CAMCO R3 Recurve WD hitch failure

[Scott in Michigan]

Has anyone experienced a failure of the CAMCO R3 Recurve hitch? We were at the end of our second trip with a newly-installed R3 hitch and it failed.

The threads stripped on the head angle adjustment inside the head.**The*hitch head slammed back to the 0 degree vertical position with a bang.*

This new hitch was installed by Camping World about a month ago. They followed the installation instructions to the letter. I was able to watch over their shoulder.

I called Camco and aside from being relieved that no one was injured, they weren't very interested. I suggested they should examine the hitch or search the serial number range to see if there's some flaw with a supplier's product. Neither idea got traction.

They offered to replace the hitch with another R3. Safe to say I do not have confidence in their implementation of this design any longer.

Data:
TW (measured actual) 1140 #
R3 trunnions rated 1200 #
R3 hitch head stamped 15000/1500 #

So, question for the group:

Are failures of weight distributing hitches so commonplace that they're just accepted without a failure analysis?

Again, this was a new CAMCO R3 Recurve WD hitch.


Thanks,
Scott

[Scott in Michigan]

I have no idea why my post has those **'s in it. Sorry.

[ADQ K9]

I don't think that type of failure is common.
Might I recommend the model I have to replace what you have? It is over kill but I have had zero issues.
Curt 17501, since my truck has a 2.5" receiver I did upgrade to the 2.5" shank

[sourdough]

Scott, I'm sorry for that failure. A failure like that of a wdh could be very dangerous.

I've heard of maladjustments and issues due to that but I've not heard of a hitch head failure - ever. It appears you are very close to the max load of your bars but that shouldn't correlate to a head failure.

IMO, and this is just mine, Camco is not a top of the line wdh. Camco makes "entry" level, affordable (cheap) components for all kinds of RV stuff - I even use some of it. None of it is critical stuff where a failure could have catastrophic consequences. I just watch their little "lego" support blocks bend and break....and buy more cause they're cheap. Won't do that with a wdh or anything else with a lot riding on whether it performs or not....in a tough situation it won't; again IMO. My suggestion? Have the dealer give you a top of the line wdh/sway control (I use an Equalizer) and let the Camco go. With the 1140# tongue weight you've got a pretty big trailer and you need a GOOD wdh; not cut corners.

[Scott in Michigan]

Thanks for the replies, all. The Camco is history. They weren't interested in looking at it so I did a post-mortem myself. The threads inside the hitch head stripped out. At any rate I moved on to a Blue Ox sway Pro. Scott

[Scott in Michigan]

Also, Camping World bought me out of the Camco. So I am even. They just didn't offer another hitch line at our area store I was interested in. Scott

[sourdough]

Good deal Scott! I've not owned a Blue Ox but have read a lot of positive things about them. I'm thinking it has to be a big step above the Camco. Make sure they set it up right for you and good luck!

[busterbrown]

Thanks for the replies, all. The Camco is history. They weren't interested in looking at it so I did a post-mortem myself. The threads inside the hitch head stripped out. At any rate I moved on to a Blue Ox sway Pro. Scott

Have you pulled with the Blue Ox yet? My experience was very subpar and it lasted for only about 3 months before upgrading to a Hensley Arrow. The white knuckling got old very quickly when towing my 7600# GVWR, 35' trailer, both with a 1/2 ton and my current 3/4 ton Mega cab. Hope you have better results. IMO, the only traditional hitch I would have upgraded to would have been a 4pt friction one from Equalizer.

[Northofu1]

Have you pulled with the Blue Ox yet? My experience was very subpar and it lasted for only about 3 months before upgrading to a Hensley Arrow. The white knuckling got old very quickly when towing my 7600# GVWR, 35' trailer, both with a 1/2 ton and my current 3/4 ton Mega cab. Hope you have better results. IMO, the only traditional hitch I would have upgraded to would have been a 4pt friction one from Equalizer.

Quite the opposite here. Both with my 1500 and 2500. No sway, no problems.
Maybe yours was undersized or not dialed in.

[Scott in Michigan]

1 trip with the Blue Ox so far, and it pulled well. I realize a single trip does not qualify as an exhaustive test, but I end this season with very good anticipation for its use next year.

It's nice to be able to adjust the weight transfer, and after my CAMCO experience I appreciate the fixed head angle - knowing that weak point does not exist with the Blue Ox.

