Weight Distribution & Sway Control
Husky vs Equal-i-zer: The Complete-Kit Question
On the shelf the Husky looks more expensive. By the time both hitches are usable, it usually is not. Here is the arithmetic and the catch.
By Mike M. ·
How this page is funded: we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we rank first. Prices come from Amazon and are read automatically — each one shows the date it was read. Full disclosure.
Quick picks
Both hitches plus the four-point alternative at a similar all-in price.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Husky Round Bar Weight Distribution Hitch, 30849 The only kit here that arrives with a 10 in shank and a 2-5/16 in ball in the box, which is why its real-world cost undercuts hitches with a lower sticker price. Cheapest complete kit | The cheapest complete kit that still includes shank and ball | 6.1/ 10 | |
| 2 |  Equal-i-zer 4-Point Sway Control Hitch, 90-00-1001 Four-point sway control built into the head, so there is no friction bar to unclip before you back into a site — the single biggest quality-of-life difference for a first-timer. Best sway control | Most half-ton trucks pulling a 5,000-10,000 lb trailer | 7.9/ 10 | |
| 3 |  CURT TruTrack 4P Weight Distribution Hitch, 17500 CURT's answer to the four-point Equal-i-zer, with a 10,000 lb rating and an adjustable sway bias — generally a couple of hundred dollars under the hitch it is aimed at. | Four-point sway control at a mid-range price | 7.9/ 10 | |
| 4 |  CURT Trailer Sway Control Kit, 17200 A friction bar and the brackets to mount it. The honest use for this is retrofitting a plain weight distribution hitch, not replacing a hitch that has sway control built in. The sway bar Husky needs | Adding sway control to a hitch that has none | 5.4/ 10 |
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up. Prices come from Amazon and are read automatically — see each product below for the date.
The short answer
This comparison is really about one question: how much is integral sway control worth to you in money and in hassle?
The all-in cost, not the sticker
Weight distribution hitch prices are quoted for the kit, and kits differ wildly in what they include. A hitch at one price with no shank and no ball is not cheaper than a hitch at a higher price with both.
| Husky round bar | Equal-i-zer 4-point | |
|---|---|---|
| Hitch head and bars | Included | Included |
| A-frame brackets | Included | Included |
| Shank | Included, 10 in | Not included |
| Hitch ball | Included, 2-5/16 in | Not included |
| Sway control | None — add a friction kit | Four points, integral |
| Tongue weight range | 800-1,200 lb | Up to 1,000 lb |
So the honest comparison is: Husky plus a friction sway kit, versus Equal-i-zer plus a shank plus a ball. Those two baskets land close enough together that the decision should be made on behavior, not on price.
What you actually get for the money
The Husky with a bolt-on friction bar gives you one point of sway resistance and a bar you must unclip before every tight turn. The first time you reverse into a site with it still connected you will hear about it from the hitch.
The Equal-i-zer gives you four friction points that work continuously and need no attention at all. In exchange it creaks loudly in tight turns and you have bought two extra parts.
For a first-time owner towing to a campground most weekends, the integral sway control is worth the extra parts. For someone towing a utility trailer twice a year on straight roads, the Husky is a perfectly rational purchase.
The common mistake
The band difference nobody mentions
The Husky kit’s tongue weight range is 800–1,200 lb. That is a genuinely useful spread if your measured tongue weight is 900 lb, and completely wrong if it is 600 lb. The 800 lb bottom of the range is stiffer than a light trailer wants.
The Equal-i-zer line covers from 600 lb up in separate kits, which means you buy the band rather than hoping a wide band suits you. If your trailer is light, the 5,000 lb trailer page explains why that matters more than it sounds.
The verdict
Buy the Husky if your measured tongue weight is 850–1,150 lb, you want one box that contains everything, and you will add a friction bar and remember to unclip it. Buy the Equal-i-zer if you want sway control you never think about, and budget for the shank and the ball when you compare prices. If neither feels right, the CURT TruTrack is four-point sway control at a price between the two.
The picks in full
Husky Round Bar Weight Distribution Hitch, 30849
Husky · Best for the cheapest complete kit that still includes shank and ball
The only kit here that arrives with a 10 in shank and a 2-5/16 in ball in the box, which is why its real-world cost undercuts hitches with a lower sticker price.
