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.

[Strodder]

This is after I repaired it. By the way this hitch is a hidden hitch from Sr Michaels.



This bracket welded near the middle is the main thing that was holding it together.

[MacAttack]

Yikes! That factory fab/welding stuff can hold some hidden flaws in a production environment - like nasty material stress cracks.

Nice rehab, BTW. That thing’s not going anywhere.

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by MacAttack

Yikes! That factory fab/welding stuff can hold some hidden flaws in a production environment - like nasty material stress cracks.

Nice rehab, BTW. That thing’s not going anywhere.

Thanks, I hope not.

[Alan's Classic]

Sombody was watching out for you.

[4dranch]

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

Sombody was watching out for you.

That could have been ugly. glad no one got hurt..

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

Somebody was watching out for you.

We're not very religious but my Wife said God was looking out for us.
Thank GOD.

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by 4dranch

That could have been ugly. glad no one got hurt..

Some one else could have gotten hurt too. There was a lot of people on the way back from Vegas.

[ceruzziracing]

Holy S*@T glad you're okay, that could've been very ugly to say the least!

[Imperial Kustom]

Whoa!!! Now that is frightening right there! I had a trailer ball come loose once while i was hauling a CHERRY bed on the trailer. Thankfully I heard the odd clunk from the back of the truck and got 'er nice 'n tight with the ol' pipe wrench before anything catastrophic happened. You sir, are a lucky man!

[Strodder]

Here's what we were towing. It's about 10K loaded

[Fred T]

Did you contact Sir Michaels? I would think they would want to see the pics.

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by Fred T

Did you contact Sir Michaels? I would think they would want to see the pics.

I did, but they were closed for a funeral. I think the owners wife died. She has been really sick for a while. Thanks for reminding me. I've been real busy the last 2 days, and forgot to call them back.

[Strodder]

I call Sr Michaels back today. They said Michael was still out. He will call me tomorrow. They said that the hitch is rated at 5K. My trailer is much heaver than that. But Michael will still call me. I told them that I already fixed, and modified it to make it stronger. I don't want another hitch. I just wanted to let them know what happened. I can see the hitch bending from the weight, but not break like it did.

[Strodder]

Here's an update. Sr Michaels never called me back. I'm staying awake at night worrying about that hitch, even though it should be stronger than it was. The truck is still a 1500. It's not meant to pull some thing as heavy as my trailer. I bit the bullet, and traded it in for a used 2006 2500HD. I feel much better now. Can't wait to go camping. I took the helper bags, air tank, compressor, brake controller, bed extender, extra trans cooler, Hypertech Programmer, and some billet stuff off it before I gave it to them. The Chevy dealer said it was OK to do it. This 2006 2500HD is loaded. I'm going to miss my 1500. It looked cool, but after a while I'll have this one looken really good.

[MacAttack]

Congratulations on the newer and more heavy duty ride. Have Fun!

Mac.

[TR65]

Strodder,

I have been worrying about your hitch as well. Looks like it broke from low cycle fatigue due to side loading. Note how the paint is chipped off and rusted around the fresh break. So it looks like it has been bending back and forth for a while. The windy conditions you encountered would give high side loads, and probably finished off the hitch.

I have a class 3/4 hitch that is rated for 10,000# if you have load leveling. It is much beefier for side loading.

New truck looks good!

TR

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by MacAttack

Congratulations on the newer and more heavy duty ride. Have Fun!

Mac.

Thanks Mac, mostly I'll feel safer.

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by TR65

Strodder,

I have been worrying about your hitch as well. Looks like it broke from low cycle fatigue due to side loading. Note how the paint is chipped off and rusted around the fresh break. So it looks like it has been bending back and forth for a while. The windy conditions you encountered would give high side loads, and probably finished off the hitch.

I have a class 3/4 hitch that is rated for 10,000# if you have load leveling. It is much beefier for side loading.

New truck looks good!

TR

Thanks TR. In 3 years of towing my Toy Hauler I never had a problem. I have a Equalizer weight distribution hitch on it. It worked great in the wind. I hardly felt it blowing around. The hitch was the weak link. I think your right though. The wind did it in.