Reese 65509 ROUND BAR W_HITCH BAR - Manual (Page 2)

PRELIMINARY BALLMOUNT ADJUSTMENT
1. Insert 3/4" X 5" bolt (J) through 3/4" flat washer (F) and lower hole in ballmount and install flat washer (F), lockwasher (L), and
nut (K). Rotate ballmount up until the ball is verticle or tilted slightly to the rear. Install one adjustment washer (E) on 3/4" X 5"
bolt (J) and insert bolt in upper slot in ballmount. Index the washer to locate the ball mount at the proper angle. Install second
adjustment washer, lock washer, and nut. Torque the 3/4” nuts (K) to 300 ft-lbs (If proper torque wrench is not available,
torque nuts to 150 ft-lbs, then turn nuts an additional 1/4 turn - DO NOT lubricate the threads).
INITIAL HOOK-UP
NOTE: Car and trailer should be loaded and ready for travel before final leveling.
1. Pick reference points on front and rear wheel wells. Measure and record distance to pavement.
Front wheel well to pavement ___________________ Rear wheel well to pavement __________________.
2. Attach chains to spring bars using U-bolts, flat washers, and locknuts. Let 2-3 threads protrude below locknut. Chain must not
bind.
65509IN-02/27/12 REV. J © 2000 REESE PRODUCTS, INC. Litho in USA PAGE 2 OF 4
STANDARD SPRING BAR INTEGRATED CAM SPRING BAR
3. Using tongue jack, lower coupler onto ball and close coupler latch.
4. Insert formed end of spring bar into lower socket of the ballmount and push upward. Line up notch in spring bar with the tab in
the upper socket, and push up until seated. Rotate the spring bar so that it is in line with the trailer frame to lock it into place
(The spring bars will fit on either side, as they are not made right of left handed). Repeat procedure for the other bar.
NOTE: To release spring bar, lift up on bar and rotate so that the notch in the spring bar and the tab in the upper socket are in
line, and allow bar to drop out of the ballmount.
5. Position the snap up brackets on trailer "A" frame so that the chain on the end of the spring bar is approximately vertical. Turn
1/2 X 3-1/2 bolt until it contacts frame. Then tighten 1/4 turn with wrench. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN.
6. Raise trailer tongue and rear of car with jack. Lower yoke of snap up bracket until it is parallel with the ground, and slip the
closest link over the hook (If there are less than 5 links between hook and u-bolt adjust ballmount angle rearward, and repeat
procedure -
see Fig. 3 & 4 below). With the snap up bracket handle over the yoke, raise until yoke has passed “over-center”.
Slide the safety pin through the small hole to lock the yoke in place. Repeat for other side.
Fig. 3
7. Lower jack. Re-measure front and rear wheel well reference points (vehicle should settle evenly, within about 1/2 inch). If
front has settled more than rear, increase the number of chain links between yoke hook and spring bar. If there are no more
links, the angle of the head assembly must be decreased. The trailer must be uncoupled and the upper bolt removed from the
head assembly. The head assembly is then pivoted up as appropriate. Reassemble. If rear has settled more than front, reduce
the number of links between hook and spring bar. It is preferred that rear of vehicle settle the same or more than the front.
Check to see if trailer is level, if not, you may need to re-adjust ballmount angle and / or position. Check to see that there is
room for the bar and chain to move when turning a corner.
LUBRICATION
1. Place several drops of oil at spring bar / ballmount contact points. Excess oil, dirt, and grit should be wiped out whenever trailer
is uncoupled.
SURGE BRAKES
Some surge brakes will not work with weight distributing hitches. CHECK TRAILER AND/OR SURGE BRAKE OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ANY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS REGARDING WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING HITCHES. Do not use sway
control with surge brakes.
SNAP UP HANDLE
PLACE CLOSEST
LINK ON HOOK
Fig. 4