Blue Ox Sway Pro vs Equalizer: Is Blue Ox Any Good? (Review)
It is up to your preference. Most things are set-up that way. If you like an integrated hitch, then you go with the Equalizer. If you prefer a chain hitch, then you go with the Blue Ox. Both options seem to be very good and do the job you want to be done when you are towing.
What makes people take the Equalizer over the Blue Ox is the latter’s chain design. Many people just do not want to work with a chain so they go with Equalizer’s integrated system. However, this preference does not make the Blue Ox hitch bad. It is a good hitch to use.
Is Blue Ox a Good Weight Distribution Hitch?
Yes, by all reports, this is a very good weight distribution hitch. It is made of steel and the Sway Pro option can handle up to 1500+ pounds of hitch weight.
Plus, it is supposed to be able to automatically distribute the weight between the front and rear axles if you miscalculate the hitch weight. What makes it even better is that there is no need for hitch adjustment.
You do not need extra brackets, drilling more holes, and so on. The system is set up to work with you not to give you extra work. But not everything is rosy with the Blue Ox.
It does have its drawbacks when it is not compatible with your trailer hitch ball, etc. You may have to spend more on getting upgrades or compatible devices to make this option work well for you.
But once you do get everything sorted out, it is a fine system where there are not that many complaints. If you do not like chains, you may want to go to a different model from another company to get the same results.
Blue Ox Hitch Reviews
The reviews are interesting to read. The professional ones were all positive, not over-gushing, but very analytical and honest. They laid out the good and bad points in the right manner but none had anything really bad to say about the performance.
To the professionals, this hitch is a very good option and should help cut the sway down as you travel. They did a side-by-side comparison of the Equalizer and the Blue Ox with both being about equal. The main difference was the overall design which did not negatively impact either product.
One owner bought his after reading the Amazon reviews. So far about 83% of the people that bought this device were very happy with what they got. Only 17% gave it 3 stars or less.
One of those lower end reviews was more about customer service than the performance of the product. What they didn’t like about the hitch was the fact that the chains got caught in the latches. When he talked to Blue Ox that was where his complaints about customer service came in.
Those complaints were not about having to pay for new latches or getting them free, but the time it took to get them to him. Other people did not like the included wrench.
They say it was too short and worthless and could not provide the leverage you needed to make the system secure. One 4-star review said the product lost a star due to Amazon’s actions NOT the hitch’s which is a bit unfair.
Especially since he was using this brand for 3 years and had no complaints about it or the way it handled the sway. Other people had a pin fall out but the company already knew about the problem and sent him a kit to fix the problem. Some people get great customer service and others do not.
A lot of 1-star reviews focused on bad customer service, missing parts, not honoring the warranty, and so on. Not about performance or a break somewhere down the road.
In other words, the reviews were more about shipping, handling, and the company not if the product was good or not.
Blue Ox Sway Pro vs Equalizer 4 Point
Both of these hitches are very good. There are not of faulty engineering or similar problems that plague inferior hitches etc. Both are well-made and do their respective jobs like they are supposed to.
One difference between the two is that the Equalizer is an integrated system which many people prefer. The Blue Ox option is a chain style but it does not need the adjustments that the Equalizer needs. That is a key point that persuades many trailer owners to go with the Blue Ox.
Then, the Blue Ox is designed to handle heavy weights. Where the Equalizer stops in hitch weight, the Blue Ox goes well beyond. For example, the Equalizer 4-point model has a maximum towing weight of 10,000 to 16,000 pounds.
The Blue Ox can pull trailers weighing up to 20,000 pounds. Then the hitch weight or tongue weight is customizable on the Equalizer, the Blue Ox has a maximum level of 2,000 pounds.
But in performance, the Equalizer is not recommended for rainy seasons. It does not seem to perform well in wet weather. The Blue Ox is supposed to be a good worker in all weather conditions.
When it comes to swaying, the Equalizer uses its friction points to handle the twisting, etc., The Blue Ox places the strain on the ball and keeps everything in a straight line so your ride is better.
Some Final Words
Despite the chains, the Blue Ox seems to be a very good weight distribution hitch. It can handle very light hitch weights, starting at 350 pounds while the Equalizer starts at 600 pounds.
Which hitch option you get will depend a lot on the type of weight you have on your hitch. And if you want quiet, you may want to go to the Blue Ox as it is supposed to be a quiet hitch.
Both are American made so that won’t help your decision-making process. It is a tough choice to make.
