[VAC] Re: Leveling the hitch

[Jim Dunmyer <jdunmyer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thomas,
  I use an EZ-Lift hitch myself, here's a couple of tips:

When connecting the spring bars and latching the snap brackets, have the 
tongue lifted up a ways via the jack. Lower the tongue (raise the jack) 
AFTER connecting the bars.

You should have previously adjusted the spring bars according to the 
Can-Am RV site I mentioned in the other message.

The friction anti-sway bar doesn't have to be too tight, in my 
experience. I crank it down 1 or 1 1/2 turns; it doesn't take much 
effort on the handle, so I don't think there's too much tension on it.

One thing that I've found (and I'm still sorting this out) is that it 
seems to be better to have the ball shank vertical, NOT tilted towards 
the rear as Can-Am RV instructs. Although I'm still experimenting, I've 
found that the rearward tilt makes the rig wander as it goes down the 
road. I'm surmising that the reason is due to the way the spring bars 
pivot in the ball mount, I think that those sockets should be vertical, 
not tilted at all. Their advice might be OK for a Reese or other hitch, 
but I'm unconvinced with the EZ-Lift.

We just bought a new-to-us Avion that included an EZ-Lift hitch, just 
like our present trailer. My experiences have been with the older unit, 
and with using that hitch to tow the newer one home. The ball mount 
included with the "new" one is non-adjustable, so I torched it apart and 
am in the process of welding it back together with about 6" of drop 
added. I'm trying to keep the ball mount as described above.

The "old" ball mount is adjustable for vertical and tilt settings. 
Trying to tilt it rearward caused the old trailer to wander, so I 
returned it to vertical. As I couldn't hitch the newer trailer until I 
tilted the ball mount (clearance problems), I did so to tow it the 500 
miles home. This trailer also wandered, so I'm surmising that it has to 
do with the tilt.

                                 <<Jim>>