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NCMODELA's avatar
NCMODELA
Explorer
Apr 17, 2014

Dual Cam setup

So I set up the dual cam last year. the truck rode great. the only issue was some sway during wind gusts, large trucks or line of cars passing and some bouncing from the rear end. I just put new lt tires on the car. The first trip out this year it seems like the trailer is pushing the car to the left or right. it seems to get when when going through a curve. Driving 60-65 expressway is good except the occasional push. No more bouncing and little sway. Driving on the back roads at 40-45 is bad. I feel like im getting pushed all over the place. It was not like this the last year at all. it was a dream to drive on the back roads. I did notice that the dual cam lobes has shifted a little bit and was wondering if this could be the issue. I had read somewhere on here that if the lobes were not perfect it was a nightmare to drive. Below are some pictures of the setup when the truck was in a straight line. It s a 03 Yukon xl pulling a 2011 26' keystone summerland
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Vle0F30ZE-g/U06ALhnwwvI/AAAAAAAAAHY/cX9sDRPC9aA/w1152-h648-no/20140415_164551.jpg

  • jimski3456 wrote:
    Also it appears your chains are not vertical. This may have been caused by some slippage of your large u-bolt brackets thereby causing the cams to not be centered properly & thereby causing your sway issues. I have same system with the older style large u-bolts & I have to occasionally adjust do to slight slippage. After getting your cams centered, try to get chains as close to vertical as possible by adjusting lift-up brackets. Your propane tanks may be in way & some off-centeredness is OK. Others may know how much deflection is OK.

    As long as the off vertical chains do not pull the cams back there should be no problem as all the chains do is hold up the cams. This is not the case in a normal non Dual Cam hitch where they should be vertical because of chain swing back and forth when turning.

    I agree that his problem is probably caused by the cams not being centered on the V of the bars and that this situation was most likely the result of the cam mounting brackets slipping on the A frame. This is a common problem with the older style Dual Cam system. Those large U bolts must be checked frequently as they seem to stretch and loosen up a bit allowing the bracket to move.
    Barney
  • Also it appears your chains are not vertical. This may have been caused by some slippage of your large u-bolt brackets thereby causing the cams to not be centered properly & thereby causing your sway issues. I have same system with the older style large u-bolts & I have to occasionally adjust do to slight slippage. After getting your cams centered, try to get chains as close to vertical as possible by adjusting lift-up brackets. Your propane tanks may be in way & some off-centeredness is OK. Others may know how much deflection is OK.
  • NCMODELA wrote:
    Ok. Thank u for the comments. Would thus be causing the issue I am having?


    Yes, as both bar/sockets are attempting to be centered up, which is the path of least resistance.

    As indicated earlier something has changed on your setup.
  • That would at least be some of the problem. The resistance caused by the bar riding over the hump is what combats trailer sway. Your bar recess or arch is already off the hump and is unable to perform as it should. In fact, the when you turn and one bar falls on the hump properly it wants to stay there and will resist getting truck and trailer back into a straight line.
  • Ok. Thank u for the comments. Would thus be causing the issue I am having?
  • What they said. The lobes need to fit centered in the cam bar pocket when truck and trailer are straight.
  • Find a level spot (parking lot etc)

    Drive (track) the truck 75 to 100 feet straight, get out and look at the cams.

    Adjust both to be spot on centered.

    Mark bars left and right and once set, do not flip flop sides, keep the WD bar on the same side. They are forged bars, not machined, they are not the exact same length.

    Drive around again, re-track the truck straight and check again.

    Hope the helps

    John
  • It would appear you need to readjust. Something changed on your set up

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