Bent reese dual cam hitch chain bracket

[lspajm]

I have a 2016 314bhds eagle tt and use a reese dual cam hitch set up. I toed it home today from having some warranty work done at the dealer and when i went to unhook after backing into my driveway the drivers side bracket looked like this. Could it have been too much tension? Something happen when i was backing into the driveway? Turning? Anyone have any thoughts? It totally bent the entire bracket. Everything else on the hitch looks fine. Thanks for any advice.


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[bedrck46]

Had the same happen on one of my brackets The long bolt was a little loose.


Replace the bracket with the type that has a hole drilled in the face plate and using a self taping screw like the ones used to mount the propane tank tray to secure the snap up bracket and make sure the bolt is tight

[16Eagle314BHDS]

Originally Posted by lspajm

I have a 2016 314bhds eagle tt and use a reese dual cam hitch set up. I toed it home today from having some warranty work done at the dealer and when i went to unhook after backing into my driveway the drivers side bracket looked like this. Could it have been too much tension? Something happen when i was backing into the driveway? Turning? Anyone have any thoughts? It totally bent the entire bracket. Everything else on the hitch looks fine. Thanks for any advice.

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Same. Exact. Problem. Here. Twice actually. I ended up calling Reese directly after the dealer replaced two of them to see if there was a different product or better way to do it.

See page 10 of the attached PDF - installation instructions from Reese spell out "Installation of an additional bolt into the snap up bracket when using a Jayco RV with a coupler mounted to the bottom of the frame". For the life of me I don't understand how a Jayco dealer who exclusively recommends and uses Reese dual cam setups needed me to explain to their service department and send them the instructions from Reese on how to do this!!!

Perhaps you need to educate your dealer as well.

See page 10

http://www.reeseprod.com/content/dow...ion/N26002.pdf

Installation Instructions
TOOLS NEEDED: Snap Up Bracket
Drill Bits: 7/16”, 9/16” & ¼”
© 2014 Cequent Performance Products, Inc. Sheet 10 of 33 26002IN 10/1/15 Rev. S
WARNING:
Read all instructions before installing the additional bolt.
Failure to follow all of these instructions may result in death or serious injury!
For Installation or Operation Support contact CPP Technical Service: 1-888-521-0510.
2-1/4”
•Installation of an additional bolt into the snap up bracket when using
a Jayco RV with a coupler mounted to the bottom of the frame.
•If a hole does not already exist, mark the location of the hole to be
drilled into the snap up bracket. Center the hole from left to right and
place it 2-1/4” above the arc in the bracket. See the picture at left.
•Before the bracket is placed on the frame, drill a 9/16” hole in the
bracket
•Place the bracket in the correct place on the frame as directed in the
product instructions or replace it where it was if it had already been
installed.
•Using the hole in the bracket as a guide, drill a ¼” pilot hole. Be sure
to stay centered in the bracket hole.
• One method to stay centered is to use the 9/16” drill first. Just put a
small dimple into the frame with the 9/16” bit. Then finish drilling
with the ¼” drill bit and then a 7/16” drill bit to get the final hole. See
pilot hole to the left.
•Install the ½” self tapping screw into the hole in the bracket and
frame. Tighten it to 50 ft/lbs.
•Re-tighten the ½” set screw on the inside of the frame. Turn only
¼ to ½ of a turn after making contact with the frame.

[ensign]

I had the exact same thing happen to me. It was on my first trip out.

Turns out that the installer had made mistakes. I had also not adjusted the cams correctly after loading up my trailer.

So, I phoned up Reese from the campground and they overnighted two new brackets. They told me these were the "heavy duty" ones and they were certainly much stronger, and thicker than the brackets that were initially installed. Indeed, as I recall, the original brackets were stamped "made in China" and the heavy duty ones were made in the USA. Why these were not part of the initial install I don't know.

Anyway, a camp "angel" helped me set up the new brackets, showed me how to adjust them, and I have had 5 good years with the new brackets. I never drilled into the frame to attach the new brackets. I just make sure they are snug on the frame. Many thousands of miles, no bending.

The reese dual cam is a good system, but it is like race car. If finely tuned it runs well. If you don't take care of it, and adjust it, problems can arise.

So, call Reese, get the heavy duty brackets.

Cheers

Ensign

[ensign]

One more thing, I can tell looking at your brackets that you do not have the heavy duty ones. Compare the look of your brackets, to these:

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...ese/58392.html

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by 16Eagle314BHDS

snip......
•Re-tighten the ½” set screw on the inside of the frame. Turn only
¼ to ½ of a turn after making contact with the frame.

If the 1/2" set screw is overtightened above the recommended "1/4 to 1/2 of a turn" this can contribute to the snap-up bracket bending when under load. Also, improper mounting (orientation) of the hanger bracket on the cam arm can cause a snap-up bracket to bend outward.

Proper Reese chain hanger bracket mounting (post # 9):

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f3...p-30652-2.html

I've found that with heavier tongue weights (1,000lbs plus) bolting any snap-up bracket to the frame eliminates the snap-up bracket from moving along the top of the A-frame during tight TV turns.

My 12 year old Reese Dual Cam has performed great over the years and I thru- bolted my snap-up bracket prior to Reese's self-tapping screw recommendation for their standard & heavy duty snap-up brackets.

Additional snap-up bracket subject thread reference:

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f3...ns-7084-2.html

Bob

[robert9999]

Definitely need to use the self tapping screw to secure it. That long screw on the back is a helping support screw only. E trailer can get you that part also.

[bwalton]

Been there, had the same thing happen to me. The self-tapping screw through the front is a must.

[JHerzog]

Don't have a chain type WDH (solid bars) but would it not be wise before sharp turn backing to release the tension on the chains? No need for sway control when slow backing and making sharp angles.