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06-07-2016, 06:36 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 14
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Sway bar bracket shifting while towing
During my first trip with my new travel trailer I noticed that the bracket attached to the trailer tongue had moved from straight up and down to a slight angle. (This is the bracket where the sway bar attaches to the tongue.)
I had to take the trailer into the dealer for service on another issue and asked them to straighten and tighten the bracket and they did. The service advisor told me to keep a tool with me to tighten the bracket if it moved and this happens because of the movement while towing. Today I picked up the camper and drove about 30 minutes to the storage lot and the bracket was at an angle again. The bar on that side was not as easy to remove as the straight side when unhitching at the storage lot.
Additional info.- I bought this equalizer wdh used from the dealer and they installed it.
Is this movement normal and I should just keep a wrench with me to tighten it or should I worry and insist the dealer tighten it again? Any other suggestions?
I am attempting to add a photo of the angled bracket.
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06-07-2016, 06:38 PM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 14
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The other side
Here is a pic of the side that has not moved.
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06-07-2016, 06:42 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Fort Wayne
Posts: 1,271
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Is it also moving where its bolted to frame or just the bracket attached to it... a friend of mine had that problem and he had a friend put a couple of tack welds top and bottom to frame ... not solid just a couple of tacks to keep it from moving
__________________
2011 F250 King Ranch Crew Cab Diesel , 2015 Jayco Eagle 338 rets
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06-07-2016, 06:46 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paintinfool3
Is it also moving where its bolted to frame or just the bracket attached to it... a friend of mine had that problem and he had a friend put a couple of tack welds top and bottom to frame ... not solid just a couple of tacks to keep it from moving
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That's a good question. I think the whole piece is moving. I will have to look at it closer the next time it happens. A tack weld would probably work but I need to find someone who can do that for me. Thank you for the idea!
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06-07-2016, 06:50 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Fort Wayne
Posts: 1,271
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well that way if you ever have to remove just a slight hit with a grinder and it will come loose
__________________
2011 F250 King Ranch Crew Cab Diesel , 2015 Jayco Eagle 338 rets
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06-07-2016, 07:57 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Thunder Bay
Posts: 117
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I have those brackets and I just tighten the **** out of them... I mean so tight that the bracket almost bends along the trailer frame.
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06-07-2016, 08:06 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 1,710
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Mine do that too. Make sure they are tight but I'm sure they will keep moving slightly. I use my WHD bars to knock them back into place.
__________________
2018 28BHBE
2017 Ford F250 XLT, 6.2 gasser
2013 26BH (traded)
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06-07-2016, 08:19 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Southern California
Posts: 572
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There is a certain torque that they are supposed to be tightened to. You need a torque wrench. Also, we always stop about 30 min in to retighten.
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__________________
2016 Jay Feather X254
2001 Ford Excursion 6.8L V10 4.30's
Equal-i-zer 1000/10,000 WDH
Previous TV: 2004 Ford Exedition w/ heavy duty tow package[/COLOR]
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06-07-2016, 08:48 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Fresno
Posts: 205
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It's possible to over tighten them causing the ends to bend in and the middle to bow out and slipping. The correct torque is 75 lb/ft and you need to tighten them evenly so they stay as flat as possible against the trailer frame.
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__________________
Tom & Jill Williams
2015 Jayco Jay Flight 27RLS
2017 Ford F-250 4X4 Crew Cab 6.7L Diesel 3.55 E-Locker
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06-07-2016, 09:04 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: SW Washington
Posts: 1,024
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Overtightening them causes the brackets to bow and less surface area is then touching on the frame allowing them to shift. I'd re-torque them to specification and see if that resolves the problem. If not I'd then have a hitch shop tack weld them in place.
__________________
2009 F350 CC LB 4WD
2017 Jayco 355MBQS
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06-08-2016, 03:55 AM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Boston
Posts: 8
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Mine do the same thing,nothing to worry about,retighten yourself.torque to spec. Don't overtighten.even angled like you show in the picture,they are still working.hope this will ease your fears.next time you unhitch just straighten then out.
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06-08-2016, 05:20 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Abingdon
Posts: 6,177
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Have you made any very tight turns? Or have you backed up with a tight turn? If you come close to "jack-knifing" so to speak backing up, that may bend a bracket. It's odd that it's just one side, which brings me to believe maybe that was the case. Probably wrong but, just throwin' that out there. Hope you get it worked out soon.
