy for you.

Greg

This post has been edited by Greg & Ann: 02 February 2011 - 03:23 PM