Old style saddle cam spring bar question

[CaCraig]

I have the old style saddle cam setup but I'm missing the spring bars and a few other parts. I'm watching ebay for some to come up for sale.

I saved an article about different bars and I read about how to set the system up but I haven't found anything telling my how to match the right size bars with the tow vehicle. It seems the tighter the TV suspension, the lighter sprung bars are needed and vice versa.

Can someone tell me how to figure out what size to look for? I have a 2015 Silverado 1500 with the max trailer tow package (up to 11,000 lbs. towing)

Thanks.

[featherbedder]

Originally Posted by CraigCA

I have the old style saddle cam setup but I'm missing the spring bars and a few other parts. I'm watching ebay for some to come up for sale.

I saved an article about different bars and I read about how to set the system up but I haven't found anything telling my how to match the right size bars with the tow vehicle. It seems the tighter the TV suspension, the lighter sprung bars are needed and vice versa.

Can someone tell me how to figure out what size to look for? I have a 2015 Silverado 1500 with the max trailer tow package (up to 11,000 lbs. towing)

Thanks.

Need to no what manf of spring bars & parts needed, also weight of trailer. Reese 1 inch bar with cam follower 550 lb. rating. 1-1/8= 750 1-1/4= 1000, cam follower is what sits on saddles, as to what size you need, Andy says 1 inch bow in bar when hooked up, but I do not no what size you need. Also if Reese old style dual cam better than new style as break point at threads new style weak point.

[CaCraig]

I'm looking for Reese bars.

I think I probably need the 1" or 1 1/8" bars. I should look for both and then see which one works best and sell the other pair.

There must be quite a bit of latitude in bar selection since there are only 3 different sizes. My truck isn't sprung as light as a passenger car and not as tight as a 2500 or 3500 truck.

[blkmagikca]

When the trunnion on my older Reese torsion bars broke, I was able to get replacement ones from etrailer.com - So if you know what you need, calling them may provide you with the answer. Their shipping policy is nice - free shipping for orders over $50.

[HowieE]

The bar size is determined by the weight of the trailer. You need 800 lbs bars.
It is hard to buy used bars unless the seller gives a good picture of the trunnions as they wear over time and effect the adjustment. Also you should inspect the trunnions cups on the head before spending money to complete the set. They wear also.

The most important thin to remember when using saddle type bars is to mark the bars as to which side they were set up for. They are not always the same length and crossing them can ADD to sway rather than dampen it.

[CaCraig]

Oh I thought the bars were sized to the TV and the trailer, not just the trailer. I don't have the head, just the part that bolts to the trailer frame. I need all the other stuff too. I was thinking about just buying a new system but from what I read, people like this old setup so I thought it was worth piecing it back together.

I thought these bars were NLA. I'll call eTrailer and see if they have them.

[HowieE]

If you are looking for bars and a head you are better off looking for a complete new system from a cost and condition standpoint.

[CaCraig]

That's what I thought. New Reese systems aren't that expensive.

[Howard Lefkowitz]

I have a chart that picks the correct bar size for Reese hitches. It covers from 600 to 1700 lbs. tongue weight. Send me an email; wa3vez@comcast.net .

[featherbedder]

Originally Posted by Howard Lefkowitz

I have a chart that picks the correct bar size for Reese hitches. It covers from 600 to 1700 lbs. tongue weight. Send me an email; wa3vez@comcast.net .

Could you post on forums the info from Reese chart of correct bars to use, as it would helpful info for a lot of people w/out emailing you & maybe rec. numerous emails.

[Howard Lefkowitz]

I would be happy too but I am not sure how to do it. When I click on the insert image it asks for the URL. I just have a .jpg.

[bobzdar]

Go down to where it says attach files under additional options, then click manage attachments.

[Howard Lefkowitz]

Originally Posted by bobzdar

Go down to where it says attach files under additional options, then click manage attachments.

Here is the Reese Bar Chart.

[drboyd]

Reese suggests that the bar rating should match the trailer tongue weight. I have a set of 1200 pound (I think) bars that you can have for the cost of shipping them to you from Phoenix.

[Howard Lefkowitz]

The tongue weight also includes all of the load behind the rear Tow Vehicle axle.

[Larry C]

Originally Posted by Howard Lefkowitz

The tongue weight also includes all of the load behind the rear Tow Vehicle axle.

Tongue weight is exactly that......tongue weight......nothing more. It would be a nearly impossible task to calculate the weight of the truck bed behind the rear axle.

For whatever it's worth.

Larry

[phlegm]

Craig,
What did you end up doing with this? When I bought my trailer, it also has Reese brackets on it. Since I only had these brackets, I figured I'd be tossing them and buying a new Weight Distribution Hitch.

My brackets.
Street Side

Curbside


But after reading this
Which Weight Distribution Style is Better, Trunnion Bar or Round Bar -- etrailer.com

And seeing this on amazon
Reese 49587 Pro Series Trunnion Weight Distribution Kit - 1200 lb. Load Capacity -- amazon.com $249.99

Should I give serious consideration to keeping it?

Or would a full/new 800lb kit be a better way to go?
Reese 49586 Pro Series Trunnion Weight Distribution Kit - 800 lb. Load Capacity -- amazon.com $245.00

Just looking at the Airstream Historic Data page.
They have this document.
http://www.airstream.com/wp-content/...9a7bd76ef5.pdf

For the '71 Sovereign 31ft trailer they list it as
480lbs tongue weight
4840lbs total weight

And from the chart that Howard added (thank you very much)

It looks like the 800lb WDS hitch is just about perfect for this size trailer.
Seems like I answered this for my own purpose. (I will buy new 800lb wds)

I hope this was helpful for you..

[CaCraig]

I called etrailer.com and they said it would be cheaper to buy a new Pro Series system than to try and piece together the old system.

Etrailer has one with the sway control included but I still haven't found out if I need sway if my truck has sway built in.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by CaCraig

I called etrailer.com and they said it would be cheaper to buy a new Pro Series system than to try and piece together the old system.

Etrailer has one with the sway control included but I still haven't found out if I need sway if my truck has sway built in.

My thinking is that even if the tow vehicle has a brake-based sway control program, it's worth having a sway-control hitch. I have the old friction bar on the hitch that came with my '75, but I'm buying a more modern hitch for the '76 when it's ready for the road, probably either a Blue Ox or a Reese for me, but even a friction bar is better than nothing in most conditions.