Pretty Sure Dual Cam Shouldn't Look Like This!

[Arn]

Got home today & this is what happened to my Reese Dual Cam. Both pieces are supposed to be straight. Ouch.


Click For Full-Size Image.


Click For Full-Size Image.

[dodge_guy]

In the second pic the newer cam hangers have that bend to them. It put the chain centered above the cam.
The first pic looks like it got jammed somehow and bent it.

I towed with a DC for 17 years and had it on 2 different trailers and never had any damage. Is it possible it got caught on a speed bump or something at some point?

[JBarca]

Hi, I may be able to help as I have seen this before.

Arn wrote:
Got home today & this is what happened to my Reese Dual Cam. Both pieces are supposed to be straight. Ouch.


Click For Full-Size Image.

If you could post a closer picture of the hitch setup on the current truck with the camper, we can see more. Need rear bumper of truck to front wall of camper and everything in-between.

The problem you are describing has happened before. So far, all have been traced to a setup problem. Compound angle turns can create a binding problem with the WD bar and the cam arm. Reese has redesigned the HP DC at least 3 times since the first HP DC, trying to make the DC fit more combinations easier. Your arms and the frame brackets look like the type from the early 2,000's. What year did you acquire the WD hitch and cams? The WD head and the tow ball shank can also have an interference pending the hitch head vintage and the type of hitch head.

Different TT's A frames, the hitch head, the hitch shank length, and truck setups have different needs. The one size fits all does not always apply.

The first pics shows a tell tail sign of the WD bar being bound up on the cast bump of the cam arm in a turn.

Give us a few pics of the complete setup, words get confused too much in these cases.

Hope this helps.

John

PS, I found this post from your other post wanting to change to the Equalizer hitch. We may be able to help you sort out what happened to the Reese.

PS 2, post a pic of the old bars too. The bars have changed over the years too. Dig through your old pics and see if you can find one.

[lane_hog]

I've got the shorter tips as well, but I do disconnect my bars before backing into our driveway because I need more flexibility to be able to freely pivot than when we're driving.

I've never had a bar slip that I know of, but 16 years ago I lost a bar in transit, and Reese sent me a new bar *and* a new hitch head which had redesigned pockets. I have no doubt they'll stand behind your issue.

Even if you're looking to switch hitches, give them a try so you have a complete set to try and sell.

[CaLBaR]

Arn wrote:

kellem wrote:
After a 2nd look, still can't imagine the culprit other than bottoming out in reverse or possibly an extremely sharp turn where the trunnion was close to being ejected and apon straightening back up.....the top section of trunnion caught the cam bracket.

Inspect the tip of trunnion for gouge marks.

Oh, 6 links does seem to be the sweet spot with these hitches.

\
After listening to what you guys have said & looking at everything I'm thinking the cam slipping out of the trunnion bar makes the most sense. I had to replace my bars this summer & the tip that drops down behind the detent for the cam is very short compared to my old bars. In hindsight I wish I would have kept them just to compare. I have to make a very sharp turn into my driveway & with the longer tip it was not an issue. With the shorter tip the cam probably slipped out the back of the bar & then the bar caught on it when I straightened out. I absolutely love the dual cam but if this is how the damage happened then I either need to disconnect when making sharp turns (not going to happen) or get a different hitch. I was leaning towards Blue Ox but after reading a lot of posts & a lot of reviews I'm now thinking Equalizer. Thank you all.
On a side note I have emailed Reese twice & have not received even as much as an acknowledgement of receipt, not impressed.

Don't email them, give them a call and talk to technical assistance. I called first thing in the morning when I had questions and talked to a tech right away and he was extremely helpful. I never email for customer service. Always get the best support and response talking person to person.

Here's all the info you need for technical support.
Technical Service
800-632-3290
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 6:00pm

[mosseater]

It wouldn't be the first time Cequent had part number compatibility issues. Two different parts with the same number from the factory.

[Arn]

kellem wrote:
After a 2nd look, still can't imagine the culprit other than bottoming out in reverse or possibly an extremely sharp turn where the trunnion was close to being ejected and apon straightening back up.....the top section of trunnion caught the cam bracket.

Inspect the tip of trunnion for gouge marks.

Oh, 6 links does seem to be the sweet spot with these hitches.

\
After listening to what you guys have said & looking at everything I'm thinking the cam slipping out of the trunnion bar makes the most sense. I had to replace my bars this summer & the tip that drops down behind the detent for the cam is very short compared to my old bars. In hindsight I wish I would have kept them just to compare. I have to make a very sharp turn into my driveway & with the longer tip it was not an issue. With the shorter tip the cam probably slipped out the back of the bar & then the bar caught on it when I straightened out. I absolutely love the dual cam but if this is how the damage happened then I either need to disconnect when making sharp turns (not going to happen) or get a different hitch. I was leaning towards Blue Ox but after reading a lot of posts & a lot of reviews I'm now thinking Equalizer. Thank you all.
On a side note I have emailed Reese twice & have not received even as much as an acknowledgement of receipt, not impressed.

[BurbMan]

I agree that some sort of road event must have caused this, these things don't just bend on their own. Since you've had good service out of this hitch set up, I wouldn't jump to another brand without talking to Reese first. At least try to understand what happened before you condemn the hitch. If it happened to you chances are good it's happened to somebody else before, and Reese may have info in their knowledge base on what causes something like this.

[mosseater]

That's pretty far away. Looks like it's a bottom coupler, so clearance usually isn't a problem. Hmmm....

[lane_hog]

I've used the dual-cam on and off for 15 years. Reese is serious about their warranty, so I'd suggest calling them. They sent me replacement parts when I had an issue back in 2006.

[Arn]

mosseater wrote:
Do you have pix of the set up hitched on the tv before things went wrong?

It's from quite a distance but does show the set up.


Click For Full-Size Image.

[mosseater]

Do you have pix of the set up hitched on the tv before things went wrong?

[Arn]

Checked the tip of the trunnion bar & the bottom of the cam & there is no damage beyond what is in the pictures. I'm almost afraid to stick with the Dual Cam setup. I'm in Canada so it's $500 just for the Reese 26002 kit which is only cams, hangar brackets & chains. If I go with that & the same thing happens then I just spent good money after bad. Blue Ox will run me around $1,000 & haven't yet priced Equalizer. What to do, what to do...

[kellem]

After a 2nd look, still can't imagine the culprit other than bottoming out in reverse or possibly an extremely sharp turn where the trunnion was close to being ejected and apon straightening back up.....the top section of trunnion caught the cam bracket.

Inspect the tip of trunnion for gouge marks.

Oh, 6 links does seem to be the sweet spot with these hitches.

[Arn]

Bracket was on correctly & I don't recall bottoming out. Certainly possible though. I'll check the bottom of the cam & the tip of the bar for scuff marks.