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9one1_'s avatar
9one1_
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013

Sway/Reece dual cam issue with a F250

Ok I just about had it with my Reece Dual cam set up. This is my second trailer with it and I've replaced 4 snap up brackets the last one being their HD version. The cam arm mount bolts stripped out so I had to drill through the entire frame and and run a bolt all the way through. The bars pop so loud that they can be heard three towns away. It doesn't do anything for the sway as I pulled over half way home from the last trip and took them off and it wiggled less then with them on.

My truck is a 2011 F250 with the Powerstroke with 7500 miles. Interesting side bar with the truck- I just picked it up from the dealership after I complained about too much rear squat in the back with any load and especially towing. They put the F350's 4 inch rear blocks on in place of the 2 inch F250 ones then changed out the rear shocks and some other spacers. Truck looks great now, not ass heavy empty (level when measured wheelwell to ground) like before.

My last trip of the year last year is when the HD snap up bracket bent. I ended up bolting them to the frame per the Reece tech suggestion and resetting up the hitch. I again followed the instructions and leveled the trailer with the ball height then the truck with the tilt and chain tension. My first trip this year was Memorial Day weekend and I ended up stopping 100 miles into the trip and it did not feel right. I ended up loosening up the chain by one link. It felt better but still wasn't perfect. A little light reading of my owners manual says that the front measurement should only be returned to 1/2 the unhitched height which is probably why I didn't feel like I was in control.

2nd trip was this past weekend. Same set up as before and it felt the same. The truck steering was fine but the trailer was moving around a lot more then I felt comfortable with especially above say 50mph.

Like I mentioned earlier, I took off the bars 1/2 way home to see what would happen and there really wasn't much change. If anything it swayed less.

I don't have the $2500-3000 for a Hensley or Propride so I'm looking at a Blue Ox SwayPro or maybe an Equalizer. I just don't know what to do.

The trailer is a Jayco 29QBH 33.3 feet long which has GVWR of 9250lbs and a dry tongue weight of 920lbs. When I weighed the trailer last it was 7840lbs. I'm guessing the tongue weight with a full load of propane was at least 980lbs. I think I should have had plenty of tongue weight and I'm running 1200lbs bars.

The other variable with the trailer is that it has an under slung coupler which is why Reece said to bolt the snap up bracket for added support.

Here is a picture from the Memorial Day trip after I took out a link of tension.



Ok...HELP!!
  • How are the tires on the truck? Are they aired up completely? Are they rated for the weight and speed you are using them at? Sometimes it is not the trailers fault.
  • 3.0charlie wrote:
    My setup is an '04 Expy pulling a 6200# TT using the Reese DC (did the same bolt-thru-frame as you; I don't like them Reese bolts/screws...). Very little rear sag (1/2" to 3/4"), front is back even with 800# bars, and a tongue weight of 820#.

    From all the reading I did prior to installing the DC setup (did it before 1st trip this year), I think your issue lies in the bars (1200#) vs. tongue weight (~920#) vs. tongue weight ratio (12%-15%). I'd start by weighing your TT at the scales, with and without the WD engaged.

    Once done, adjust the DC links per the instructions (mine is set up at 5) and head out for a road test.




    I totally agree it is too heavily barred and things can't work as they should in all bound up!! I had the owner of the hensley Co tell me you would be amazed how much a lighter weight bar will do as in a positive way.He was using 750 when I would have been using 1000 lb bars. jmho jb
  • 9one1! wrote:
    RinconVTR wrote:
    You need to confirm your actual tongue weight before all else...the number may surprise you. Too much tongue weight can be as bad as too little IMO.


    That is kinda what I'm thinking. Too much tongue weight.


    X2! I was having the same issues. Then i weighed mine to find out i had over 1500lbs of tongue weight!!! I moved some stuff around and the truck and trailer felt like they were 2 completely different vehicles. The DC is a great sway control hitch, so i wouldn't condem it until everything else checks out. BTW i also had a tire issue at the same time. When i replaced them it really helped with the handling of the trailer. They had put "D" rated tires on a trailer with a GVWR of 11,200lbs from the factory! I had "E" rated ST tires installed and that was the final key in making the trailer stay solid as a rock behind my X, besides improving the Excursions notoriously weak rear suspension.

    Good luck!
  • 9one1! wrote:
    The other variable with the trailer is that it has an under slung coupler which is why Reece said to bolt the snap up bracket for added support.
    With an under-mount coupler, I'm guessing your cam support arms are at a very steep angle.
    If so, the friction of the cam acting against a very steep bar slope can exert unusually high forces on the lift chain.

    Is it possible for you to raise the rear ends of the WD bars by reducing the amount of ball mount tilt and decreasing the number of chain links under tension?
    This would position the bars at a less-steep angle and might eliminate some of your problems.

    If you have a close up photo of a bar, cam, and lift chain when the TT is attached to the TV, that would give us a better basis for providing comments.

    Ron
  • RinconVTR wrote:
    You need to confirm your actual tongue weight before all else...the number may surprise you. Too much tongue weight can be as bad as too little IMO.


    That is kinda what I'm thinking. Too much tongue weight.
  • My setup is an '04 Expy pulling a 6200# TT using the Reese DC (did the same bolt-thru-frame as you; I don't like them Reese bolts/screws...). Very little rear sag (1/2" to 3/4"), front is back even with 800# bars, and a tongue weight of 820#.

    From all the reading I did prior to installing the DC setup (did it before 1st trip this year), I think your issue lies in the bars (1200#) vs. tongue weight (~920#) vs. tongue weight ratio (12%-15%). I'd start by weighing your TT at the scales, with and without the WD engaged.

    Once done, adjust the DC links per the instructions (mine is set up at 5) and head out for a road test.
  • You need to confirm your actual tongue weight before all else...the number may surprise you. Too much tongue weight can be as bad as too little IMO.
  • If you want more info about the Blue Ox here is some good info on a thread I started a few months back when I was hooking up my F350 and 35" TT that might give you some insight. I really like the sway pro once I got it dialed in. Here is the Link

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