__________________
2013 Jayco Eagle 328 RLTS
2021 Keystone Montana 3121RL
2013 F350 6.7L 4x4 CCLB
W/Air Lift air bags (front & rear)
Equal-I-Zer™ WDH & B&W Companion
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06-08-2016, 05:22 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Abingdon
Posts: 6,177
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Or maybe just replace it with a new one with new bolts...everything. Could be a bolt tightening issue.
__________________
2013 Jayco Eagle 328 RLTS
2021 Keystone Montana 3121RL
2013 F350 6.7L 4x4 CCLB
W/Air Lift air bags (front & rear)
Equal-I-Zer™ WDH & B&W Companion
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06-08-2016, 06:51 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Dale Hollow Lake Tn/Ky
Posts: 2,525
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Riwey
During my first trip with my new travel trailer I noticed that the bracket attached to the trailer tongue had moved from straight up and down to a slight angle. (This is the bracket where the sway bar attaches to the tongue.)
I had to take the trailer into the dealer for service on another issue and asked them to straighten and tighten the bracket and they did. The service advisor told me to keep a tool with me to tighten the bracket if it moved and this happens because of the movement while towing. Today I picked up the camper and drove about 30 minutes to the storage lot and the bracket was at an angle again. The bar on that side was not as easy to remove as the straight side when unhitching at the storage lot.
Additional info.- I bought this equalizer wdh used from the dealer and they installed it.
Is this movement normal and I should just keep a wrench with me to tighten it or should I worry and insist the dealer tighten it again? Any other suggestions?
I am attempting to add a photo of the angled bracket.
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Not normal. Maybe a problem with this design as others seem to have experienced the same issue. You have to ask yourself why the dealer had this as a used hitch for resale. My guess is someone else bought it and had the same issue and took it back to the dealer and exchanged it for a better hitch. The dealer just sold you someone elses problem.
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06-08-2016, 07:18 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,206
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As long as the bracket is torqued correctly, and the plates are flat against the frame, and the brackets are the proper distance from the coupler, this shouldn't happen.
I bent some brackets on my hitch from torquing it wrong (if you bend them, they'll never be right again). When I went to order replacement parts, I discovered that these spring bar hangers and brackets have been re-designed. I can't tell from the pics whether you have the new design or the old one. I can tell you that the new design is FAR superior and solves all sorts of problems.
__________________
-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
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06-08-2016, 07:49 AM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iraqvet05
Mine do that too. Make sure they are tight but I'm sure they will keep moving slightly. I use my WHD bars to knock them back into place.
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I feel better knowing that this is not unusual. I had a pop up before so this is my first experience with a WDH and worried maybe I had made a mistake buying used.
Thank you!
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06-08-2016, 07:51 AM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rustysocket
Overtightening them causes the brackets to bow and less surface area is then touching on the frame allowing them to shift. I'd re-torque them to specification and see if that resolves the problem. If not I'd then have a hitch shop tack weld them in place.
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Thank you! This is my first WDH and I am learning a lot.
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06-08-2016, 07:52 AM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DTB7811
Mine do the same thing,nothing to worry about,retighten yourself.torque to spec. Don't overtighten.even angled like you show in the picture,they are still working.hope this will ease your fears.next time you unhitch just straighten then out.
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Thank you! This helps ease my worry.
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06-08-2016, 07:55 AM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TWP723
Have you made any very tight turns? Or have you backed up with a tight turn? If you come close to "jack-knifing" so to speak backing up, that may bend a bracket. It's odd that it's just one side, which brings me to believe maybe that was the case. Probably wrong but, just throwin' that out there. Hope you get it worked out soon.
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That's a good thought. I can't think of any tight turns that would move it in that direction. I thought it was odd that it has happened twice to that same side.
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06-08-2016, 08:00 AM
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#20
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bassdogs
Not normal. Maybe a problem with this design as others seem to have experienced the same issue. You have to ask yourself why the dealer had this as a used hitch for resale. My guess is someone else bought it and had the same issue and took it back to the dealer and exchanged it for a better hitch. The dealer just sold you someone elses problem.
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I am worried this might be the case. I probably should have insisted on buying new.
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