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11-10-2012, 09:16 AM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
2012 20' Flying Cloud
Leawood
, Kansas
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5
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Airstream newbies need help please - sway bar noise
Hi all. My husband and i just purchased a 20 ft flying cloud. The sway bar makes a large creaking noise when making turns and slight maneuvers. Any tips on how to alleviate this? Many thanks!!
Lynnie and Michael Lutz
Leawood, KS
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11-10-2012, 09:29 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2009 27' FB Flying Cloud
1982 31' International
1991 35' Airstream 350
Jay
, Oklahoma
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,706
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That's normal.
If it is a friction type sway control, it works just as the name implies. Friction is not always quiet.
JD
__________________
Jeff & Cindy
'09 27FB Flying Cloud;'82 31 International
'91 350 LE MH; '21 Interstate 24GT
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11-10-2012, 10:16 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2011 28' International
Chatham
, Ontario
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,401
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Is it new? Ours took about eight months of use to quieten down but as JD says above, fiction can be noisy so I'd not worry about it.
Our dealer was quite scathing about the quality of the friction material and actually offered to replace ours at cost, but we stuck with them and they're fine now.
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11-10-2012, 10:23 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lynnrae
Hi all. My husband and i just purchased a 20 ft flying cloud. The sway bar makes a large creaking noise when making turns and slight maneuvers. Any tips on how to alleviate this? Many thanks!!
Lynnie and Michael Lutz
Leawood, KS
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What type sway bar do you have?
Andy
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11-10-2012, 10:41 AM
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#5
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1 Rivet Member
2012 20' Flying Cloud
Leawood
, Kansas
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5
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Thank you all for the quick and helpful replies. The sway bar we have is a Pro Series. Agree that it might just take some usage to break it in! Stayntuned as we surely will have more question down the road! Safe travels to all!
__________________
Lynnie and Michael Lutz
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11-10-2012, 07:28 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1978 25' Tradewind
Metro Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,524
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We have a Reese Dual Cam hitch, and it's scary-noisy. It sounds like something worth a couple thousand dollars just broke every time you turn a corner with it.
But it works like a charm!!
__________________
"Between what matters and what seems to matter, how should the world we know judge wisely?" - E.C. Bentley, Trent's Last Case
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11-10-2012, 09:50 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drboyd
We have a Reese Dual Cam hitch, and it's scary-noisy. It sounds like something worth a couple thousand dollars just broke every time you turn a corner with it.
But it works like a charm!!
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Spray some silicone on the cams and saddles.
Reese's sway control is torsion, not friction, for the dual cams.
Andy
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11-11-2012, 06:47 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,669
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Or petroleum jelly for the Reese. Andy, when did Silicone start to be recommended? Never thought of that....a bit cleaner, I'd suppose. Daily applications?
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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11-11-2012, 09:48 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1978 25' Tradewind
Metro Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,524
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I'd have to say it's a combination of torsion and friction. If it were only torsion, and friction were unimportant, they'd say it was all right to use axle grease on the cams.
The self-centering effect of the torsion/springs, along with the "shock absorber" effect of the friction, is what makes the dual cams such a a great hitch setup.
__________________
"Between what matters and what seems to matter, how should the world we know judge wisely?" - E.C. Bentley, Trent's Last Case
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11-11-2012, 09:56 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drboyd
I'd have to say it's a combination of torsion and friction. If it were only torsion, and friction were unimportant, they'd say it was all right to use axle grease on the cams.
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According to Reese, some 40 years ago, the dual cam friction is only 4 percent of the sway control, when the bars are bending as they should be.
When the bars have little to no bend in them, the the friction part is all that's left.
Why no bend??
Today, all to many owners install hitch bars that generally speaking, are way over rated for the job intended.
Reese square bars, work fanastic when bending about 2 inches, with the dual cam.
Mine were bending three inches.
Reese's bars are tested for a 5 inch bend.
The greater the bend, the better the sway control.
But, that bend scares some owners into thinking "WOW" the bars are going to break.
Andy
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11-11-2012, 10:08 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dznf0g
Or petroleum jelly for the Reese. Andy, when did Silicone start to be recommended? Never thought of that....a bit cleaner, I'd suppose. Daily applications?
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The silicone was a thought I had, on November 10th, 2012 at 8:50 PM
Why not??
As you say, clean stuff.
Just a quick shot will kill the noise made by the very dry dual cams and saddles.
Cheap, available everywhere, easy to use, no instructions really needed, not messy, and a small spray can will last a long long time.
Another Airstream item adding to the KISS basket.
Works wonders on all the exterior gaskets as well, since it prolong's their life.
Andy
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11-11-2012, 04:11 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1978 25' Tradewind
Metro Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,524
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In
<snip>
Today, all to many owners install hitch bars that generally speaking, are way over rated for the job intended.
Reese square bars, work fanastic when bending about 2 inches, with the dual cam.
Mine were bending three inches.
Reese's bars are tested for a 5 inch bend.
The greater the bend, the better the sway control.
But, that bend scares some owners into thinking "WOW" the bars are going to break.
Andy
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Seeing as how Reese doesn't have too many choices when it comes to bar rating, how should I pick a set of Reese bars for 600 pound tongue weight?
__________________
"Between what matters and what seems to matter, how should the world we know judge wisely?" - E.C. Bentley, Trent's Last Case
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11-11-2012, 06:08 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drboyd
Seeing as how Reese doesn't have too many choices when it comes to bar rating, how should I pick a set of Reese bars for 600 pound tongue weight?
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Hitch bar ratings are matched to the trailer tongue weight and the exact type of tow vehicle.
What exact tow vehicle do you have?
Andy
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11-12-2012, 04:26 AM
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#14
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dznf0g
Or petroleum jelly for the Reese. Andy, when did Silicone start to be recommended? Never thought of that....a bit cleaner, I'd suppose. Daily applications?
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This has been in the AS tool box for awhile now, pretty handy stuff.
Bob
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11-12-2012, 08:44 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1978 25' Tradewind
Metro Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,524
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In
Hitch bar ratings are matched to the trailer tongue weight and the exact type of tow vehicle.
What exact tow vehicle do you have?
Andy
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The trailer is a 1978 Trade Wind and the tow vehicle is a 2005 Tahoe 4X4.
__________________
"Between what matters and what seems to matter, how should the world we know judge wisely?" - E.C. Bentley, Trent's Last Case
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11-12-2012, 11:14 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drboyd
The trailer is a 1978 Trade Wind and the tow vehicle is a 2005 Tahoe 4X4.
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Use 600 pound rated hitch bars.
You already have the over kill tow vehicle, that has very little suspension.
Andy
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