Jimmy Dean
Member
I’m moving up to that area later this year, around October time…getting stationed at Picatinny Arsenal.
How do you like it?
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Setting up Equalizer WD Hitch - those that have please chime in
- Thread starter Electronut
- Start date
I’m moving up to that area later this year, around October time…getting stationed at Picatinny Arsenal.
How do you like it?
Been here my whole life, I love it here, and I drive past picatinny every day on my way to and from work. My only gripe with the area is that it's located in NJ, where it's hard to have any fun since everything is illegal.
Electronut
Active Member
I believe you said yours was made slightly different than what I received right? I did have the clearance to line my level and get a gauge on the line as it ran to the 2.5 inch receiver install side. It's definitely not aligned but not off as bad as I thought. The bend from my eyes and straight edge of my level does look like the culprit is the weld but let's see what Gen-Y says. The first one they sent me is with UPS on the route back.
tyler2you
Well-Known Member
That's got to be some expensive shipping. I bet they hate getting returns on those beasts.
Electronut
Active Member
As do I. Pass Picatinny every day going to gym in Rockaway and back home. In fact, my Uncle was employed and worked there for many years as an engineer. He's been long retired now though. Been in Sussex county for 17 years now and we really love the different pace from typical NJ lifestyle. Big change growing up in Essex County but a good change. Agree on your last comment. Especially if you are a shooter which I am. Total joke.
Yea me too, at least, I like to try and be a shooter, it's hard when there's hardly anywhere to practice. My wife and I also enjoy riding ATV's together, and even with all the open land in the area, can't ride unless you want to risk a run in with cops / park police & fines.
Electronut
Active Member
Join Cherry Ridge Range. Fantastic outdoor facility. Affiliated with ANJPRC which is an added plus and you get around the deviate law when driving with your weapons. I have my CCW so I'm covered for pistol.
Can't speak for ATV but ton of places you can ride from my understanding and not get your chops busted.
I have considered Cherry Ridge it's a bit of a hike, but I've also heard mixed things, some people have had complaints about the RSOs, but I've never actually been there so I can't comment. I also got my CWP, so I'm good on my handguns for transport, although I just found out the great news I can no longer have my court order modified when I get a new gun, and I have to apply for a new unrestricted permit if I want to be able to carry my new G43X MOS...
Electronut
Active Member
I wante
I got lucky however because with Murphys law change and CCW procedure I'm good to carry any of the pistols I own. What's checked off on the back of your CCW card for restrictions? I have no restrictions checked off on mine by the judge so that's why I got lucky and can do so.
We're completely off topic here but still interesting none the less.
Also I've had nothing but good experiences since joining CR. The RSOs all cool to me. I'm big on safety so if your doing something wrong just be a man about it, apologize, and move on. There are egos there in the upper management for sure. That I agree with and clearly evident at the orientation you have to attend but they are doing that intentionally to protect the club and avoid stupid (dangerous) stuff from happening by members. I got tuff skin and was almost a LEO myself so as long as your respectful you will be fine.
I wanted to add my Glock 21 to mine and was going to request through the judge in my Township to amend after I got the additional qualification to include but then Murphy came out with his rediculous laws end of December which is currently in court. Glad I didn't go pay for that. I've had my CCW since October. Was carrying everywhere but now waiting for dust to settle with this court proceeding.
I got lucky however because with Murphys law change and CCW procedure I'm good to carry any of the pistols I own. What's checked off on the back of your CCW card for restrictions? I have no restrictions checked off on mine by the judge so that's why I got lucky and can do so.
We're completely off topic here but still interesting none the less.
Also I've had nothing but good experiences since joining CR. The RSOs all cool to me. I'm big on safety so if your doing something wrong just be a man about it, apologize, and move on. There are egos there in the upper management for sure. That I agree with and clearly evident at the orientation you have to attend but they are doing that intentionally to protect the club and avoid stupid (dangerous) stuff from happening by members. I got tuff skin and was almost a LEO myself so as long as your respectful you will be fine.
Sorry for the thread jack, after this one I'll move it to the DM's if the mods would like. I carried a few weeks in December, then Murphy dropped his laws so I stopped carrying for a few weeks, but Judge Bumb issued a temporary restraining order on most of his law which included his ban on carrying in Vehicles and most non government public spaces, so I've been carrying since. As of last week Murphy declared that amending the court orders is no longer an option, and if you want to have something changed you have to reapply for a new style permit that does not need a court order to go with it.
Currently on my permit where it says "Restrictions", "See Court Order" is checked off, and my court order says I can only carry my G19 or my Keltec P3AT. Unfortunately these guns are opposite ends of the spectrum, the G19 is very easy to shoot proficiently, but it's bulky and very uncomfortable to carry, the P3AT is tiny, practically invisible on my person, and extremely comfortable to carry, but very difficult to shoot accurately with my fairly big hands. The G43X MOS should be right in the sweet spot for being easy to shoot and easy to conceal carry.
