wallynm
Los Alamos NM
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Joined: 09/27/2000
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hitch photos
We had a near tragedy coming home this past week-end. As you can see we nearly lost the Suburban from the Motor Home. I suggest the Lord take care of "fools" and "idiots" and in this case I may be both.
If you have a hitch that is bolted to the frame in some way - I suggest that you check the bolts and nuts to be sure that they are tight and properly torqued to I suggest to at least 140 ft -lbs
The best I can tell the nuts on the passenger side came lose and allowed the hitch to drop down and as you can see we nearly lost the FROG. I consider this to be a serious safety issue. Since the safety chains and break away cable to the FROG braking system were attached to the hitch they "in essence" were useless. I am also concerned that the pillar blocks or hangers from the frame that the hitch is attached to have been compromised.
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ArchHoagland
Clovis, CA, USA
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Joined: 11/28/2004
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Who installed that hitch??
What brand hitch was it?
Was it rated 10,000 lbs?? Your suburban weighs in at around 7500 lb I would guess.
That hitch looked like a kludge to me.
2004 Monaco
La Palma 36DBD
Two Slides
2 Potties
Workhorse 22 chassis
8.1 gas engine & Allison 1000 transmission
7.1 MPG based on fuel used over 32,000 miles
TOADS
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
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1991 Mazda Miata 5 speed 33MPG 2,310 LBS
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Doug and Cassi Glass
Clifton Forge, VA
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It doesn't look like near enough hitch to me. All I've seen with any towing capacity have been welded to the frame. That appears to be for a little utility trailer or a tent/popup trailer.
Glad you managed to come out of it unscathed.
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Argosy24
MI
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Joined: 05/09/2003
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Agreed, not much of a hitch, but what did it rip out of? The bolts look intact so whatever it was must have been even lighter than the hitch.
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shadetreebay
Milaca MN
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Joined: 10/04/2006
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Looks like hitch installation could have been better! Glad you came out as well as you did. Thanks for taking time to inform us!!
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wallynm
Los Alamos NM
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Joined: 09/27/2000
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ArchHoagland wrote:Who installed that hitch??
What brand hitch was it?
Was it rated 10,000 lbs?? Your suburban weighs in at around 7500 lb I would guess.
That hitch looked like a kludge to me.
Hidden Hitch installed by the factory. Rated at 6000 pounds and I have certified CAT sacle weights for Suburban @ 5700 pounds. Hitch may look like a kludge to you but I seen this model installed on lots of motor homes. Bolts were not ripped out but rather nuts came un screwed and hitch mearly dropped down.
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Norm Payne
Livingston, TX
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I have heard of the same thing happening with those tublar Hidden Hitches that Newmar and others used for a couple of years. Several people on the Newmar Yahoo Group have reported that problem and I met two owners who lost their hitches AND their toads.
Norm
2005 Dutch Star 4015, Cummins ISL 370 hp
2007 Honda CR-V
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mexfishguide
arkansas
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Joined: 08/03/2005
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Glad to hear everyone made it thru this u-hurt.......
I use a methoid on installation as this, have the installer tack weld all the nuts to the framework, I do not mean weld all the way around but just a tack. This will give you the confidence you will need, takes a minute and helps a lifetime. Good luck on the next one.
Take care
Mexfishguide
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DrScud
On the Road
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Joined: 08/09/2005
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Installation and brand aside, nothing takes the place of proper preventive maintenance and routine safety checks. Thanks for sharing and re-enforcing this mantra.
Jim & Sim - Fulltiming. - - Follow our adventures at: JimandSim.com
98 Foretravel U320 40', Cummins 450 HP/1450 lb-ft, HD4060 Allison, w/rtrder
2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo / M & G Braking / Demco Excali-Bar
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Yellowboatdeactivate
Auburn, WA
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Joined: 06/08/2005
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Thanks for the post.
I'm taking my MH in tonight to have my receiver hitch strengthened from 5,000 pounds to 7,500 pounds. I've been planning this for about a year and my wife told me it was time to get it done. My MH is rated to tow 8,000 pounds and my toy hauler trailer is rated for 7,000 pounds. I've been keeping the total weight of the trailer and load to less than 5,000 pounds and the tongue weight to 350 pounds as 350 pounds is the vertical load limit on my rig.
TorkLift, a local company, that sells and engineers RV hitch equipment will strengthen the MH frame and either add a new receiver hitch or strengthen the 5,000 pound hitch that is already installed. I've asked them to increase the tongue weight limit but I don't know what they can do yet. I'll talk to them tonight.
Hopefully I will be able to avoid a problem similar to yours.
JD & Kathy
Pomeranian named Mac
2005 Winnebago
Sightseer 29R on a 2006 Ford Chassis
FeatherLite 3110 17.5' Car Hauler
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