I have a Reese Dual Cam WDH and Sway Control installed and this past weekend when I pulled into the dump station I noticed that my spring bars had popped out of the saddle of the sway control arm and were sitting on the ledge of the control arm versus in the saddle. I pulled around and straightened out and one of them fell back into the saddle while the other did not. I've never watched as i've turned before but I cannot believe that this is normal or safe. My bars are nice and tight and level with the trailer frame and I have 5 links showing so it all seems to be hooked up correctly (trailer and truck are level and wheel well measurements are returned to normal).....looking for any advice you all might have.

etrailer.comWatch their install instructions for the DC.If by saddle you mean the indent on the spring arm, than yes they do move out of the saddle when turning. After you go straight they should both be back in the indent. If they aren't you need to loosen the adjustments on the cams and drive around a parking lot to get them to set in the cams properly. Then retighten the nuts. If you mean the entire spring arm is on the edge of the cam that is usually a bent cam arm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgrgLBH2cHoThis might help

Faribio- this has happened to me the first 3 times I pulled my TT. Each was making a tight off-camber turn out of my uphill driveway. Each time I had to unhook and redo the WD.You didn't mention in the post having made any severe angled turns. Maybe?Now, when I leave home I have to leave the WD unhitched until I get everything in a straight line in the street and then hook it up.

Jerallen wrote:Faribio- this has happened to me the first 3 times I pulled my TT. Each was making a tight off-camber turn out of my uphill driveway. Each time I had to unhook and redo the WD.You didn't mention in the post having made any severe angled turns. Maybe?Now, when I leave home I have to leave the WD unhitched until I get everything in a straight line in the street and then hook it up.Yep...it's when I make a sharp turn. I did view the videos posted above so that makes me feel better that they are in fact supposed to move as you turn but mine are not always falling back into place. Mine don't just move forward and backwards mine are moving sideways a bit and getting hung up on the lip of the sway control arm.

Weight Distribution Spring Bar Problem | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

Faribo
Explorer
Aug 15, 2013
mooky stinks wrote:
I had a problem earlier in the year. Had to almost jack-knife to get out of a situation. When I got where we were going one of the bars was riding on the flat vertical part of the cam arm. I believe this is what the OP is referring to. It wore that piece down enough that it kept riding up on it every time I made a tight turn. I ended up taking it to work and having a piece of 3/8 flat welded on where the worn damage was. No problems since.

Yep, this is exactly what is happening to me. it just happened and doesn't look like it's worn anything down yet though.
mooky_stinks
Explorer
Aug 15, 2013
I had a problem earlier in the year. Had to almost jack-knife to get out of a situation. When I got where we were going one of the bars was riding on the flat vertical part of the cam arm. I believe this is what the OP is referring to. It wore that piece down enough that it kept riding up on it every time I made a tight turn. I ended up taking it to work and having a piece of 3/8 flat welded on where the worn damage was. No problems since.
Faribo
Explorer
Aug 15, 2013
fla-gypsy wrote:
Hondavalk wrote:
If you have trunnion bars and the ground clearance available I believe they should be at a downward angle and not level. If you can increase the head angle so you have another chain link that might help. I have a very steep cut when I park at home and the bars don't run up on the side of the cam. You might also want to call Reese themselves.

The above is your answer. It is possible to turn so sharply the bars will contact the other parts and be pushed out or be damaged. Downward angle on the bars while supplying the required WD is the key to proper set up.

Everything i've read and videos watched about this says the bars should be as close to level with the frame as possible??? Not sure what to think now?
Faribo
Explorer
Aug 15, 2013
Hondavalk wrote:
If you have trunnion bars and the ground clearance available I believe they should be at a downward angle and not level. If you can increase the head angle so you have another chain link that might help. I have a very steep cut when I park at home and the bars don't run up on the side of the cam. You might also want to call Reese themselves.

Thanks Hondavalk, appreciate your videos you posted too! I have the round bar style and those i believe are supposed to be level with the frame. After watching those videos you posted and reading the other comments I think i just need to tweak my setup a bit. Thanks again!
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Aug 15, 2013
Hondavalk wrote:
If you have trunnion bars and the ground clearance available I believe they should be at a downward angle and not level. If you can increase the head angle so you have another chain link that might help. I have a very steep cut when I park at home and the bars don't run up on the side of the cam. You might also want to call Reese themselves.

The above is your answer. It is possible to turn so sharply the bars will contact the other parts and be pushed out or be damaged. Downward angle on the bars while supplying the required WD is the key to proper set up.
Hondavalk
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2013
If you have trunnion bars and the ground clearance available I believe they should be at a downward angle and not level. If you can increase the head angle so you have another chain link that might help. I have a very steep cut when I park at home and the bars don't run up on the side of the cam. You might also want to call Reese themselves.
Faribo
Explorer
Aug 15, 2013
Jerallen wrote:
Faribio- this has happened to me the first 3 times I pulled my TT. Each was making a tight off-camber turn out of my uphill driveway. Each time I had to unhook and redo the WD.

You didn't mention in the post having made any severe angled turns. Maybe?

Now, when I leave home I have to leave the WD unhitched until I get everything in a straight line in the street and then hook it up.

Yep...it's when I make a sharp turn. I did view the videos posted above so that makes me feel better that they are in fact supposed to move as you turn but mine are not always falling back into place. Mine don't just move forward and backwards mine are moving sideways a bit and getting hung up on the lip of the sway control arm.
Jerallen
Explorer
Aug 15, 2013
Faribio- this has happened to me the first 3 times I pulled my TT. Each was making a tight off-camber turn out of my uphill driveway. Each time I had to unhook and redo the WD.

You didn't mention in the post having made any severe angled turns. Maybe?

Now, when I leave home I have to leave the WD unhitched until I get everything in a straight line in the street and then hook it up.
Hondavalk
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgrgLBH2cHo
This might help
Hondavalk
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2013
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