BENT Snap up bracket!!

[fayliss]

After arriving home from the mountains last week, I discovered a snap up bracket was bent to the point of almost coming off the trailer frame. I carefully removed the torsion bars and returned it to the dealer for replacement. I contacted Reese with the problem but have not heard back from them yet. I am pulling a 31 RKS TT, tougue weight of 1050 pounds with a Ford Expedition. I have a Reese dual cam WD hitch rated for 1200 pounds. Has anyone else had an issue like this?? If so, what did you do to fix it? I'm going to try the heavy duty snap up brackets I've seen as I'm heading off for Ocean City, MD in a couple of weeks and don't want this to happen again. Any input would be appreciated.

[TexasA&M]

I had the same issue after my last trip and will be upgrading to the heavy duty brackets, and also upgrading to the 1,500lb bars. I don't have another trip planned until late September, so I have not ordered the new parts yet, but will be sure to give a report after the first trip.

FYI, I'm pulling a Jayflight G2 32BHDS and currently have a 1,200 WD Reese dual cam setup.

[nylyon]

I had an issue like that. I bought 2 new brackets which had holes to bolt them to the trailer. I also reinforced the frame on the inside with 1/8" steel plate. No bent snap-up brackets after that.

[Denise]

Originally Posted by fayliss

Has anyone else had an issue like this?? If so, what did you do to fix it? I'm going to try the heavy duty snap up brackets I've seen as I'm heading off for Ocean City, MD in a couple of weeks and don't want this to happen again. Any input would be appreciated.

Although not a Reese, we had a similar problem with our Equalizer as well as a "fix". All is well now

[jtradar]

You need to contact Reese they have new redisigned brackes that they will send out free of charge. The new bracks are reinforced and should solve the problem. Here is the number for cequent towing products 800-521-0510

[Rustic Eagle]

This thread in "TechTalk" may be helpful: http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthread.php?t=2578

Bob

[usmc616]

Originally Posted by jtradar

You need to contact Reese they have new redisigned brackes that they will send out free of charge. The new bracks are reinforced and should solve the problem. Here is the number for cequent towing products 800-521-0510

I just called them and they will ship me a pair as soon as they have them made. Thanks for the phone number.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by jtradar

You need to contact Reese they have new redisigned brackes that they will send out free of charge. The new bracks are reinforced.......snip

Stronger than the Reese HD #58392 brackets?

Bob

[TexasA&M]

Just got off the phone with Reese. They are sending me a pair of the heavy duty brackets. Now I just need to buy some heavier bars and a shank, and I'll be set!

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by TexasA&M

snip.......They are sending me a pair of the heavy duty brackets.....snip

TexasA&M,

Curious minds want to know....., what do they look like and what is the model number? If you can, post a pic of them in this thread when you get them.

Thanks in advance,

Bob

[TexasA&M]

They are the #58392 brackets. I'll post some actual pictures when I receive them. I'm glad I called... I had these in my cart at etrailer.com. Reese saved me $110!

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by TexasA&M

They are the #58392 brackets.....snip

Yep, that is the HD model number that has been around awhile and is the same one I purchased years ago.

Look forward to your pic to see if they have upgraded the design from the #58392 I have.

Bob

[jtradar]

Rustic Eagle wrote:

Stronger than the Reese HD #58392 brackets?


They sent me the same #58392 Titan 1500lb Model Its reinforced compared with the brackets that came with my kit.
John

[housedad]

Heck, I'm bending the reinforced bracket on my drivers side with every trip out. I have the 1500lb straightline

It is bending just below the reinforcement. It is screwed to the frame with two large sheet metal screws. The top clamping bolt ends up being bent the same as you folks describe.

[TexasA&M]

What trailer are you pulling? I'm slightly concerned about this as well, but I guess I'll have to try it out and see how it works.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by housedad

Heck, I'm bending the reinforced bracket on my drivers side with every trip out.....snip

Any chance you can post a couple side view pics of your WDH with the TV/TT hitched up?

There are numerous possible causes, but the WDH set-up/adjustment is the first that needs to be ruled out (assuming that the snap-up bracket is properly mounted http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthread.php?t=2578).

Bob

[housedad]

Originally Posted by housedad

Heck, I'm bending the reinforced bracket on my drivers side with every trip out. I have the 1500lb straightline

It is bending just below the reinforcement. It is screwed to the frame with two large sheet metal screws. The top clamping bolt ends up being bent the same as you folks describe.

Jayco 322fks. 1225 lb tongue with full water in the rear, 1375 lb without water

It is not the tongue weight. The hitch is "supposed" to be designed to handle that.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by housedad

Jayco 322fks. 1225 lb tongue with full water in the rear, 1375 lb without water. It is not the tongue weight. The hitch is "supposed" to be designed to handle that.

Housedad,

I'm not questioning the WDH weight "rating" in your situation, just ruling out any set-up/adjustment possibilities to narrow down a possible root cause. My brother in-law has a 2009 Jayco 322FKS and he hasn't had any issues with his Straight-Line and/or snap-up brackets..., so I'm very curious what is different about your TV/TT set-up that would be causing a bent bracket on "every trip out".

I've run into situations with Straight-Line WDH set-ups where something as simple as the HP Dual Cam chain Hanger Bracket was mounted incorrectly at the cam lug, thus causing the snap-up bracket to bend under heavy tongue weights.

Also, depending if the TT coupler is welded on the top or bottom of the TT A-frame can create some binding issues with some WDH set-ups. Your coupler is welded on the bottom (like mine), which with the Straight-Line WDH is normally a better condition with trunnion style bars. Folks with the standard WDH (no Dual Cam) have the dynamics of the chain moving with the spring bars in TV turns, thus an incorrect set-up/adjustment can destroy a snap-up bracket over time.

Again, just throwing ideas out there, hate to hear anyone having these types of problems.

Bob

[bounder]

I have also bent the heavy duty bracket on the drivers side. Sent pictures to Reese. Hitch was set up correctly, they sent me new brackets and suggested that I bolt them to the frame. I used heavy sheet metal screws & I am going to tack weld the brackets.

[Rustic Eagle]

Ernie,

Mine have been bolted to the frame as well for years, no problems thus far with my 1,200lb tongue weight. There are so many variables that can contribute to issues with the snap-up bracket these days, to many different TV/TT combinations.

I ran into one situation with a guy that the root cause was the inside angle of his particular A-frame was off compared to the other side. This caused the Dual Cam frame bracket on one side to be off center (in relation to the spring bar) just enough that the spring bar would bind over the cam surface in an aggressive TV turn......, thus bending the snap-up bracket.

On another TV/TT application we found that the spring bar knuckle (at the ball mount) was coming into contact with the lower leading edge of the A-frame tube causing the snap-up bracket to twist right off the top of the A-frame. This was a top mount ball coupler.

The WDH can look just fine with the TV/TT in a straight line, but simulate a TV turn and the whole picture changes.

Bob