Towed with reese dual cam 1200 lbs bars with last trailer for 3 years no problem got a new trailer dealer moved hitch to new trailer and towed with it for two years no problem first trip out this year 3 hour trip when we got to campsite the snap up bracket on the driver side was bent out away from the frame these brackets have two holes at the bottom with bolts threaded into the trailer frame and a single bolt at the top inside of frame that is just tightened against frame bent bracket back as best I could and made the trip home went and bought new brackets at the dealer these now have one bolt hole in the middle of the bracket but closer to the top and still the inside frame bolt that tightens against the trailer frame. Dealer said that something must be wrong for these to bend well they set it up and have had no issues to this time. I think this new bracket will be less likely to bend with the higher mounting bolt hole could this have been caused by fatigue maybe the inside bolt was loose and I missed it? nothing has changed with setup have two links hanging, head position has not changed the one on the passenger side looked like it was bent a slight amount so replaced both brackets and kept the one for a spare drilled and tapped frame for new bolt location. Leaving next week for 2 week trip out east any thoughts?

I have the same hitch and all I can think of is that you turned to tight and bent it. I did slightly bend one of my cams backing into my to tight driveway. I now stop and take the bars off before I back in.

The dealer INSTALLED it. They did not set it up for you. They could not have possibly set it up for you because they installed it on a dry empty trailer. You went home and filled the water tank, filled the fridge, filled the drawers, filled the storage compartments, and completely changed the whole dynamic of the rig.IMHO you should never trust the dealer to have set up the WD hitch properly for you. Remember they already have your money, and they are paying their guys by the hour. The less time a mechanic spends on each task means more money in the owner's pocket.

do your brackets have U shaped gussetts welded to the bracket as reinforcement? If not, I'd suggest you get the HD brackets and install them given the bars your using. Reese updated brackets a few years ago and the 1400lb brackets have gussets to prevent what you had happen. I think now even the 1200 lb system comes with these brackets.it may be the new trailer dynamics and weight put you over the edge with the older non HD brackets if that is what you now have.

I'd have to see a picture of the hitch ready to roll to form an opinion on what may have gone wrong. The most common reason for broken or bent parts is the head tilted to far forward and chains pulled up too tight. If you're using less than five links, it's not set up right. You should be able to turn as sharp as you need to without truck to trailer contact without removing the bars.

Hannibal wrote:I'd have to see a picture of the hitch ready to roll to form an opinion on what may have gone wrong. The most common reason for broken or bent parts is the head tilted to far forward and chains pulled up too tight. If you're using less than five links, it's not set up right. You should be able to turn as sharp as you need to without truck to trailer contact without removing the bars.yes, especially the older version of the dual cam. the arms that hold the cam was changed at one time that helped prevent the bar from hitting the cam arm with to few links. If that happens very high stress on the bracket.

Reese dual cam problem | Good Sam Community

Crabbypatty
Explorer
Jun 27, 2017
I have the same hitch and all I can think of is that you turned to tight and bent it. I did slightly bend one of my cams backing into my to tight driveway. I now stop and take the bars off before I back in.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Jun 27, 2017
The dealer INSTALLED it. They did not set it up for you. They could not have possibly set it up for you because they installed it on a dry empty trailer. You went home and filled the water tank, filled the fridge, filled the drawers, filled the storage compartments, and completely changed the whole dynamic of the rig.

IMHO you should never trust the dealer to have set up the WD hitch properly for you. Remember they already have your money, and they are paying their guys by the hour. The less time a mechanic spends on each task means more money in the owner's pocket.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2017
do your brackets have U shaped gussetts welded to the bracket as reinforcement? If not, I'd suggest you get the HD brackets and install them given the bars your using. Reese updated brackets a few years ago and the 1400lb brackets have gussets to prevent what you had happen. I think now even the 1200 lb system comes with these brackets.

it may be the new trailer dynamics and weight put you over the edge with the older non HD brackets if that is what you now have.
Hannibal
Explorer
Jun 27, 2017
I'd have to see a picture of the hitch ready to roll to form an opinion on what may have gone wrong. The most common reason for broken or bent parts is the head tilted to far forward and chains pulled up too tight. If you're using less than five links, it's not set up right. You should be able to turn as sharp as you need to without truck to trailer contact without removing the bars.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Jun 28, 2017
Hannibal wrote:
I'd have to see a picture of the hitch ready to roll to form an opinion on what may have gone wrong. The most common reason for broken or bent parts is the head tilted to far forward and chains pulled up too tight. If you're using less than five links, it's not set up right. You should be able to turn as sharp as you need to without truck to trailer contact without removing the bars.

yes, especially the older version of the dual cam. the arms that hold the cam was changed at one time that helped prevent the bar from hitting the cam arm with to few links. If that happens very high stress on the bracket.
myredracer
Explorer II
Jun 28, 2017
You want the HD brackets like in the photo. I bought an 800 lb DC package and it came with the HD snap-up brackets. Not sure why but am glad because I had to swap the bars out for 1200 lb ones.

Never trust a dealer to set up a WDH, esp. the Reese DC. As mentioned, need to do adjustments only after TV & TT are fully loaded. Agree, need a photo as there are too many variables at play.
Hannibal
Explorer
Jun 28, 2017
That's the snap up brackets that came with my 800 lb HP as well. The HP comes with integrated cams in the trunnion style spring bars so if I ever get around to buying and installing the sway control arms, I'll be able to report the difference towing. As it is, I have very little sway from passing trucks if there's a crosswind.
Thanks for the info on the arm change. I didn't know this.
djcjc
Explorer
Jun 29, 2017
I am hooked into the seventh link have two links hanging free. New bracket I got have one bolt instead of two but single bolt is mounted much higher on the hanger bracket than the two bolts that were in the bottom of the old hanger brackets. Trailer is tucked away and cant get it out and hooked up till Monday after graduation party we are having here for two grandkids on Sunday. We leave on Tuesday so I will just have to keep an eye on things again the setup has been the same for 3 years with first trailer and two years with existing trailer. Usually kick off bars if going to have to jack knife trailer when backing in. Only thing different this site was no jack knife but very steep incline backing in then trailer leveled off and truck still on steep down incline. Will try to post pics after I get it out on Monday.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Jun 29, 2017
djcjc wrote:
I am hooked into the seventh link have two links hanging free. New bracket I got have one bolt instead of two but single bolt is mounted much higher on the hanger bracket than the two bolts that were in the bottom of the old hanger brackets. Trailer is tucked away and cant get it out and hooked up till Monday after graduation party we are having here for two grandkids on Sunday. We leave on Tuesday so I will just have to keep an eye on things again the setup has been the same for 3 years with first trailer and two years with existing trailer. Usually kick off bars if going to have to jack knife trailer when backing in. Only thing different this site was no jack knife but very steep incline backing in then trailer leveled off and truck still on steep down incline. Will try to post pics after I get it out on Monday.

that steep incline will put more load on the bars, couple that with any side load on the bracket and unless it's the heavy duty bracket shown in one of the photo's in a previous link, it may end up bending the bracket. especially if it's the older style cam arms.
Hannibal
Explorer
Jun 29, 2017
Ah! That's probably where it happened. May have simply over stressed the brackets backing up the steep incline. I've read from one manufacturer that states the bars should be removed for such maneuvers forward or reverse.

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