The original purpose of this thread was to share the weakness and failure of the CAMCO R3 which was directly attributable to how they implement the head angle adjustment.

The downside of the Blue Ox is the wrench they include for placing the chains. It's totally inadequate to the task. I wonder how many users end up riding it back around because they can't generate the torque needed to seat the chain head at the end of its travel, where the torque need is the highest. I carry a 3/4 breaker bar.

Scott

[busterbrown]

Quite the opposite here. Both with my 1500 and 2500. No sway, no problems.
Maybe yours was undersized or not dialed in.

Two completely different tow vehicles (and dialed in) resulted in similar driving dynamics. I've read other reviews saying the same with lengthy (30+ feet) trailers. As an Equalizer would have been my second choice, my Hensley is in a league of its own.

[chuckster57]

1 trip with the Blue Ox so far, and it pulled well. I realize a single trip does not qualify as an exhaustive test, but I end this season with very good anticipation for its use next year.



It's nice to be able to adjust the weight transfer, and after my CAMCO experience I appreciate the fixed head angle - knowing that weak point does not exist with the Blue Ox.



The original purpose of this thread was to share the weakness and failure of the CAMCO R3 which was directly attributable to how they implement the head angle adjustment.



The downside of the Blue Ox is the wrench they include for placing the chains. It's totally inadequate to the task. I wonder how many users end up riding it back around because they can't generate the torque needed to seat the chain head at the end of its travel, where the torque need is the highest. I carry a 3/4 breaker bar.



Scott


I bet if you raise the tongue of the trailer while locked onto the ball of the TV, you can just about eliminate the need to use the breaker bar.

[CaptnJohn]

Friend borrowed my Equalizer with 4 point sway control while waiting on ordered Blue Ox to arrive. e likes the Ox but will not give my Equalizer back until he buys one.

[Scott in Michigan]

Chuck,

Absolutely I am using the tongue jack to raise the hitched vehicle. There's no way to even start attaching the chains without doing so.

As noted, with only one trip under my belt, I can't speak definitively about the Blue Ox but it appears good so far.

I transitioned from a Curt, which I only retired because it was underrated for my tongue weight, to the disaster that was the Camco R3. A letter from my attorney got Camping World to buy me out of both hitches, and now I'm on to the Blue Ox.

Both the Curt, which I liked, and the Camco, which failed on me with a bang, were selected by Camping World.

We'll report back next year.

Scott

[linux3]

Scott, I'm sorry for that failure. A failure like that of a wdh could be very dangerous.

I've heard of maladjustments and issues due to that but I've not heard of a hitch head failure - ever. It appears you are very close to the max load of your bars but that shouldn't correlate to a head failure.

IMO, and this is just mine, Camco is not a top of the line wdh.

Hey Sourdough, small world.
Friend just bought a 2016 Featherlight and the dealer wants to install a Camco Recurve R3.
He looked on line and sent me a link that said you were not impressed.
I said you can never trust a poster with the handle of Sourdough. LOL

Actually I said there were better choices.

Jayco Featherlite is not a Keystone brand but RV is RV.

[sourdough]

Hey Sourdough, small world.
Friend just bought a 2016 Featherlight and the dealer wants to install a Camco Recurve R3.
He looked on line and sent me a link that said you were not impressed.
I said you can never trust a poster with the handle of Sourdough. LOL

Actually I said there were better choices.

Jayco Featherlite is not a Keystone brand but RV is RV.


Hi Rob. Hey, what's not trustworthy about "sourdough"??:) Actually that name kind of came to me one evening when I was trying to set up an acct. and every single thing I tried was in use...unbelievable. I thought who in the world would use "sourdough" because it's....weird. Well, it was in use too so I ended up using it because it WAS weird and I could remember it (after adding a lot of stuff behind it). That's where that came from.

The Recurve R3 is an entry level wdh with 2 point adjustable sway. You "adjust" the sway with a little allen wrench - none or a lot they say to "completely eliminate sway". That won't happen, their ads are misleading and no, I'm not impressed. :D Have a great day.

[Falcon67]

I use Equal-i-zer W/Ds and have not had any fails. 13,900 bumper pull trailer, tw 2200-2500 lbs, 14k hitch. Lots of miles, been in service 4 years. Used at least twice a month during racing season.