Key specifications
- Gross trailer weight
- 12,000 lb
- Tongue weight range
- 800-1,200 lb
- Included
- 10 in shank and 2-5/16 in ball
- Sway control
- None integral — add a friction bar
How it scored
- Sway control (25%)4
- Tongue-weight range (20%)8
- Backing up (20%)4
- Setup effort (15%)7
- Quietness (10%)7
- Price for capability (10%)9
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Complete out of the box: shank and ball included
- Tongue-weight window is broad enough to survive a trailer upgrade
- Steel construction, simple to service
What it is bad at
- No built-in sway control, so you add a friction bar and remember to unclip it before backing
- 800 lb bottom of the range is too stiff for a light trailer
- Heavier than the aluminum alternatives
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
Equal-i-zer 4-Point Sway Control Hitch, 90-00-1001
Equal-i-zer · Best for most half-ton trucks pulling a 5,000-10,000 lb trailer
Four-point sway control built into the head, so there is no friction bar to unclip before you back into a site — the single biggest quality-of-life difference for a first-timer.
Key specifications
- Trailer weight rating
- 10,000 lb
- Tongue weight rating
- 1,000 lb
- Sway control
- 4-point, integral to the head
- Included
- Weight distribution kit; shank and ball sold separately
Capacity figures read from Equal-i-zer product specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Sway control (25%)9
- Tongue-weight range (20%)8
- Backing up (20%)9
- Setup effort (15%)7
- Quietness (10%)5
- Price for capability (10%)7
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Sway control is always on — nothing to remember, nothing to remove
- Back up and turn sharply without unhooking anything
- Bracket height is adjustable in the field with a wrench, not a shop visit
What it is bad at
- It creaks and groans in tight turns; owners report this consistently and it is normal, not a fault
- Needs a shank and ball bought separately, which catches people out on price
- Heavier to lift onto the coupler than a friction-bar setup
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
CURT TruTrack 4P Weight Distribution Hitch, 17500
CURT · Best for four-point sway control at a mid-range price
CURT's answer to the four-point Equal-i-zer, with a 10,000 lb rating and an adjustable sway bias — generally a couple of hundred dollars under the hitch it is aimed at.
Key specifications
- Gross trailer weight
- 10,000 lb
- Sway control
- 4-point, integral
- Adjustment
- Sway-control bias adjustable
- Included
- Weight distribution kit with sway control
Capacity figures read from CURT TruTrack specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Sway control (25%)9
- Tongue-weight range (20%)8
- Backing up (20%)9
- Setup effort (15%)6
- Quietness (10%)5
- Price for capability (10%)8
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Four points of sway control for less than the obvious four-point alternative
- Bias adjustment lets you dial sway resistance to the trailer
- No bar to unclip before backing
What it is bad at
- More parts to understand on first setup than a two-point kit
- Less owner experience published than the market leaders, so fewer reports to read
- Friction surfaces mean friction noise
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
CURT Trailer Sway Control Kit, 17200
CURT · Best for adding sway control to a hitch that has none
A friction bar and the brackets to mount it. The honest use for this is retrofitting a plain weight distribution hitch, not replacing a hitch that has sway control built in.
Key specifications
- Type
- Friction sway control bar
- Use
- Add-on for weight distribution hitches
- Mounting
- A-frame bracket plus ball on the shank
- Operation
- Manual — must be disconnected to back sharply
Capacity figures read from CURT 17200 specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Sway control (25%)4
- Tongue-weight range (20%)6
- Backing up (20%)3
- Setup effort (15%)7
- Quietness (10%)6
- Price for capability (10%)9
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Cheapest route to some sway resistance on a hitch that has none
- Simple, serviceable, nothing to go wrong electronically
- Works with most conventional round-bar kits
What it is bad at
- Must be unclipped before tight turns and backing, every single time
- One friction point is much weaker than an integrated four-point head
- Needs a second ball and a spare hole in the shank
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
Common questions
The round bar kit does not. You add a bolt-on friction kit, which gives one point of resistance and must be disconnected before tight turns. Other hitches in the Husky range do include it.
A hitch from an established maker with a published rating that matches your tongue weight is safe at any price point here. What you give up lower down is integral sway control, finish durability, and sometimes the shank and ball.
Sources
- Equal-i-zer published hitch specifications and bar ratings — read October 2026
- Andersen Hitches weight distribution hitch specifications — read October 2026
- CURT published weight distribution specifications — read October 2026
- Blue Ox SwayPro published specifications — read October 2026