Hitches weak link
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 277
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From: The Casa
Hitches weak link
Tomorrow I gonna have to tow a 3/4 chevy about 10 miles.I usally woldn't sweat it,but my weight distributing hitch is with my brother in Iowa.Im looking about 4,600 truck+1,000trailer=5,600.My hitch is rated at 7,500 weight carrying and my ball is rated at 6,000.But my 6" drop is only rated at 5,000.Which is the only thing im concered abut.The damn things already bent.If I ward to keep a light tounge weight,do you think my drop would handle the extra 1,000.My F150 has pulled alot more,but this time i got my friends truck which he has just invested a lot of money in body work so I got to make sure my equipment is up to it.Or i might screw up his truck,or mabye worse, bend my trailers jack.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 65
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There is considerable safety margin engineered into all hitch components. That being said, if the ball mount is already bent then it has exceeded spec at some time. So much of this stuff is imported now days and only a small percentage gets tested. I've seen several towing accidents and the failure is usually when a panic stop is made. The force sheers either the ball or the mount where it is welded to the shank. I also had a ballmount sheer when being towed out of a muddy field, (it was properly rated and less than two years old) which left the trailer dangling on the safety chains. I found the weld on the ball platform was broken but showing rust for about 60% of the length. The break had been there for sometime. I count my blessings that it happened at 5mph in a muddy field instead of on the highway with other drivers. Go buy a new 6" drop ballmount before you tow the trailer. As for the tongue weight, keep it where it should be, as a dancing trailer is likely going to put more stress on the ball mount than a proper load that tows smoothly.<O
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CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,209
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
I think your 1000# trailer estimate is low; it's probably closer to 1500#. Hopefully, the brakes are in good working order. Not sure why you'd even consider using a damged ball mount, if you're really concerned about your bud's truck.
Steve
Steve
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 112
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I'm in there with Steina: If you have seen damage already you should junk the part and replace with a new - hopefully stronger unit. Anything which is already deformed will have stress damage and cannot be relied upon.
