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Camp · 01-31-2011, 07:33 PM

I just picked up a used Reese 1200# straight line WD hitch for our Ford Excursion and '77 Argosy 26. Max weight is 6100lbs and tongue weight is 600lbs. Are the 1200lb bars too stiff for my application? From what I read on the forum, I think a 600 to 800lb bar would be much better/safer. If so, anyone willing to trade bars or have some to purchase? Thx for any help!

lylesgl · 01-31-2011, 08:08 PM

Yes, 1200lbs is too much. I had the reese dual cam system with 1200lb bars towing my 2007 Safari 27FB with a 1/2 ton Ford Expedition and it was too stiff; causing rivets to pop and drawers to open in the trailer. The problem was compounded when I purchased a 2006 F-350 Dually (replaced my wrecked Expedition). I replaced the 1200lb bars with 800lb bars and purchased an AirSafe Hitch (pictured). This seems to have resolved my issues of popped rivets and drawers opening when towing. I believe the 1200lb bar setup was also responsible for the crack (pictured) in the skin beneath the locker in the front of the trailer.

lylesgl · 01-31-2011, 08:09 PM

I forgot to add that it is very difficult to find the 600lb square bars from Reese as they are halting manufacture of the 600lb distribution system. That is why I have the 800lb bars.

SteveH · 01-31-2011, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camp

I just picked up a used Reese 1200# straight line WD hitch for our Ford Excursion and '77 Argosy 26. Max weight is 6100lbs and tongue weight is 600lbs. Are the 1200lb bars too stiff for my application? From what I read on the forum, I think a 600 to 800lb bar would be much better/safer. If so, anyone willing to trade bars or have some to purchase? Thx for any help!

Yes, you'd be much better off with the lighter bars.

A while back I bought a whole hitch assembly on EBAY to get the lighter bars from it, and then took the rest of it and my heavier bars, but it back on EBAY and sold it. A lot of hastle, but it ended up a lot cheaper than buying new bars.

overlander64 · 01-31-2011, 08:49 PM

Greetings Camp!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camp

I just picked up a used Reese 1200# straight line WD hitch for our Ford Excursion and '77 Argosy 26. Max weight is 6100lbs and tongue weight is 600lbs. Are the 1200lb bars too stiff for my application? From what I read on the forum, I think a 600 to 800lb bar would be much better/safer. If so, anyone willing to trade bars or have some to purchase? Thx for any help!

You can add me to the chorus of excessively over-hitched with 1200 pound weight distribution bars. The Excursion provides a more subtle ride than the typical 3/4 ton pickup, but it is still much firmer than the full-size automobiles that were generally utilized to tow our Argosys when they were new. My original hitch was setup by a shop with no Airstream knowledge or experienc, and they insisted upon 1,000 pound weight distribution -- in less than a year the rough ride resulting from the stiff bars had caused cracks in the shell of my Overlander above the entry door as well as being likely contributors to metal outriggers puncturing the banana wraps in several points in the fron 6 feet of the coach.

In addition, if you are utilizing Reese Dual Cam Sway Control, it likely isn't doing much to control sway as the dual cam system relies upon the weight distribution bars being rather heavily tensiones to provide the sway control. The difference in the performance of my Reese Dual Cam Sway Control was amazing when I made the switch from 1,000 pound weight distribution bars to 600 pound weight distribution bars.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

Camp · 02-01-2011, 06:18 AM

Good info. I'll change the bars for sure. I have a laundry list of things to do, don't need to add structural failure to the list. I didn't think of Ebay. With some luck, I think I can get the right bars and still save $$ over a new hitch. Overlander, I haven't seen a 75 Eldorado in years. Now that is a vintage tow vehicle!

BillTex · 02-01-2011, 06:39 AM

It's not the size of the bars, but the load you place on them. You can load 1200# bars to 600# and you can load 600# bars to 600# >/<.

Adjust the pre-load...no need to change the bars.

I can't understand why Folks find this so confusing...like to spend $ I guess...

Good luck.

dznf0g · 02-01-2011, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillTex

It's not the size of the bars, but the load you place on them. You can load 1200# bars to 600# and you can load 600# bars to 600# >/<.

Adjust the pre-load...no need to change the bars.

I can't understand why Folks find this so confusing...like to spend $ I guesss...

Good luck.

