Bars won't easily release

BarneyS wrote:
It sounds to me, again, like it is set up correctly. It is not unusual to have to "tap" the cam or cam arms to get them to go downward after releasing the chains. It may be just the bolt that holds the cam arm on the mounting bracket is a bit too tight. Either way, it should not be a big deal. In most cases, the cam will not swing down all by itself and usually needs a bit of "help" to move it. Looks like in your case it just needs a bit more "help".:W

By the way, I would continue to use the 7 links under tension if I were you. Looks like that gets you right in the ballpark for WD.
In the future, it is much clearer what you mean if you just state the number of links under tension. The term "hanging free" can mean just about any number as not all chains have the same number of links. "Under tension" leaves no doubt as to the meaning.
Barney

Thanks Barney

It sounds to me, again, like it is set up correctly. It is not unusual to have to "tap" the cam or cam arms to get them to go downward after releasing the chains. It may be just the bolt that holds the cam arm on the mounting bracket is a bit too tight. Either way, it should not be a big deal. In most cases, the cam will not swing down all by itself and usually needs a bit of "help" to move it. Looks like in your case it just needs a bit more "help".:W

By the way, I would continue to use the 7 links under tension if I were you. Looks like that gets you right in the ballpark for WD.
In the future, it is much clearer what you mean if you just state the number of links under tension. The term "hanging free" can mean just about any number as not all chains have the same number of links. "Under tension" leaves no doubt as to the meaning.
Barney

Bob Landry wrote:
I'm with Barney. I don't think the hitch is set up correctly. It sounds like the OP is trying to use the WD to level the TV. Reese specifies minimum 5 links under tension. The OP stated he started with 4 links and went to 3, and that "seemed to help. That tells me the hitch adjustment has been tweaked to the point that he doesn't really know what is happening with the WD. I would start over from scratch with the installation instructions and go from there.

At any rate, with the tongue weight off of the hitch, the bars should not be that difficult to cam down.

I think I need to clarify a bit.

There are 11 links on the chain. I have set it on the fourth link so I have 7 under tension and 3 hanging loose.

When I put it on the 4th link, the front of the truck went down and is now where I measured before I hitched up. Front and rear of the truck are now level. Back of the truck has settled about 1 1/4 inches.

My main question was that when I raise the truck up to unhitch, I go as far as I can with the electric jack which is also on some wooden blocks.


I get the tension off of the chains but the arm and cam do not separate. I have to tap the cam a couple of times to release the two.

In my previous setups, If I raised the hitch, took the tension off of the chains, the two would separate on their own. To me a much safer way of doing things.

That is why I contacted Reese and the hitch installer and they said it was okay but I wanted to see if anyone else was doing this the same way.

I am heading to Camping World for some trailer work and I will have them check it out for me. Perhaps this was not setup correctly.

Thanks all for the comments.

I'll be heading out for a 10 to 12 week trip and I want to get this thing right before I leave.

x3

I'm with Barney. I don't think the hitch is set up correctly. It sounds like the OP is trying to use the WD to level the TV. Reese specifies minimum 5 links under tension. The OP stated he started with 4 links and went to 3, and that "seemed to help. That tells me the hitch adjustment has been tweaked to the point that he doesn't really know what is happening with the WD. I would start over from scratch with the installation instructions and go from there.

At any rate, with the tongue weight off of the hitch, the bars should not be that difficult to cam down.

Unless the WD bar end is jammed against the side of the cam, I see no reason why you can't,after you have released the chains, just push down on the cam/arm surface to release the tension. Those arms should be able to be pushed down all the way to the ground or until they are nearly vertical.

If your WD bars are jammed against the side of the cam or arms, then you need to take a look at your installation to make sure it is ok. This is if your truck and trailer are lined up straight. If they are not, or if your truck is pitched one way and the trailer the other, then the bars could possibly jam somewhat against the cam. In that case you would need to push very hard down on the cam arm or the cam surface or even the WD bar end. I can remember at least one time when I had to stand on the bar itself and jump up and down to push the cam down far enough to remove the bar.
Barney

Thanks guys.

I have used this same hitch on two other tow vehicles and whenever I lift the truck high enough, the bars separated. On this setup, they do not.

I talked to Reese and they said that is no problem. Also talked to the installer and he said it was okay.

Guess I will just have to be sure to jack it up high enough to be sure there is no tension.

Thanks again.

BarneyS wrote:
Sometimes I had to push down on the cam arm with my foot or some type of stick. This would lower the cam/arm so the bar would come off easily. If there is any tension on the bar it can be difficult to get off.
This was often the case if the truck and trailer were not lined up straight after backing into a campsite.

Did you try raising the tongue even higher while still coupled to the truck and then push down on the cam arm? This will most often release the tension so the bars can be taken off easily.
Barney

X2

Sometimes I had to push down on the cam arm with my foot or some type of stick. This would lower the cam/arm so the bar would come off easily. If there is any tension on the bar it can be difficult to get off.
This was often the case if the truck and trailer were not lined up straight after backing into a campsite.

Did you try raising the tongue even higher while still coupled to the truck and then push down on the cam arm? This will most often release the tension so the bars can be taken off easily.
Barney