Trunnion Bars advice, please

[PeterH-350LE]

I have a Reese dual cam hitch and ordered 800# Bars for my 93 34'. Since the website had no specs of the length, I assumed they would be the same length as my old 1000# bars.
Now I realize that the new ones are 4" longer. I can not move the brackets on the A frame back enough to use the new bars, due to the horizontal Propane bottle mounts. Would it be safe to drill new holes in the new bars and shorten them?
Also the trunnion sockets are 1" versus 3/4" on my old bars. They do fit, but I was wondering if that could be an issues(see 3rd picture)
I would appreciate some input.

[jdalrymple]

I would move the WD brackets behind the tank mounts and let the chains slant a little to make up the difference.


Regards,

JD

[A W Warn]

If it were me, I would call customer service and ask the questions.
If you drill a hole further up the arm they will no longer be rated 800#. Since the length of the lever will be decreased it will take more force to bend them. Though, it probably will not be enough difference to matter.

[RLS]

Looking at the last photo, are you sure it fits??? Looks like a completely different head. You want to make sure it fits into the socket all the way.

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by RLS

Looking at the last photo, are you sure it fits??? Looks like a completely different head. You want to make sure it fits into the socket all the way.

Yes, the new ones fit, which makes me wonder if the old ones are too small and cause excessive movement.

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by jdalrymple

I would move the WD brackets behind the tank mounts and let the chains slant a little to make up the difference.
Regards,
JD

Thanks for the input. I doubt there is enough clearance to move the brackets back 4". No room for the set bolt.

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

If it were me, I would call customer service and ask the questions.
If you drill a hole further up the arm they will no longer be rated 800#. Since the length of the lever will be decreased it will take more force to bend them. Though, it probably will not be enough difference to matter.

I was wondering the same about length and rating. I will try to get an answer from Reese tomorrow.
Thanks

[HowieE]

looks like you have enough room to move the bracket back, it is the set screw that is the problem. Get a shorter bolt for the set screw.

Do not drill the bar. Not sure if they are tempered or not but any change in the length will change the load factor.

When you set up the hitch mark one of the bars so you will always use them on the same sides. The bars are not the same length and if changed will actually add to sway because they will not be seated directly on the saddles.

[jdalrymple]

I must have deleted your PM, but I had the same problem.

The supplied bolts are long to account for a C-channel frame, and the tubing frames of our Airstreams don't need the extra length.

I simply swapped the overly long clamp bolts on the WD bracket for a couple of shorter Grade 8 hex-head bolts from a hardware store.


Regards,

JD

[PeterH-350LE]

the plot thickens...
I called Reese tech support today and they told me that my Reese WD set-up is as old as the hills and replacement parts are no longer available.
And the Tech told me that the new 800# trunnion bars will not fit the sockets on my old receiver. NO way, he said.
Well, I checked again and they fit just fine (see first picture).
Can anyone guess the appr age of my receiver by the pictures? Now I think that someone before me replaced the old receiver with a newer one that does support the newer Trunnion bars??

[ROBERT CROSS]

Your bar is the same as ours except for the bracket bolted to the end,(do I see two holes thru the end of the bar?)....ours was at least 25 years old when we sold it three years ago.

Bob

[PeterH-350LE]

Got 2 grade 8 short bolts and moved the brackets back 3". Moved saddles from old bars to the new ones. All looking good, even got some bend in the Trunnion bar with 4 links. Jumping up and down on the receiver gives about an inch off movement which I didn't have before with the short and stiff 1000 # bars.
Thanks everyone for the input!