Since we got our new TT, i have been having problems hitching and unhitching, especially geeting the load off the bars to remove them. The last time, the nose of the truck was pointed down a bit, and i had a heck of a time. I could not get the ball to release from the coupler either. Then I noticed it...the angle of my drop bar and hitch ball on the truck side was off. When the dealer installed it, the grooves on the washer were perpendicular to the grooves on the bar instead of parallel so they locked. This allows the hitch ball to pitch towArd the truck when you back it up. Theoretically, do you think this is the cause of not being able to get the load off my WD bars? I would literally have to bang them out with a block of wood and a hammer and it was scary.

Yes, if it moves then that would throw the adjustment off bad.

Brett K wrote:The last time, the nose of the truck was pointed down a bit, and i had a heck of a time. I could not get the ball to release from the coupler either. Then I noticed it...the angle of my drop bar and hitch ball on the truck side was off.You sure the drop bar (shank) was angled as that should not happen...unless I am understanding you incorrectly. Hitch head is what angles to increase or decrease the pressure on the spring bars.EDIT: I now see that you are referring to the spring bars as drop bars.Brett K wrote:Theoretically, do you think this is the cause of not being able to get the load off my WD bars? I would literally have to bang them out with a block of wood and a hammer and it was scary.Agree with the other poster that something sounds out of adjustment. Best thing for you is to really learn the whole system and re-set it up properly. Reese Dual Cam set-up can be a little finicky getting it set-up, but once it is done right along with proper 13%-15% tongue weight nose loading of the trailer, they work well. You also want to make sure you grease the ball every time you hitch up.

Sounds like the bolts weren't properly torqued causing them to loosen and change your head angle. If I read correctly you were parked with the tow vehicle slightly nose down- this along with ball tilt towards the truck would likely cause problems uncoupling.You are going to have to readjust the head angle and re-torque the bolts.

A clarification, the OP's square washer had it's grooves placed perpendicular to the groves in the head allowing it to slip. It wouldn't matter how it was adjusted or how tight it was, the assembly was put together wrong.

Doesn't a post like this make you feel just great knowing that the people you pay to do professional work for you can't even get the very basic setup correct:(

Reese Dual Cam issue | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

Brett_K
Explorer
Aug 05, 2014
Dan, is that 3 grooves on the front/truck or rear/trailer side?
1wayhighway
Explorer
Aug 01, 2014
I realize you may be getting together with Paul but just wanted to be a voice of encouragement. I have a dual cam and this is my first year pulling a large trailer and using a WDH. It's not as complicated as it sounds or looks but it can take a couple trips to a CAT scale to weigh it to get it dialed in (weighing it is really the only way to be sure you have it set up correctly).

My TV is a 2013 F150 SCREW 4x4 and I pull a White Hawk 28DSBH. I have the locking device set so that 3 grooves are showing and I hook the chains in the 6th link. This set up provides great WD and sway control for the rig.

The ability to tilt the head gives you another way to adjust the tension on the chains by changing the distance the bars are from the trailer frame because sometimes one link in the chain can be too much or not enough.

The only thing I have found to be a problem is getting the bars on or off the cams. I have learned that you need to be near perfectly straight and you have to use your tongue jack (which is normal) to lift the back of the truck to the point of making me nervous but that's what it takes.

Good luck, Dan.
Brett_K
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
pipefitr wrote:
If you need a hand let me know . I will pm my number to you. I live very close to drums. (Lattimer) I have a dual cam on my trailer and have not had any problems. I set it my self. I'm sure we can get it close enough. I could look at next week for with you.

Paul

Paul, that is a really nice gesture. I will pm you. Thank you.
pipefitr
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
If you need a hand let me know . I will pm my number to you. I live very close to drums. (Lattimer) I have a dual cam on my trailer and have not had any problems. I set it my self. I'm sure we can get it close enough. I could look at next week with you.

Paul
Huntindog
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
Brett K wrote:
If you are seriously telling me that is what I have to do, I'll put it back together and let someone else do it. I do not have an engineering degree or that much free time. II was lost by the second page.the problem is it seems most dealerships have no better understanding of these than I do. It figures I would have picked the weight distribution system that was this complicated. I think I'll just make my best guess on where it should be, and make the four hour trek back to the dealership after our last trip of the year.
This is why I often recommend that a newbie start out with a basic weight distribution setup with a add on friction control. Easy to understand, and even if the setup is off, it will still provide some benefit.. Unlike the hitches with the sway control built into the WD.... If it isn't adjusted correctly, then both the sway control AND WD will be off.

To the OP. Going back to the dealer likely won't solve anything. They screwed it up bad the first time, and likely still don't know what they are doing... Perhaps you could trade it out for the setup I mentioned above.
The integreted sway control hitches aren't for everyone.
Brett_K
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
If you are seriously telling me that is what I have to do, I'll put it back together and let someone else do it. I do not have an engineering degree or that much free time. II was lost by the second page.the problem is it seems most dealerships have no better understanding of these than I do. It figures I would have picked the weight distribution system that was this complicated. I think I'll just make my best guess on where it should be, and make the four hour trek back to the dealership after our last trip of the year.
myredracer
Explorer II
Jul 31, 2014
This is also a good read that shows what can go wrong. Only 22 pages long... :R Reese DC issues
Jerallen
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
Check this out if you haven't already.

DC setup thread
Brett_K
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
From what i have researched, the ball angle is critical to the loading of the bars. This is going to be a pain in the butt. I adjusted the ball angle to be pitched back toward the trailer one notch from parallel.
Jerallen
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
ScottG wrote:
A clarification, the OP's square washer had it's grooves placed perpendicular to the groves in the head allowing it to slip. It wouldn't matter how it was adjusted or how tight it was, the assembly was put together wrong

Missed that- yeah would slip no matter what.
My DC head has the hexagonal numbered washer.

myredracer wrote:
There are some things unique to the DC WDHs that a person should know about. I'd search the forums for threads on these hitches. There is a wealth of info. on them.

X2. Couldn't agree more.