Hitch receiver failed on vehicle in signature. Link to Pictures.
This is a factory receiver, Class V rated at 1500 lbs tongue, 15,000 lbs weight distributing. My TT scales at 8500# loaded, with 1150# of tongue weight. I am well within the GVWR and GCWR of the Suburban, and even more within the capabilities of the hitch itself.
Just returned from a week on the road at Cedar Point, OH, a visit to the Airsteam factory in Jackson Center, OH, etc. Last stop was just outside of Allentown, PA for gas and the final leg of the trip into LI. I always inspect the hitch every time I stop, and I know it looked fine then.
I suspect that there was some kind of small crack that I didn't notice that was aggravated by a mile of washboard road on the Cross Bronx Expy. I think final failure was a turn at neighborhood intersection...both roads are 2 lane local roads with left turn lanes. I swung wide to make the turn and am halfway turned with the truck/TT at about a 45 degree angle to each other waiting for oncoming traffic to stop. Light changes, stopping oncoming traffic, I proceed since I am already in the intersection, and right after I hit the gas some guy in a sub-compact blows the light forcing me to jam the brakes. Given low speed and angle of trailer, TT brakes may not have activated allowing momentum of TT to force hitch to the right. This is a drawback of the Hensley Hitch, the cams will allow some of this lateral movement if TT brakes don't activate soon/hard enough during a stop.
Going into the dealer next week for hopefully what will be a warranty fix. Thank God it didn't let go on the road.
Moral of the story: equipment can fail, whether or not you are using it or abusing it. Looking at the thickness of the steel, I never thought that this was even a possibility.
Sorry to hear about the hitch but at least everyone is safe and you didn't wreck your vehicles.
We also spent time at Cedar Point about 2 weeks ago. Isn't that place a blast? Did you make it on to the Top Thrill Dragster? It wasn't working untill the last day we were there and the line was 4 hrs long. Oh well, we'll just have to go back someday.
Hope you get everything worked out with the hitch.
Rich
Rich, Fern, Bethany, Justin. 2005 Ford F450,Lariat, 6.0 PSD,CC,DWR,4WD, Air Hitch, 100 Gallon Aux fuel tank.
2009 Cardinal 3802BH 5 slide, 2 bath
Our "Condo in the Woods"
Leave no roller coaster unridden!
I notice a lot of rust inside some of those breaks of the welds. Looks like the welds were never done correctly, as they allowed moisture inside them. I'm no welder or anything, but that's my observations of the pics......
Unfortunately, yours is certainly not the only post I've seen about the flimsy GM hitch. Glad you didn't lose your trailer -- that would have s#cked big time!
Do report this failure to the NTSB. It could have resulted in tragedy to yourself and others.
As Mitch said, it looks like a weld failed, this put stress on other parts that weren't intended to carry the additional load, and those parts broke. The welds must be tight and waterproof, and with adequate penetration into the base metal and sufficient bead size for strength. An ideal of the quality of the weld can be gotten by a look, but not the whole story. A good weld in steel is as strong or stronger than the base metal. (Aluminum is a different story...a good aluminum weld is about half as strong as the base metal.)
Ken
I'm free of prostate cancer for 5 years now.
All men over age 50 should get an annual PSA blood test. Mine had a low reading, but the yearly jump was significant. The biopsy showed cancer just entering the aggressive stage. Dr. Hackenslash removed it.
I am in the metal forming tool and die industry and it appears to me that the welds held but that the parts failed miserably concluding that the welds are as strong or stronger than the base metal. It also appears that the areas that fractured were near the welds so possibly the weld process induced some molecular fractures within the base metal.
Quote: I am in the metal forming tool and die industry and it appears to me that the welds held but that the parts failed miserably concluding that the welds are as strong or stronger than the base metal. It also appears that the areas that fractured were near the welds so possibly the weld process induced some molecular fractures within the base metal.
That's my $0.02 worth.
Take another look at the upper gusset weld and lower gusset weld. Both show improper grounding and the MIG stuck to the good grounded part and not the other (gusset). Rusty surfaces says long time and a few shiny spots says those shiny spots stuck & finally broke and got pounded smooth.
Hate this part about MIG on high volume production. No longer welders but operators and most likely robotic arms with MIG attachments. Bad ground due to improper clamping or rusty contact points of the jig. Looks great, but only stuck to one side...the better grounded side.
-Ben Picture of my rig
1996 GMC SLT Suburban 3/4 ton K3500/7.4L/4:1/+150Kmiles orig owner...
1980 Chevy Silverado C10/long bed/"BUILT" 5.7L/3:73/1 ton helper springs/+329Kmiles, bought it from dad...
1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
Praise Dyno Brake equiped and all have "nose bleed" braking!
Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
51 cylinders in household, what's yours?...
The problem with welds is that the cracks could have been hidden by the surface paint. I good idea is to have the paint removed from the weld area every so often and have the welds dye penetrant inspected. This could reveal the cracks that have been there for some time by the looks of the pictures. Any reputable welding shop can do this for you.
I never have liked the attachment methods of the GM reciever hitches.
Me, the boss, and the curtain crawler
2003 Jayco Jayflight 27BH
2003 Dodge 3500 SLT QC DRW 6 Speed 3.73 LSD (Bone Stock for now)
Offline