I do have some friends and family who are members at CR and they do like it, I'll have to plan something one of these days and have them take me with them and see how I like it.
Currently on my permit where it says "Restrictions", "See Court Order" is checked off, and my court order says I can only carry my G19 or my Keltec P3AT. Unfortunately these guns are opposite ends of the spectrum, the G19 is very easy to shoot proficiently, but it's bulky and very uncomfortable to carry, the P3AT is tiny, practically invisible on my person, and extremely comfortable to carry, but very difficult to shoot accurately with my fairly big hands. The G43X MOS should be right in the sweet spot for being easy to shoot and easy to conceal carry.
I do have some friends and family who are members at CR and they do like it, I'll have to plan something one of these days and have them take me with them and see how I like it.
Electronut
Active Member
I'm the OP and thread starter to this post so all good with me
I'm primarily a Sig guy. I CCW qualified with my Sig SP 2022 40 cal and Sig P938 Equinox Carry 9mm. The P938 is the perfect carry gun. Size of the palm of my hand but challenging gun to shoot because small. I was concerned I was going to blow it for the qualification because hadn't shot it in years but nailed it.
Anyway good you have family that are members. I'd try it. I have friends that joined that are alot further than you. Maybe a 35 minute ride for you? Not bad at all. It's 20 for me.
PM me seperately if you like. I can always meet you up there as well. It's $25 for an all day guest pass.
DammitDave
Well-Known Member
Man, that all sounds like a pain. In Idaho I go to a store and buy a gun, then I can take it pretty much anywhere I want to (with a few exceptions), permit or no permit. I can even go buy a stack of ammo boxes off the shelf in the local sporting goods store, or even some hardware stores.
Electronut
Active Member
So I got the Equalizer head installed to the GenY today and took thorough measurements.
I was careful to target 50-100% WD to the front axle but also paid attention that I had enough weight still on the tongue so the GenY had the proper range for movement on the torsion mechanism. Need to be sure that's also able to do what it's designed to do.
After completing the setup the white line of the GenY was 1/3 the way down on the green color bar so thought perfect. WD was 67% at this point using 6 spacer washers. Full LP tanks but no cargo or water in the Airstream. This is about 850lb tongue weight so also still factoring for additional heavier variances.
Get back home from test ride and white line is sitting at start of maximum red color on the guage so was thinking I would have to add another spacer washer which would put me at 87% WD and still very good. Confirmed difference between 6 and 7 spacer washers was 20% variance. I was also thinking that's odd with only 850lbs of tongue weight I was in the start of max red area but whatever.
I unhitch AS and white line on GenY doesn't return all the way to minimum red "home" mark. Hmmmmm... Stays 1/3 down into green just as when I first hooked up under load.
My thought here was the sticker wasn't placed totally accurate. I'm figuring the torsion mechanism needed to properly set in with good amount of weight and required initial break in. I shot GenY a note tonight to confirm just so I can better gauge if I should add another washer or not. If the sticker just needs to be moved down some, then under load I'll be in the lower 3rd green area and should work to allow for additional cargo and water weight in the Airstream. I shouldn't have hit the max red line tonight when I tested at 850 lb tongue weight so that had me puzzled. I'd rather little more weight on the tongue anyway for better handling and sway control but have to consider the entire application.
See attached. Red arrow was white line before setup. Yellow line was white line when returned from test drive. The white line showing was where it was after I unhooked from the test drive and removed the hitch from the receiver (also where it was after initial loading /hookup in my driveway).
Sway bars were very close to parallel to the AS trailer frame and the top hitch ball height from ground is near 23". My Chrysler Aspen was at 24" height when we towed the AS but as a 1/2 ton vehicle also had more rearend squat than preferred or of which couldn't be avoided even having the Air Lift aftermarket system.
The AS was practically dead on level hooked up to truck. One hole showing on bottom of GenY 9.5" drop shank. Used a level internally and externally on the TT while hooked up to the truck through various parts of the 28' TT length. Ever so slightly by a hair was noise high. Definitely can't see it with the naked eye.
The Ram Air is dreamy! Truck levels itself out perfectly. I disabled it for all the WD measurements but once I had figured on WD target I went ahead and allowed the Ram Air to makeup for the WD difference. Very cool stuff!
So I'll see what GenY says and I may go to 7 spacer washers to be at 87% WD. May not be a bad idea to have that extra WD when we have AS cargo and water weight since will put it in the 1000lb tongue weight range. I'll probably need the extra WD to keep the GenY operating weight in the safe green area for proper torsion mechanism function when factoring this additional weight.
