Opinion on Reese Dual Cam Setup

[SVichera]

I adjusted my reese hitch after thoroughly loading the trailer and reading numerous on line guides. The truck tows much better than when the dealer set it up. I am towing a Passport 3220 with a 2008 Navigator without air suspension. I am using 800lbs bars and in the photos I am loaded and ready to go. I did not have the opportunity to go to the scales, but the front fender measurements are identical hitched or unhitched and the rear squats about 3/4 of an inch. What do you all think? Look ok? thanks.

[JRTJH]

What I see looks good, but the weight supported by those 800 lb bars really should be something you "know" not "guess". That being said, it appears that your chains are not crossed under the coupling. They should cross so if your hitch should uncople, the chains will help support the trailer tongue and hopefully keep the tongue and jack from gouging into the roadway.

[muddynoll]

Definately cross the chains. 800 might be light for your bars.
You should weigh it now that you have it loaded , and make sure you know where you're at weight wise. Your measurements sound right and the pics look good. How does it handle on the road?

[SVichera]

It really rides nice and smooth over bumps and dips in road, no sway when passed by trucks and stable in crosswinds. I thought about getting 1200lb bars but it is dialed in and rides so well as it sits now. Yeah, I gotta cross those chains

[fla-gypsy]

Based on the specs for that trailer, 6040 dry weight, 1460 CCC, 35' 5" OAL you will be around 900-1000 lbs of TW. I would say your bars are a little undersized and the amount of flexing seen in the photos would support that. The next size up in the trunnion style bars is 1200#

[SVichera]

Is there any harm in continuing to use the 800lb bars as it sits now?

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by SVichera

Is there any harm in continuing to use the 800lb bars as it sits now?

That's sort of like asking, "Can I still wear my size small Speedo even though my waist is a size 44?" If you're "brave enough" to risk the "explosion" when the seams give way, then go for it"

Really, with the lighter bars flexing, you're loading and unloading the front axle every time you bounce and flex the bars. The higher rated bars will keep the front end "loaded" even when sway, pitching and bucking occur on the highway. You really don't want the front suspension loading and unloading from the hitch not being able to keep the right pressure on the truck's suspension.

I think the first thing you need to do is know just how much weight those bars are supporting. Knowing the true tongue weight will give you that answer. If the tongue weighs less than 800 pounds, then no problem, but if you're approaching 1000 or possibly even higher, the bars are under rated and over stressed and your tow vehicle is going to suffer as the bars load and unload without being able to keep the proper weight on the front suspension.

[Hansel]

I'm no expert, but the flex is those bars looks kinda scary

I'd step up too the next size bar, better too have alittle more than not enough.

[SteveC7010]

Sometimes you can find a trailer shop (not necessarily an RV dealer) who will wheel and deal with things like your weight bars. If yours are brand new, they might take them in trade on new 1,200# bars at very little cost to you. If yours are more used, they might swap even up or close for the heavier used bars.

One RV shop told me that they try to keep multiple sets of used weight bars, ball platforms, shanks, etc. for exactly this purpose. They'd take your item in trade for another at very reasonable prices.

Craig's List is a good resource, too. There's always hitch parts listed there, and you can easily sell your 800# bars, too

[Bob Landry]

Check your Navigator manual and see what it specifically says about towing with WD since it a Ford product. The new Ford manuals say to return the front to one half the difference between hitched and unhitched. If that is the case, backing off on the hitch tilt may take the flex out of the bars. Also, the dry hitch weight on your trailer isn't an awful lot, so I would get a weight on the tongue before I forked out $$$ for bars.