Thanks everyone for your input. I have Pix if someone could tell me how to post.
Interesting update. The mechanic who is going to fix it ordered a new frame from Ford. He expected them to have them and would have no problem getting one. They told him that the would have to build one because the have changed the frames. Hmmmmm... could there be other problems out there?
No one who has seen it thinks the hitch was installed poorly. I cannot tell you how many professional people have seen it and said that they have never seen anything like it.
My mechanic is anxious to compare the old frame with the new one when it comes. I'll let y'all know his opinion.

 

To post the picture, use the User Gallery here to create your truck's photo gallery. Create one of the albums in your gallery as a "hidden" album so it doesn't show up in the main listing. Then upload the photos into this album. Click "Forum Codes" under any of the photos and it will give you the text for posting your photo.

 

Did You buy the truck new?What brand of hitch did you purchase?
I pull a boat heavier than your trailer with my Explorer with no problems.I had a 89 F150 before that w/no problems.I'm like to see the pictures.My father-in-law has just traded his 94 to a 98.His 94 had a 5th wheel attached to the frame which caused no problems.What year model of your truck,long or short WB?The reason I'm asking my son has a F150 who also pulls a boat.How much slack do you have in the hitch it self?If the hitch pin hole is to small it will cause the trailer to slam forward when you stop.

 

so where are the pictures??

OhioRiverFordMan

 

hmmmm....that is peculiar. I was at the other well known Ford truck site yesterday and someone else mentioned finding cracks on the rear portion of their frame also. I wonder if that was another person or if it was the original poster of this topic? It might be worth it to check out the other site and contact that user?......

 

Coould you tell me what that site is?
Sorry everyone for not getting back. Been very busy trying to compile info. and GET MY #*%# TRUCK FIXED!!!!

 

pictures?

 

I'm sorry, I'm still working on it.

 

>Coould you tell me what that site is?
>Sorry everyone for not getting back. Been very busy trying
>to compile info. and GET MY #*%# TRUCK FIXED!!!!


I just emailed that site address to you.

-Ron

 

So what's the news on this? Did you find the other article on the other website?

 

Could you please put your VIN # on here? I want to know if my truck was mfg any where around yours. I just bought a 16' enclosed trailer and I dont want this to happen to me. Thanks for your post. Keep the updates coming.

DR JOE

 

You said: "We weight the tongue on our bathroom scale with two ponies in it and it weighed 240 lbs."

That must be SOME bathroom scale.

How did you get two ponies in it?


:-X23

 

How in gods creation can a frame just shear like that. I have pulled a 10,000lb Bobcat/trailer with my truck a few times and never had a bit of trouble. I honestly don't know if this is a bluff or not.

 

I am just guessing, but I imagine he put the scales under the jack and raised the weight off the bumper. The reading on the scales would be the approximate tongue weight.

 

I believe everything you have said about the frame ripping apart like that, and you know it...ford will not admit to knowing anything. They will just learn buy your/mine mishaps and perhaps try to fix it on the next 10 million trucks they manufacture.
Ford knows it is a low percentage of people that pull heavy loads so their not going to worry about it unless people start getting killed from it.
Personally, I would not replace the frame with a new one. If the first one failed what makes you think that the second will not fail???
I would have the mechanic grind down the metal and weld 1/8" thick doublers to both sides. This will give it the strength it needs. In other words you redesign the frickin thing yourself since ford does not seem to be able/willing to do it.
I used to work as a designer in the automotive industry (now I work in the aircraft industry)and I know how they operate. I used to tell them that a component would fail given certain conditions but they would tell me to shut the #/'!k up.
They are more interested in the money they save in weight reduction....and it is an issue. Also, they don't want the truck to last for a long time. If it did they would go out of business.