Broken Trailer Hitch

[Strodder]

I know this is a 60-66 Forum, but you have to see this. Never take for granted your hitch is in good shape. Last weekend we went to Las Vegas for a Motorcycle Event. We took the 2003 Chevy Truck and the Toy HaulerTrailer with the bike in it. It was really windy there & back. After I unhitched the trailer when we got home, and took the receiver off. My roll pan, and licence plate was bent down. I looked underneath at the trailer hitch. The hitch was almost broken off. It was hanging down when weight was on it. Here's some pictures of the broken hitch. Before & after I re welded it. I added a thick angle bracket, and made a gusset for it. You can't see it in the pictures, but the one I welded in when I installed the hitch the first time you can see. That saved me. It was the main thing holding the hitch on. Now it's much stronger than it was originally. I also welded both sides where the square tube goes through the side brackets. We could have been killed if it broke loose from the truck. We're lucky.