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05-06-2019, 08:05 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Indiana
Posts: 7
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Husky Centerline vs. Equalizer
Hello all,
I purchased a new Fun Finder 31 BH this year. It's 35' long and weighs about 6900 lbs with a tounge weight of 780 lbs and I pull it with my 2009 F150. The trailer came with a Eaz-Lift round bar style weight distribution system and sway bar. I've had it hooked up a couple of times and while the truck is pretty level with this weight distribution system but the sway bar performs poorly at best. If I try to tighten it enough that it prevents the sway then the truck doesn't steer well at all. If I try to loosen it so the steering is better then the sway is bad.
I've been reading about the Husky Centerline TS and the Equalizer system. Both seem to have their pros and cons. I'm curious to hear from you if you have experience with either or both of these systems. Are they loud? Can you do anything to prevent the noise? Do they help prevent sway on a unit as tall and long as the 31 BH? How does the tow vehicle perform? etc...
Thank you in advance for your help
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05-06-2019, 01:09 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Placida, FL
Posts: 71
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I can't speak for the Husky, but I do have an Equalizer that works perfectly. I tow a 2012 214WD with my 2005 F150 and have zero sway or steering issues. It did creak a bit when new but I bought a set of bracket pads from Equalizer (about $8 IIRC) and it quieted right down - Didn't notice a change in performance either.
If I had to replace my Equalizer for some reason, I'd buy another in a heartbeat (but I'd buy one with the ball installed - It takes a special thin wall socket and a big torque wrench to set properly)...
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Daz
2012 FunFinder X-214WSD
2005 F150 FX4
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05-06-2019, 02:14 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SWFL FlyFisher
I can't speak for the Husky, but I do have an Equalizer that works perfectly. I tow a 2012 214WD with my 2005 F150 and have zero sway or steering issues. It did creak a bit when new but I bought a set of bracket pads from Equalizer (about $8 IIRC) and it quieted right down - Didn't notice a change in performance either.
If I had to replace my Equalizer for some reason, I'd buy another in a heartbeat (but I'd buy one with the ball installed - It takes a special thin wall socket and a big torque wrench to set properly)...
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I SECOND ^^^^^ THIS.
My camper/tow vehicle indicated below. I have never experienced on iota of sway using the Equal-i-Zer hitch.
The Equal-i-Zer hitch has been voted by readers of "Trailer Life" magazine as the best 7 years in a row .. 2012 to 2018 https://www.equalizerhitch.com/
IF I WERE FORCED to use a different hitch it would be a Hensley ~ but they are quite expensive!
https://www.hensleymfg.com/
__________________
2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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05-07-2019, 01:36 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Indiana
Posts: 7
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Thanks for the feedback. Did you purchase the pads online?
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05-07-2019, 01:37 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Indiana
Posts: 7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SWFL FlyFisher
I can't speak for the Husky, but I do have an Equalizer that works perfectly. I tow a 2012 214WD with my 2005 F150 and have zero sway or steering issues. It did creak a bit when new but I bought a set of bracket pads from Equalizer (about $8 IIRC) and it quieted right down - Didn't notice a change in performance either.
If I had to replace my Equalizer for some reason, I'd buy another in a heartbeat (but I'd buy one with the ball installed - It takes a special thin wall socket and a big torque wrench to set properly)...
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Thanks for the feedback. Did you purchase the parts online?
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05-07-2019, 02:16 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 324
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ewilli126
Hello all,
I purchased a new Fun Finder 31 BH this year. It's 35' long and weighs about 6900 lbs with a tounge weight of 780 lbs and I pull it with my 2009 F150. The trailer came with a Eaz-Lift round bar style weight distribution system and sway bar. I've had it hooked up a couple of times and while the truck is pretty level with this weight distribution system but the sway bar performs poorly at best. If I try to tighten it enough that it prevents the sway then the truck doesn't steer well at all. If I try to loosen it so the steering is better then the sway is bad.
I've been reading about the Husky Centerline TS and the Equalizer system. Both seem to have their pros and cons. I'm curious to hear from you if you have experience with either or both of these systems. Are they loud? Can you do anything to prevent the noise? Do they help prevent sway on a unit as tall and long as the 31 BH? How does the tow vehicle perform? etc...
