Reese WDH Trunnion bar defect (or owner defect?)

[pauloh]

I bought a Reese weight-distributing hitch (Reese 49586-020 Trunnion for WD Pro Series) a couple of months ago, from Amazon. (This was a package unit, all parts included in the box, nothing bought separate except my tow ball.) Finally trying to install it today, after studying the parts and instructions several times the past few weeks. I am at the stage of trying to insert the trunnion bars into the hitch. This I cannot seem to do no matter what I try. I am somewhat mechanically inclined, doing all the TM stuff like fixing fridge wiring, putting on tires, greasing bearings, etc. though perfectly capable of stupid mistakes. I looked at several videos at etrailer.com, none are identical to mine, but it seems you just insert the trunnion with it rotated parallel with TV's bumper (also per instructions here), then turn it back toward the TM. Mine just don't seem to go in far enough (lower pin) to allow the upper pin of the trunnion to slide into the groove there, or that upper pin hits before you get in far enough. THEN, I tried the trunnion upside down. It glided right into place. Mounted this way, the trunnion can wobble or rattle a little in it's locked position, but seems secure and I am guessing this is about how they feel when normally installed. I found one reference to Reese manufacturing parts wrong in another forum, is it possible this is my problem? I am in a rural area, no way to go check this somewhere at a dealer, but I could order another set of bars and see if I have the same issue I suppose. Thanks for setting me straight if you see what I've missed here. Several photos attached I hope will show what I'm seeing....does it look like the trunnion heads are upside down from the bars, by any chance? The bars are stamped "made in China" and I assume this would normally be on the bottom of the bar, which is where it is when the Reese label is upright on the trunnion head. But I don't know how the head/bar angle is supposed to normally look. The bar seems to taper downward toward the TM, which does seem like it should be. Haven't tried hooking up the chains or anything with the upside-down installation!