Reese Round Bar Weight Dist. Hitch

RichieRich · 01-15-2012, 09:30 AM

When I purchsed my used camper I found stored on board the sway bar and weight distribution bars but I did not get the ball mount . Is there a source to purchase just the mount to attach the round bar style wdh and sway bar . Thanks

**JohnB** · 01-15-2012, 01:00 PM

Hi Richie,

Reese made a lot of different hitches over the years. Some have interchangeable, parts with other models and some do not.

Here is the present day reese round bar head and 1 place to buy it at. I have had good service from these folks.

Replacement Head for Reese Weight Distribution System - Round Bar Reese Accessories and Parts RP58112

You can call them and tell them the pile of parts you have. And if you take pics and send them they can most likely back into the head you need.

They will need the diameter of the WD bar at the head area and what type of tab end the bar has to hold the bar in the head.

Or you and can go to a local trailer store. They may be able to help, cost may be more but it depends on your time and the store. RV dealerships range all over in price. The small little home town guy may give you better service and less cost then the real big guys on the parts deal.

Hope this helps

John

PS if needed post some pics of the pile of parts, bar diameter where it goes into the head and a pic or 2 where the ends of the bars and I may be able to spot which vintage you have.

PS2. The tow ball is extra and does not come with the head. Need one rated for the full GVWR of the camper and to be 2 5/16" ball

RichieRich · 01-16-2012, 01:52 PM

John, thanks so much for the link, now I know what the part I need looks like . It is a little pricey , maybe the former owner will eventually give me the one that goes with the camper set up. I know that Reese still makes the set that I have but rather not buy a complete new weight distribution system unless I have too.

**JohnB** · 01-16-2012, 07:05 PM

Richie,

That hitch head I liked you to is the present day Reese head. It has been around for a number of years but do not know if the one you have is a really old one.

You can sort of tell by how the ends of the WD bars are if they fit that new round bar head. Here is a side view of the present day Reese head,

You can barley see but the hole in the top of the head where the WD bars goes in has a shape to it, a circle with part of it cut straight across. To put the bar into the head you have to swing the WD bar out of the way until that shape on the end of the WD bar fits up into the corresponding shape in the hitch head. Then you rotate the bar in place.

If your WD bars have that flat across the tip end of the WD bars then odds are getting better that you have the newer style. The next thing to over come is the diameter of the WD bars.

For sure before you buy one, measure the diameter of the WD bar and the tip of them and call. It will save you return freight for an exchange.

Hope this helps

John

RichieRich · 01-17-2012, 02:39 PM

I will try to post some photos of what I have for bars plus add some measurements , thanks for your reply and photos , very helpful

RichieRich · 01-18-2012, 10:50 AM

Hey, I was going to take a few photos of the spring bar but that might not be necessary . The bars do have a notch cut out that intersect the undercut . The diameter near the top of the bar is approx 1 3/8 inches round . The sticker on the flat of the bar reads :750# weight distribution spring bar
10,000# max gross trailer weight
750# max hitch weight - 2 bars
V 5 rating
stamped into the flat section of the bar is this : 750 F2
Rich

**JohnB** · 01-18-2012, 09:01 PM

Hi Rich

What you are describing does sound like the present day Reese round bar WD bar. I have hunted my "stuff" to confirm that diameter and I cannot turn up the actual diameter. Before you order, call and ask that the diameter bar you have fits the new head.

Something else just dawned on me as I was hunting for that diameter. Do you have the hitch shank?

Seems odd the prior owner would take the hitch head and leave you the shank. The shank look like this. They are generally bolted together and you may be missing both...

The one on the bottom is the standard drop and if you have a real tall truck then the upper one is a 6" drop shank

Reese Weight Dist Shank - 12-1/4" Long - 2" Drop to 6-1/2" Rise - 1,500 lbs TW Reese Accessories and Parts RP54970