Thank you in advance for your help
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Hi! I too have no problems and wonder if something might have some play (i.e., it moves a little) or is defective with the antisway. Over the years I have used an antisway on vehicles which would easily oscillate (sway) the trailer and have always found them effective in achieving stability. Would you want to include a couple photos of the parts with your trailer connected and the load bars under tension? Something doesn't seem right. Could you not be putting enough preload on the bars?
__________________
2016 F281BIKS, Added Renogy DC-DC charger to better charge deep cycle batteries.
2003 F250 7.3L Powerstroke Crewcab longbed 20K lbs GCWR
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05-07-2019, 02:48 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ewilli126
Thanks for the feedback. Did you purchase the pads online?
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Yes, I purchased the pads on-line to eliminate the 'creeking' mostly when turning while backing up. With the pads, there is no noise from the Equal-i-Zer hitch.
Don't recall if directly from Equal-i-Zer or Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Equal-i-zer-9...gateway&sr=8-2 And IIRC I also purchased the tube of lubricant at the same time...same place.
Also available here: https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...5-01-5150.html
__________________
2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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05-07-2019, 04:23 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 324
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eagle
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How much do you preload the equalizer bars? I think I normally have them connected about two chain links tighter than they would when level. This amount varies with the load rating of the bars and their length. It is very important to have adequate preload on the bars.
__________________
2016 F281BIKS, Added Renogy DC-DC charger to better charge deep cycle batteries.
2003 F250 7.3L Powerstroke Crewcab longbed 20K lbs GCWR
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05-07-2019, 04:50 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,105
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Chain links?
The only chains are the safety chains between the tongue and the tow vehicle.
https://www.equalizerhitch.com/how-equalizer-works
?
__________________
2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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05-07-2019, 05:13 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 324
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eagle
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Sorry, I was referring to the chains that connect to the Eaz-Lift round bar style weight distribution system. I was wondering if there is enough preload.
__________________
2016 F281BIKS, Added Renogy DC-DC charger to better charge deep cycle batteries.
2003 F250 7.3L Powerstroke Crewcab longbed 20K lbs GCWR
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05-07-2019, 08:26 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimboFunFinder
Sorry, I was referring to the chains that connect to the Eaz-Lift round bar style weight distribution system. I was wondering if there is enough preload.
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Oh, you were referring to the OP and not the last post with your question, misunderstood.
__________________
2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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05-08-2019, 09:24 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 324
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ewilli126
Hello all,
I purchased a new Fun Finder 31 BH this year. It's 35' long and weighs about 6900 lbs with a tounge weight of 780 lbs and I pull it with my 2009 F150. The trailer came with a Eaz-Lift round bar style weight distribution system and sway bar. I've had it hooked up a couple of times and while the truck is pretty level with this weight distribution system but the sway bar performs poorly at best. If I try to tighten it enough that it prevents the sway then the truck doesn't steer well at all. If I try to loosen it so the steering is better then the sway is bad.
I've been reading about the Husky Centerline TS and the Equalizer system. Both seem to have their pros and cons. I'm curious to hear from you if you have experience with either or both of these systems. Are they loud? Can you do anything to prevent the noise? Do they help prevent sway on a unit as tall and long as the 31 BH? How does the tow vehicle perform? etc...
Thank you in advance for your help
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ewilli126,
Is it possible that you have any oil or grease on the sway bar or pads for the sway bar? The sway bar should be bare metal and the pads dry, just like on a disc brake. I have used sway bars for 30 years or more and never had a problem.
Also, regarding the chains that connect the Eaz-Lift round bar style weight distribution bars to the trailer frame. I was wondering if there is enough preload. Do you have the tension of the chains being 2-3 links shorter than they would be if there was no tension on the chains?
__________________
2016 F281BIKS, Added Renogy DC-DC charger to better charge deep cycle batteries.
2003 F250 7.3L Powerstroke Crewcab longbed 20K lbs GCWR
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05-08-2019, 10:58 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Near Toronto, Ontario Canada
Posts: 169
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Just wanted to add my vote for Equalizer. By far the best anti-sway and weight distribution system, IMHO.
Properly installed nothing works better.
Easy to connect/disconnect, no chains, and no need to remove bars just to back up like some other styles.
