Reese Dual Cam Wear

nholmes8669 · 03-02-2018, 03:42 PM

Has anyone seen this before? This doesn’t seem normal. This is on my 2015 Jayflight 32bhds. I bought the trailer used last year and this hitch was on it. Everything appears to be intalled correctly. Any suggestions? I am looking at replacing these at the very least.

Rustic Eagle · 03-02-2018, 04:36 PM

Welcome to JOF

Definitely not a normal wear pattern, the deep grooves suggest that the spring bar tail isn't resting properly over the cam's radius surface, and/or the A-frame mounting bracket is coming loose. Is there signs of wear on the inside surface of the chain bracket that attaches to the cam? Do you know the weight rating of your Reese WDH?

A side view pic of the entire WDH would be helpful.

What you can do is remove the cam arm from each side....., then reinstall the left side cam arm to the right side, and right side cam arm on the left side. This will place the undamaged bottom side of the cam surface up.

Also, the 32BHDS can produce a heavy loaded tongue weight and applying a small amount of Vaseline over the cam surface to a properly sized/adjusted WDH will minimize wear.

I would go through a complete re-adjustment per the Reese installation instructions once you relocate the cam arms.

My Reese Dual Cam WDH (same as yours) is over 12 years old and shows very little signs of wear. My prior Eagle had a loaded tongue weight of 1,300lbs, and my present Jay Flight is approx. 1,100lbs.

Bob

curver900 · 03-02-2018, 09:06 PM

maybe a pic of it together looks like an alignment issue.. too close if I had to guess.. Mine is 8 years old and has nice even wear...

+1 with Bob suggestions

nholmes8669 · 03-02-2018, 09:09 PM

Hi Bob, There doesn’t appear to be any wear on the chain bracket. Im pretty sure the weight rating is 1200/12,000 lbs but I will verify tomorrow. I will also get some more pictures as well. I will switch the cam arms around so there is fresh surface for the bars to ride on and check the installation instructions to make sure everything is in the proper place. Thanks

need-a-vacation · 03-02-2018, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nholmes8669

Hi Bob, There doesn’t appear to be any wear on the chain bracket. Im pretty sure the weight rating is 1200/12,000 lbs but I will verify tomorrow. I will also get some more pictures as well. I will switch the cam arms around so there is fresh surface for the bars to ride on and check the installation instructions to make sure everything is in the proper place. Thanks

Check the cam brackets where they are mounted on the tongue. Make sure they are still secure, and properly mounted. That could be why it looks like the wd bar isn’t sitting flat on the cam arm.

Also, how heavy do you have the front pass through and under the bed packed? Do you haul fresh water? I ask because there is a good chance the 1200lb bars aren’t enough for your loaded tw. For the 32 BHDS I highly suggest at least 1400lb or 1500lb wd bars (depending on the brand wdh).

Reese said to use Vaseline as mentioned, or I was also told (by a Reese tech!) I could use a light amount of white litheum grease.

Good luck!!!

**WVDusty** · 03-03-2018, 06:23 AM

Is this damage on both sides? If not it almost looks to me like it has taken a impact rather than a alignment issue.

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nholmes8669 · 03-03-2018, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WVDusty

Is this damage on both sides? If not it almost looks to me like it has taken a impact rather than a alignment issue.

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The first two pictures are on the drivers side and the third is on the passenger side. Definitely more wear on the drivers side. I am going to get some more pictures today but something is not right.

nholmes8669 · 03-03-2018, 12:22 PM

Looks like this is more than likely the cause of the problem. Both brackets were tight.The question is how to correctly mount these? Seems like kind of a bad design to me.

Rustic Eagle · 03-03-2018, 05:10 PM

Yep, the bent brackets will cause the spring bar tail to rest at angle on the cam surface, and during TV turns the spring bar edge will eventually create the cam surface grooves.

I question if the mounting bracket was even properly "located" on the A-frame...., the amount of exposed thread on the cam arm adjustment suggests to me that the bracket was placed a little to far forward........, I could be wrong. The Reese installation instructions can confirm this (distance from center of tongue to center of cam arm pivot point on A-frame mounting bracket).

I can't tell from the pics, but did the bracket compromise the side of the A-frame tube? The bracket saddle itself may be bent as well, will have to remove to confirm.

Do you have a copy of the Reese Installation Instructions (has set-up dimensions, etc.)?

Depending on the model Reese Dual Cam, there are two different styles of chain mounting brackets, if attached incorrectly they can also influence chain pull issues at the cam arm. Refer to post #9 in the following JOF link:

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...p-30652-2.html

Bob

bdreinv · 03-03-2018, 05:20 PM

Are you able to get any feed back from Reese Tech support? They still talk to me my 20K hitch is twelve years old. Thanks

curver900 · 03-07-2018, 11:40 AM

it maybe one of those.. it is bent .. I would see if you can get new parts to replace and or just buy a new one and start over... there is no way to know what has or has not been compromised.

nholmes8669 · 03-07-2018, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curver900

it maybe one of those.. it is bent .. I would see if you can get new parts to replace and or just buy a new one and start over... there is no way to know what has or has not been compromised.

I just bought a new set of the dual cams (part # 26002) on Craigslist for half the price of new. Is there a stronger way to mount these other than the two bolts that thread into the frame? Also, it seems like the jack-bolt would want to try to push the bracket downward as well...

Rustic Eagle · 03-07-2018, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nholmes8669

snip..... Is there a stronger way to mount these other than the two bolts that thread into the frame?........snip

Yes...., this is what I did and why:

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...em-6606-4.html

Post #17 shows the backer plate/thru bolts mounted.

Bob

robert9999 · 03-17-2018, 01:45 PM

My cam brackets started to get loose on mine last year due to the fact that those threaded inserts in the frame lost their traction & spun in the drilled holes. I bought new extended bolts with nuts & lock washers & drilled through & through the frame. I added a 1/4 inch backing plate on the inner side of the frame that spans between both bolts so I can tighten the nuts on & not stress the frame at those points. It helped improve in my towing experience also. No damage was found at that point to the cam surfaces but I'm sure if I didn't check things out periodically they would have or worse. I don't like or trust those threaded inserts. I did the install & was meticulous. I made sure the drill bits were the correct size & I needed to lightly hammer them in to fit. They were snug & I torqued to the recommended value without issue on the initial install. When I went to recheck the torque after a 6,000 mile trip I noticed they had failed. I have towed another 5,000 miles since with the new bolt install & they are perfect.

1wayhighway · 03-22-2018, 11:13 AM

I have 17k on my set up and have a little wear but nothing to the order you have shown. I put a little greese on the cams to help with this and keeps the noise down a little. Because these setups depend on the hook on the bar laying on the cam to provide force I figured a little grease wouldn't hurt however I am sure you are technically not supposed to grease.

Based on the bending of the bracket it almost looks like they were overloaded.

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