Hope this helps

John

RichieRich · 01-20-2012, 09:19 AM

Hi John,
I can’t thank you enough for your continued help . I have never towed a travel trailer before so I want to make sure that the hitch set up is 100% correct . First , I like to mention after viewing your photos (very helpful , thank you) it appears that my spring bars look exactly like yours . As far as the 1 3/8 inch diameter that I mentioned , just a quick measurement with a ruler .
When I towed the camper from the previous owners yard I used the hitch that was already attached to my wife’s Durango . It is a standard 2” receiver with a 2” drop , not knowing much , it appeared to tow very nicely and level as well all the way home . I thought all was well until I opened the cabin door and found the sway bar and spring bars laying on the floor , I really did not know exactly what they were at the time . While doing some research on this site I realized that it was important to use this gear while towing . I contacted the former owner to ask for the shank and hitch head , he politely said no problem and willing to hand it over but after 2 months of waiting and 3 phone calls , still nothing. I have not given up just yet but it does not look promising at this point .
On a side note, I did check the electric brakes on the camper and they seem to be in good condition , I purchased a brake controller to be installed when the weather gets warmer .
Rich

**JohnB** · 01-20-2012, 08:07 PM

Rich,

Glad the pics helped. They are from a fellow Sunline Club member I helped a while ago. The pics really help explain a lot.

That is the unique thing with our club. There are no too simple or dumb questions and everyone try's their best to help just like in a campground.

When ever you get to hitching up and need any help setting up the hitch, let us know. They are many here on the site willing to help.

By the way, here are the instructions for that hitch.

Weight Distribution - Reese

The installation guide is the instructions and the replacement parts tabs has the parts diagram. The chain ends of the WD bars change every so often from vintage to vintage. Some are flat some have the V forged in them to work with the DC attachment.

While your hunting up parts, the tow ball needs to be a 2 5/16" ball and be rated (stamped in the head of the ball) for the full rating of the TT. While you have a lighter TT now you can get a tow ball rated at 10,000# for just about the same price as a 5,000 or 6,000# one. Get the higher rated for the little bit more and if you ever upgrade in the future your all set.

Good luck

John

RichieRich · 01-24-2012, 10:25 PM

John B,
You mentioned that the hitch ball should be 2 5/16" in diameter , I have been using a 2" ball . I tried to read the stamping on the travel trail but could not read all the details .
Yesterday I took out my 2" ball to see how it fit into the receiver , seemed to fit snug , don't see a larger ball fitting . What do you think ? Is a 2 5/16 " ball standard for 17 footer .
Rich

**Sunline Fan** · 01-24-2012, 11:05 PM

There's a good chance you'd have a 2" on a 1700, though by 1996 I'm not 100% sure. So much of the product line was 2 5/16" that it's hard to say what they did.

Question for you Rich: If you pick up the ball/ball mount and stick it in the coupler, then latching the coupler (this is all without the tow vehicle). Can you feel any significant movement of the ball inside the coupler? There should be very little slop with the correct size. I mean, you could rock a 2" ball inside a 2 5/16" coupler back and forth and make a lot of noise doing it. Sure, you could pull a 2 5/16" with a 2" ball and the latch will hold it down somewhat, but it would be easy to pop off if the latch got a little slack in it and would be very dangerous.

There was no published data for this model year on all the hitch ball sizes, so we just kinda have to guess. It definitely should be stamped on the coupler. If you are really having a hard time reading it, if you have some chalk (or heck, even some Tums would probably work since it's basically the same thing), rub it flat over the text area on the coupler. This will make the top chalky color and leave the letters black. Or get a piece of paper and a pencil and do a pencil rubbing of it.

RichieRich · 01-25-2012, 07:42 AM

John, thanks for your all your help and advice ! Rich

RichieRich · 01-31-2012, 08:52 AM

Hey ,, You can log in that the T1700 has a 2: hitch ball, stamped on camper frame ....

**Sunline Fan** · 01-31-2012, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichieRich

Hey ,, You can log in that the T1700 has a 2: hitch ball, stamped on camper frame ....

Thanks!

Skyraider50 · 02-02-2012, 08:51 AM

Rich, I can say I had my first experience towing with the Reese WD system last weekend. BY FAR the best setup I have used. Well....to be fair the only WD setup I have used BUT the point is the concept is...awesome!!

Davis · 05-16-2012, 07:28 PM

I don't know if you already get what you need, just that I think this site is worth sharing.
Trailer Hitches - 5th Wheel Hitch - Gooseneck Hitch - Reese Hitch
They got reasonable prices for all their products.

Davis · 06-20-2012, 06:54 AM

You can also check with these guys. Trailer Hitches - 5th Wheel Hitch - Gooseneck Hitch - Reese Hitch