Reese Dual Cam Hitch ?

[woodfox45]

I have a 2000 30' Excella rear bedroom it came with a Reese Dual Cam Hitch
wondering if anybody has the same hitch as mine and what weight spring bars are you using ? I tow with a GM 2500 HD PU. I am noticing wear on my cam arms
and the cam on the road side is wearing on the outside edge of the cam as if it is twisted but that isn't the case . Instructions say to run them dry with no lube on the cam surface . This is the first generation hitch with the gold colored cam arms
Anybody have any ideas or is this normal.
thanks Les Grace

[dznf0g]

I used one prior to getting my Hensley....still have as a backup. I would use 800lb bars with your setup. Worked for me. I worked the bar end saddles with a dremmel stone wheel to smooth out forging irregularities, including one edge "higher" than the other. Also, I used Vaseline on the cams...not a good lubricant so won't affect the friction much at all, but will quiet things down a bit. There are old threads covering both of these items.

Also, accurate cam arm adjustment is critical AFTER you load the trailer and truck as ready for travel, in order to seat the spring saddles perfectly on the cam. If they are off, even a little bit, you will get a twitchy on-center road feel. I used a .020" feeler gauge to ensure it is settled on the cam prior to tightening the cam arm adjusting bolt. This only needs readjustment if load significantly changes...like a couple hundred pounds of tongue weight or bed weight.

[woodfox45]

Thanks Rich, I just read some old threads on this subject that had some of Andy's information on this subject of over hitching . My trailer came with 600 lb. bars and I just purchased some 800 lb. bars to try out . My concern was the wear on the cam surfaces and ordered new cams but I think I will return them and just switch the cams to the other side and see how it goes . What size bars did your Hensley come with ? just curious when I talked to Hensley they recommended 1000 lb. bars for mine .
Les

[dznf0g]

I have 1000# bars on the Hensley.

[GM Airstream]

While andy promotes lighter bars... it still is a matter of how much weight you have at the hitchpoint... under hitching will not give you the control you want....neither will over hitching... which we all know will do damage to the trailer and rough ride...

That being said.. if you check the reese bar chart.. you will see that they are not set at just (lets say 1000) lbs... while the bars are rated at that (maximum) they have a range that (the old ones) used to be from 600 TO 1000... thus you have a weight range on the hitch from 600 to 1000 lbs.. and who can say the TV is going to be loaded the same each time... so a range is what one wants to have... if you go with lighter bars... and put more weight in... you will be under hitches... so to speak...

So if the 800 lb bars are rated in range of 400-800 lbs... and your 30 ft trailer has a 780 EMPTY weight on the ball... you can see that you only have about 20 lbs of load to play with.... you would never ever get down to the 400 lb range of the bars.. so they would be useless...

If it sound more complex than just ... oh ya that is what I use... it is... the first thing you need to do is go weigh the TV and the trailer... and KNOW what weight you have.... Then you need to look at the TVs rear axle load... and what you can add to it... the new calcs take into consideration the TV weight AND the trailer wt... as a system...

So many people think that if they over hitch the trailer to a PU, VAN or other SUV... they will damage the trailer... not so.. take into consideration the trailers tires and air pressure too... but, here again... don't go with the manufactures general weight.. you need to know WHAT EACH WHEEL HAS TO DEAL WITH... as most airstreams are not balanced from wheel to wheel.. and don't be surprised that you find one side or the other weigh's in differently... thus the old.. yep.. put 80 lbs of air in them their tires... and your good to go.. attttt wrong answer... as the airstream wants a soft ride... to save the axles from over flexing... yet...

When we had a weigh in... some were suprised to find that the refrig side of the trailer ... mainly front axle... tire... was about 200 lbs over what they are rated for... and that one seemed to be the tire that blew out ... according to the owner... go figure...

