Load Rating for Replacement U-Bolts for Reese or Pro-Series Weight Distribution Spring Bars

Question:

In the middle of nowhere Kansas, one of my U-Bolts blew up and the spring bar started dragging. Couldnt find any part of the U-Bolt. Fortunately, there was a tractor dealer quite close and I went to them for help. The solution we came up with was a shackle with a 2,000 lb. load rating. Im using 1,100 lb. rated spring bars. Am I better off just staying with the shackle or is there a comparable load rating on the U-Bolt? Thank you.

asked by: Steve S

Expert Reply:

First off, sorry to hear about your malfunction but it's great that you were able to find a quick fix so close by. My main concern would be that the shackle you're using as a temporary fix might be too strong for the chain and spring bar. This could cause some bending/warping on the bar and not allow it to function properly over the long term. For that reason it is best to go ahead and replace the old hardware on your weight distribution system with the proper parts.

If you do have a Reese or Pro-Series WD system, you are able to use the # RP58032 to replace the U-bolt that sheared off and know that it is rated correctly for the application. These are rated for use with all Reese or Pro-Series WD systems. If you've got a different WD system let me know and I can recommend the appropriate replacement hardware.

expert reply by: Erik B