Bill, The problem isn't when running straight and level down the road or sitting still. You're corrct in that.....say 600 pounds of flex is 600 pounds of flex regardless of bar rating when setting the unit up. But the rate of bend relative to force applied to the trailer and TV when running up entry ramps to driveways etc. is very different. I believe this is where the damage comes from. the various rated bars ramp up force very differently for a given amount of bar end displacement.

overlander64 · 02-01-2011, 07:06 AM

Greetings Camp!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camp

Good info. I'll change the bars for sure. I have a laundry list of things to do, don't need to add structural failure to the list. I didn't think of Ebay. With some luck, I think I can get the right bars and still save $$ over a new hitch. Overlander, I haven't seen a 75 Eldorado in years. Now that is a vintage tow vehicle!

Here are a couple of photos of my Eldorado the earlier ones date to 2003 when I was towing my '64 Overlander back from the Airstream dealer following the hitch setup on the Eldorado. The photo with my Minuet was taken in 2008 in Yellowstone National Park.

This was the realization of a dream for me. I had always wanted a convertible towcar from the first time that I saw The Long, Long Trailer. I don't think I ever enjoyed towing my Overlander more than when I towed it home after having the Eldorado fitted with the towing equipment so that I could tow the Overlander.

As the Eldorado has aged, the OEM wheels have worn out-of-round and this has made it very nearly impossible to keep its wheelcovers attached which explains the absence of its wheelcovers in this photo. The car also protested the heat of summer towing by melting its plastic front fender extensions as we towed through the Rocky Mountains approaching Rocky Mountain National Park.

Kevin

BillTex · 02-01-2011, 07:12 AM

Fyrzowt · 02-01-2011, 07:16 AM

Very cool car, I used to wrench in a Cad dealership in the 80's.

SteveH · 02-01-2011, 07:37 AM

My father used to have a Cadillac coupe like that, same color and all, but I thought this thread was about hitch bars?

Camp · 02-01-2011, 08:43 AM

Hitch bars, while serving a very important purpose, are boring. Convertible Caddy tow vehicles are ....cool!! My son asked if I could tow the argosy with my 68 corvette. I like it without the wheel covers. How did you keep it from bottoming out? Just WD hitch or beefed-up suspension? Uh, oh, now I'm hijacking my own thread.

hhendrix · 02-01-2011, 10:23 AM

I switched to 600# bars from 1000# bars and noticed a big improvement in ride and handling with my F350.

SteveH · 02-01-2011, 12:04 PM

It was recommended to me to switch from 800 pound bars to 600 pound bars by you know who on my 25 footer towed with a HD 1/2 ton GMC. I did the switch, and I noticed the bars bent more to transfer the same weight, and that was all. I feel like in that circumstance, I wasted time and money.

So I believe every situation needs to be evaluated on it's own merrit, and not just jump off making changes because some parts salesman says it's "a must". Additionally, I don't think you can go too far from wrong if you follow the hitch manufacturer's recommendations, not the salesman's at the RV store.

These hitches are designed by engineers to do a specific job, and those engineers know more about the product than most of us will ever know.

tpi · 02-01-2011, 12:22 PM

I'm not trying to be an advocate for any point of view, just to do whats right in the situation. I have Eaz Lift. Instructions PDF:

http://www.eaz-lift.com/eazlift/Inst...structions.pdf

On page one, to me it infers the hitch has to have adequate bars to meet the hitch's rating. In other words using 600 lb bars with 900 pound tongue load would not meet the requirements of the hitch manufacturer.

I surely can see not going to overkill here--using bars in excess of whats necessary.

overlander64 · 02-01-2011, 12:42 PM

Greetings Camp!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camp

Hitch bars, while serving a very important purpose, are boring. Convertible Caddy tow vehicles are ....cool!! My son asked if I could tow the argosy with my 68 corvette. I like it without the wheel covers. How did you keep it from bottoming out? Just WD hitch or beefed-up suspension? Uh, oh, now I'm hijacking my own thread.

Prior to towing for the first time the rear springs were replaced with heavier new units froom Moog's Cargo Coil Division. Heavy duty gas-charged shocks were then installed along with air bladders in the rear springs. The air bladders are never inflated beyond 20 psi (minimum man. recommended inflation). The Reese Straight-Line Hitch with Dual Cam Sway Controls handles everyting else in the process.

Since the photo was take, I have acquired stainless stell beauty rings for the wheels along with simulated "knock-off" spinners for the center of the wheels.

Kevin

tphan · 02-01-2011, 02:13 PM

Went through the same thing, had 1,000# bars and got a 600# set-up on Ebay, sold the other set-up for even money to someone with a much heavier trailer. The cat, who rides back there, says it's smoooooth now. Takes a while to get all these things dialed in when you haven't owned a big trailer before but it's worth doing right I think.
Love that Caddy! -tim