But, back to the hitch... best way is to level the trailer... measure the ball height... and adjust the TV as directed in the instructions... NEVER CHANGE THE BALL HEIGHT AFTER THAT... as the load you add to the TV or trailer.. will change it.. you then take up the difference with the equalzr bars... but don't be surprised if you have to lock 'em up higher sometimes than others... best way to know if you have 'em right.. is to check the trailer measured ball height... for level trailer.. ( I have it wrote down on the frame so its always the same for the trailer once you have it) I then lock up the equalizer bars by this measurement... up or down... in tension...

and that is the way the engineer at reese once told us at a rally how to set the hitch correctly.... just passing it along... from a engineering standpoint...

Remember the bars are the max weight and that they have a range... you want to be in when towing...

As to lube... we coated ours .. ONE TIME.. with sta-lube moly graphite grease... which goes into the metal... no more galling and or popping sound when your turning... but, you do need the friction to make the sway part of the hitch work...

I also jump on the back bumper.. hitch ball area... and indeed it does flex up and down when set right... even with 1000 lb bars... if it doesn't your poss'bly overhitched...

hope this helps ya understand how the hitch works... and what you can determine you need...

[tjdonahoe]

I use the duel cam with 13 31' classic and a 17 ram 2500 diesel with 800 lb bars, works good....

[tjdonahoe]

I use the duel cam with 13 31' classic and a 17 ram 2500 diesel with 800 lb bars, works good....

[Wayne&Sam]

I use 800# bars on my 2014 25'. I used the same set up on my 2007 20'. The cams have worn. Swap left and right cams and you get an unworn surfaces.

[cliffcharb]

I tow a 30 Safari FB and use 1000# bars. Works great on both my 1500 Sierra and brothers 2500 HD. I do use a little dab of grease on the cams though.

[Bill M.]

I have a 1988, 32'. I use the 1000 lb bars. I tried it with 800 lb bars and did not like it as well. I got just a little wiggle at the back with the 800. Not sure if was the bars themselves or just a bit better setup with the heavy one. I run the bars dry or with oil on them. No grease. The bars and cams wear and make noise. The heavier the bars the more resistant to sway, I think. And the 800 and 1000 lb bars are different lengths so you have to do the setup if you switch. I run 800'on my 25 and it works pretty good.

[rem3006]

I
ve ad them on two AS. what your talking about is normal wear & tare

You might add a friction bar.

[66Overlander]

I use 600 lb. bars on a Silverado 2500HD towing a 2015 30' Classic. Works great. Adjusted it to get some bend in the bars so the dual cams provide sway control. Not too worried about transferring much hitch weight to the truck front axle, because GM states that weight distribution is not required at the hitch weight of the Classic, although a little weight transfer with the 600 lb. bars does make the truck more level. I traded my 800 lb. bars for 600 to give the Airstream a softer ride. The key is getting it all set up right - right hitch head angle and enough bend in the bars.

Your mileage may vary. The opinions of others will definitely vary.

[tjdonahoe]

13 31' classic , 17 2500 ram with 800 lb bars, works good , no sway and level

[woodfox45]

Thanks for all the info I towed it friday with the 800lb. bars seemed to ride ok but didn't go very far just up the express way a few miles didn't get any sway from trucks passing me I still have my 600lb. bars . I'll be using it in about 2 weeks from now with a full load I'll know more then .
Les

[tjdonahoe]

Get it level,

[malinois38]

Originally Posted by woodfox45

Thanks for all the info I towed it friday with the 800lb. bars seemed to ride ok but didn't go very far just up the express way a few miles didn't get any sway from trucks passing me I still have my 600lb. bars . I'll be using it in about 2 weeks from now with a full load I'll know more then .
Les

I think you will find that the 800lb bars are the ticket for your rig. I tow a 28' with a Tundra and have experimented with 800lb & 1200lb bars and found the 800lb bars work better. 1200lb bars too stiff for my 1/2 ton. My Reese dual cam (straight line) is circa 2008 and there is no 1000lb bars made for this year model as some members here have suggested. Only 800lb and 1200lb even though 1000lb bars may very well be the sweet spot
Get the Reese set up correctly and you will love the simplicity of it. I had to tilt the ball 7 degrees to get enough weight to my front wheels and then made a few CAT scale visits to confirm the comfortable ride. Good Luck