Oh and the 320 ft lb. shank bolt torque setting is some crazy crap right there. The AS dealer I know for sure didn't have that tight when they setup and I loosened off of the Equalizer OEM shank today. I torqued to 250 ft lbs. and thought more than enough. It's all my torque wrench went to for setting so had no choice
I was careful to target 50-100% WD to the front axle but also paid attention that I had enough weight still on the tongue so the GenY had the proper range for movement on the torsion mechanism. Need to be sure that's also able to do what it's designed to do.
After completing the setup the white line of the GenY was 1/3 the way down on the green color bar so thought perfect. WD was 67% at this point using 6 spacer washers. Full LP tanks but no cargo or water in the Airstream. This is about 850lb tongue weight so also still factoring for additional heavier variances.
Get back home from test ride and white line is sitting at start of maximum red color on the guage so was thinking I would have to add another spacer washer which would put me at 87% WD and still very good. Confirmed difference between 6 and 7 spacer washers was 20% variance. I was also thinking that's odd with only 850lbs of tongue weight I was in the start of max red area but whatever.
I unhitch AS and white line on GenY doesn't return all the way to minimum red "home" mark. Hmmmmm... Stays 1/3 down into green just as when I first hooked up under load.
My thought here was the sticker wasn't placed totally accurate. I'm figuring the torsion mechanism needed to properly set in with good amount of weight and required initial break in. I shot GenY a note tonight to confirm just so I can better gauge if I should add another washer or not. If the sticker just needs to be moved down some, then under load I'll be in the lower 3rd green area and should work to allow for additional cargo and water weight in the Airstream. I shouldn't have hit the max red line tonight when I tested at 850 lb tongue weight so that had me puzzled. I'd rather little more weight on the tongue anyway for better handling and sway control but have to consider the entire application.
See attached. Red arrow was white line before setup. Yellow line was white line when returned from test drive. The white line showing was where it was after I unhooked from the test drive and removed the hitch from the receiver (also where it was after initial loading /hookup in my driveway).
Sway bars were very close to parallel to the AS trailer frame and the top hitch ball height from ground is near 23". My Chrysler Aspen was at 24" height when we towed the AS but as a 1/2 ton vehicle also had more rearend squat than preferred or of which couldn't be avoided even having the Air Lift aftermarket system.
The AS was practically dead on level hooked up to truck. One hole showing on bottom of GenY 9.5" drop shank. Used a level internally and externally on the TT while hooked up to the truck through various parts of the 28' TT length. Ever so slightly by a hair was noise high. Definitely can't see it with the naked eye.
The Ram Air is dreamy! Truck levels itself out perfectly. I disabled it for all the WD measurements but once I had figured on WD target I went ahead and allowed the Ram Air to makeup for the WD difference. Very cool stuff!
So I'll see what GenY says and I may go to 7 spacer washers to be at 87% WD. May not be a bad idea to have that extra WD when we have AS cargo and water weight since will put it in the 1000lb tongue weight range. I'll probably need the extra WD to keep the GenY operating weight in the safe green area for proper torsion mechanism function when factoring this additional weight.
Oh and the 320 ft lb. shank bolt torque setting is some crazy crap right there. The AS dealer I know for sure didn't have that tight when they setup and I loosened off of the Equalizer OEM shank today. I torqued to 250 ft lbs. and thought more than enough. It's all my torque wrench went to for setting so had no choice
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I’m sure someone else will chime in with more detail, but if you disable the air suspension for WD setup and then enable it afterward the air is going to remove some of your WDH adjustment. You need to set the WDH up with the suspension at the ride height you’ll be driving at.
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That potential does exist, depending on how much ride height difference there is between setup and driving.
The advantage to disabling it is that you can see the weight transfer effect on both axles for setup, the disadvantage is that if you’re quite a bit lower during setup the final weight transfer is different.
On my 3500’s I’ve never disabled it for setup, or hitching, and get good transfer results with setup. The 2500 is a little different being that there aren’t any metal springs, so ALT is just a lower height and doesn’t engage additional sprigs like in the 3500, so I’d probably set it up with the air disabled but verify the weights after I’m setup.
Good point on the difference between 2500 and 3500 as far as the air suspension. On the 3500 I expect it doesn’t make much difference until you put a decent amount of weight on the suspension.
Electronut
Active Member
You pretty much nailed it. You have to disable it or the bags will just fill when you start putting on tongue weight and truck will stay leveled out and you won't really know the correct WD needed. Also the Equalizer manual advises to disable when determining WD and so does the manual for the truck so it was uniform.
Id rather the WD of the hitch take the brunt to the front axle with the Ram Air supplementing (considering truck bed cargo weight and passengers. I didn't measure what the Ram Air provided after my measurements but think it was about another inch of height once I re-activated the system and took it out of flat tire mode.
Electronut
Active Member
Next time I hook up in my driveway I'm going to measure that up. I don't even think it was an inch the rear lifted.
Im just more curious if I should go to 7 washers now and 87% preload. Haven't heard back yet from GenY.