And yes, get the pads for the L-brackets and use the Equalizer brand grease on other parts.
__________________
2012 FF 214WSD and Equalizer WDH
2019 GMC Sierra SLT, Crew Cab, 4x4
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05-08-2019, 12:22 PM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,287
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Did you weigh the tongue, or are you going by the mfg specs? If not, you may want to check it to make sure that it's within 10-15% of the total trailer weight. If there's not enough tongue weight changing hitches probably won't solve your problem.
__________________
2011 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab 4X4
2009 210 WBS
Prodigy P3
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05-08-2019, 03:05 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,105
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What LJAZ said above and would add to weight the tongue when loaded for a trip. If your fresh water tank is filled & forward of the axles, it will make a difference as water weights about 8 pounds per gallon.
__________________
2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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05-09-2019, 03:47 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: TN
Posts: 414
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IMHO - that's a lot of trailer for an F-150. Yes, the F-150 has the power to tow (pull) the trailer based on the specs of the truck and trailer. Then load each up - I would think that would put the truck at the limit of being able to control the weight it is pulling. That being said, Equil-i-zer is one heck of a WDH. Just me. . .
__________________
2012 FunFinder X 210UDS
4-68 watt flexible panels; 1-215 glass panel/4 Battle Born LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Batteries
2014 Ford F350 6.7 Liter PowerStroke V-8 Diesel longbed, SRW
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05-10-2019, 06:32 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 206
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ewilli26-
I agree with the positive comments above about the Equal-i-zer system. We have used the 10K lbs. version on our 24' trailer for two years and about 10K miles now and it performs flawlessly. If I had bought it new, I probably would have gotten the 6K lbs. version, but the used price on Craigslist was too good to pass up and it works just fine on our 5-6 K lbs. trailer. Note that Equal-i-zer is both a weight distribution and anti-sway system in one. That being said, I know nothing about the Husky system. It may be good also.
__________________
Fun Finder 2006 X189FD sold
Fun Finder 2012 X189FBS sold
2020 Lance model 2075
2016 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel 4x4
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05-11-2019, 06:29 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 324
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jbfunfinder
ewilli26-
I agree with the positive comments above about the Equal-i-zer system. We have used the 10K lbs. version on our 24' trailer for two years and about 10K miles now and it performs flawlessly. If I had bought it new, I probably would have gotten the 6K lbs. version, but the used price on Craigslist was too good to pass up and it works just fine on our 5-6 K lbs. trailer. Note that Equal-i-zer is both a weight distribution and anti-sway system in one. That being said, I know nothing about the Husky system. It may be good also.
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What would you guess might be the downside of using a higher lb rated Equal-I-zer hitch system? They are so close in price why not just opt for the highest rated 1400lb/14000lb? The only thing I can think of is that the bars will not deflect as much. Comments?
__________________
2016 F281BIKS, Added Renogy DC-DC charger to better charge deep cycle batteries.
2003 F250 7.3L Powerstroke Crewcab longbed 20K lbs GCWR
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05-11-2019, 06:55 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 206
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I really don't understand the actual engineering of weight distribution hitches well enough to say. I agree the 14K might likely be quite stiff, maybe too stiff for a trailer in the 5K to 9K category. It seems there is some ride quality value in the hitch area still being flexible enough to ride up and down and my 10 does that. 14K bars sound scary stiff....like your truck and trailer would become almost a single stiff board.
__________________
Fun Finder 2006 X189FD sold
Fun Finder 2012 X189FBS sold
2020 Lance model 2075
2016 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel 4x4
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05-11-2019, 07:50 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimboFunFinder
What would you guess might be the downside of using a higher lb rated Equal-I-zer hitch system? They are so close in price why not just opt for the highest rated 1400lb/14000lb? The only thing I can think of is that the bars will not deflect as much. Comments?
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When I purchased my toy hauler, also purchased the Equal-I-Zer hitch, 10,000 pound rated. I inquired if a 12,000 would be better and the dealership said it would be to stiff for my toy hauler and would give a harsher ride plus cause more jarring of the camper in travels. Said the hitch should be sized to the load being towed.
I figured, the dealer was in the business and knew far more than I and have been very pleased with the hitch to date.
__________________
__________________
2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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