Reese Trunnion Questions??

[TUCQUALA]

After 12 yrs of towing with a "round" bar DC, I am heading over to the "dark" side!!! found a super deal on a trunnion setup. Wasn't used with DC, came with a friction sway control (YUK!!). In very good shape, very little wear on the pivot points. A few long trips before prev owner went to a class A.

QUESTION: Bars are roll pinned to the trunnions. There is some play in the connection. My past recollection of these was a bolt and jam nut holding the bar into the trunnion. Age of the stuff is aboot 6 yrs by the tags on the head. Is the slight side to side play something to consider, and change to bolt and nut???

Am aware of the "top" mount coupler occasional problems, will go to a tall ball if needed. Head is the newer, raised ball style. One more trip on the old "roundy" and then start the install and adjustment mess!!

[TUCQUALA]

Barney: One reason for change is tonque weight. The 1200# bars are "maxed" out, in my opinion. But main reason is excess wear in in the hitch head where the bars fit. On my second head and decided to make the change. Since Reese started making the heads (and whatever!!) in China, and going away from the spring clip style bar retention, the head has worn terribly. Creates a change in the DualCam adjustment over time. So "new" stuff and readustment is no big deal for me!! To anyone who is going to say I should lube, I DO, every trip. I've used moly lube, reg grease, a mix of gear oil and moly. Nothing has stopped the wear. The head metal is junk. PERIOD!!!

So I'll be rehitching after this weekend trip to the E OR mountains. Thanks for responses on the pins. But intersting that the holes in the trunnion are larger than the roll pins!! Not worn either!!!

[Lynnmor]

They have some play from new. If you are concerned about pin wear, drive out the old pins with new ones.

[dodge_guy]

You will have some slop till there is tension. The bars are pinned to the trunnions. And the trunnions are held in place in the sockets. Mine were the same way. Towed close to 20k miles never an issue!

[APT]

There is slop/play to insert the bars into the hitch head, but I do not have any play when there is tension. I have this setup:

[BarneyS]

Is your old round bar system still doing the job? If so, I'm wondering why you would want to change unless you have a tongue weight greater than 1200lbs now or are having clearance issues.
Personally, I would rather keep my old, working system than go through the whole setup process again just to change the bar type.

To answer your question, I would not be concerned with the small amount of play in the bar/trunnion mount. They will still work as intended.
Barney