BIG $$ Difference: Equalizer 4 vs ProPride 3P - is the $3k worth it

I tow a 2600RB with a 2015 F150 3.5l ecoboost and use the Equalizer. I have had no problems towing the 2600RB, and we travelled through some strong west Texas winds.
 
I also have a 23BHE that I tow with a 2019 Toyota Tundra. My hitch is a Fastway E2 hitch that seems to be very similar to the Equalizer 4, and I've had no issues whatsoever with sway. IMHO, considering the size of TT we're pulling, I doubt you'd notice much improvement with the ProPride 3P.
 
I have a 2600RB, towed it last year with a 2020 F150 3.5 Max, same 1600 payload as yours. Used an Equalizer and had terrible sway across AZ and New Mexico. I had to get a new F150, so now have a 2021 3.5 EB, max tow, 600 payload. Put a Propride on in March of this year, 3 trips and 2500 miles later I can say it was worth the investment. No Sway and hitching up is a breeze, much easier. I have the V2 jacks on the way, I dont know if they will make any difference but most people have liked them. Propride customer service is great and I think they have a try it and if you dont like it send it back at their cost.
 
Rob, I’ve got a 3P and love it. Thankfully haven’t had much experience with customer service, however ProPride has a FaceBook group and there is a lot of activity and helpful members. The jack problem you describe sounds like the u-bolts either didn’t have the shims installed or the bolts weren’t torqued correctly. Only a guess, not judging! I don’t understand what would have bent on the hitch. But sounds like its no longer a problem since you’ve moved to a 5th wheel. Happy camping!
 
I’ve got a P3 and love it. I too, almost choked on the cost. But considering my overall investment in TV & TT, the hitch cost doesn’t seem such a high price to pay when dealing with crosswinds and semi’s. My TV is a 2016 Expedition and my TT is a 2600RB. The P3 was worth it just for how much more relaxed I am driving with it than without it. I can’t compare it to anything else because I installed it as soon as I got the TT. Whatever your decision, enjoy and safe travels!!
 
I had terrible sway problems with my 2600 RB towing it with a F350. I installed a Fastway E2 weight distributing anti sway hitch. Works great and the sway is gone. Fairly priced also.
 
After white knuckle experiences even with best Reese in 2000, we got a Hensley. Just bought our 2nd, they have remanufactured units for just over $2k. We let our 1st one go w/a prev TT, thinking we were done with pulls. Pulled a 25’ Nash w/2019 Ranger - wind blew drivers outside mirror into the window 2x, but no sway from trailer.
 
After white knuckle experiences even with best Reese in 2000, we got a Hensley. Just bought our 2nd, they have remanufactured units for just over $2k. We let our 1st one go w/a prev TT, thinking we were done with pulls. Pulled a 25’ Nash w/2019 Ranger - wind blew drivers outside mirror into the window 2x, but no sway from trailer.


We also tow with a remanufactured Hensley Arrow also just over $2K and have not had any issues. The Hensley Arrow and the ProPride 3P are very similar and were both designed by Jim Hensley. We also use the Hensley Hitch helper ($35) which makes hitching up a lot easier. With it you can move the nose of the trailer 6 inches in either direction, so you don't have to perfect when backing into the hitch. In my opinion both hitches are worth the expense.
 
I have a comparsion that I believe might help with your decision concerning the two different hitches.
A friend and I both have ford f150 crew cab 4wd pickups. His is a 2012 with the 3.5 ecoboost and mine is a 2015 is a 2.7 ecoboost. His being pre aluminium likely is 300 to 500 lbs heavier than mine but the trucks are very similiar otherwise. Both have been fitted with air bags and blistein shocks. We both pull Transcend Xplor 221RB. his is a 2021 and mine is a 2020. Both trucks and trailers have been to the scales and both are within limits.
Mine the lighter 2015 truck is using a ProPride 3p that I had installed at the dealers. Tongue weight loaded is about 900 lbs.
His is the 2012 truck using an equilizer hitch with a tongue weight loaded of about 700 lbs.
We camp together about 70% of the time and I've put about 3500 miles on my unit while he has put about 4000 miles on his.
So what are the results of our trips:
I've had zero incidents of sway but I will say that with the f150 you still feel the push and pull of the big rigs as they fly by.
My friend has experienced minor sway from time to time but usually not an issue. However about a month ago while on the PA turnpike he had a truck fly by him very close and very fast. It started a sway problem that almost set the trailer on its side. It all happened too fast to make any correction and because it was started by the "other guy" its hard to know how to prevent it in the future. After he changed his pants and sorted out the trailer he is very concerned about this ever happening again and is asking the same question you are.
So is one incident every 3 or 4 thousand miles an exceptable rate to save 3 thousand dollars? Only you can answer that.
I've pulled trailers for over forty years and wouldn't pull anything but an airstream without a Hensley or ProPride hitch. Airstreams and low and have a very low center of gravity so they pull great but are expensive and have limited storage while todays ultra light trailers are high and offer a very large sail to the wind. We can all talk about what to do in a sway situation but having been riding in a tow vehicle when someone else laid the trailer on its side I can tell you that it happens to quickly most of the time to do anything.
Hope this helps, Happy Camping, DocRob
 
.....I've had zero incidents of sway but I will say that with the f150 you still feel the push and pull of the big rigs as they fly by.....

It took me a few tries, but I'd suggest:
1. If with no weight dist set, the trailer is nose up, or even level, drop your stinger a little. Per the manual measure both at the very back of the frame, and again at the front. Mine was 1/4" higher. in the front Dropping one hole on the stinger made it low in the front by 3/4 inch.
2. Make sure to restore the front fender height with the bars set to the same as the unloaded (no trailer hitched at all). Ford says 50% is fine, but coming back all the way really improved things.
I just did this to mine, and all "truck suck" was gone. Completely.

I intend to play a bit with the jack heights a bit more (coming down a little) to see if I can reduce the effect of wind pushes even more, without upsetting anything else. But even if I keep it where it is now, the driving experience is amazing. At least the same, and perhaps even better, than my old Jayco Firth Wheel!
 
Update: I did purchase the ProPride 3p system and can say that I am in love with it. Makes towing some much more enjoyable and the customer service is excellent.

$3,300 over the next 10-15 yrs is well worth every penny.


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