Yikes! Check your hitch welds!

jsallman1 · 07-03-2016, 05:00 PM

Just returned from a long trip, towed about 4500 miles in June total and this equalizer is just 1 year old. You can look at the picture (top weld) and see why I am quite thankful this held, would have been a mess if the entire ball assembly came off at highway speeds. Feeling very thankful, I have already emailed equalizer. Unfortunately between orlando and Iowa the trailer never left the truck, so I really have no idea how long I towed like this! I noticed it when reattaching after cleaning at home to return to storage. The joint visibly spread when the jack weight was removed.

Screwby · 07-03-2016, 05:07 PM

Wow that makes me nauseous just thinking of the carnage that could have caused. Thanks for the heads up, I'll be checking my hitch as soon as possible!

Paintinfool3 · 07-03-2016, 05:08 PM

really scary

TwoBit · 07-03-2016, 05:50 PM

I just bought one too.

jsallman1 · 07-03-2016, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoBit

I just bought one too.

I'll let you know what Equalizer says, but I imagine this is VERY rare. I have read about a pro-pride having the same type of issue on another forum and they took care of it quickly, I think bad welds happen.

In the somewhat good news department, that bottom weld did its job! I am really glad that single bottom weld held. It wont be used again! Glad I had another heavy duty standard ball mount, I just towed it to storage with no sway control slowly.

@Screwby, Nauseas doesn't even begin to cover it. If that had let go, hopefully the safety chains would have done their job, but keeping control and resisting the instinct to slam on the TV brakes but manually engage the trailer brakes (I don't think it would have pulled the brake pin) would have been a cute trick. In the least it would have really messed up the rear end of the truck, and possibly hit the gas bottles.

I'll definitely be looking at the welds on both the hitch head and receiver assembly more often now.

BigJohnD · 07-03-2016, 08:07 PM

Dang, and that's one of the good wd hitches. Glad it held together.

Seann45 · 07-03-2016, 09:17 PM

Now you realize why you have safety chains and are told to X them under the trailer...

Brownie31 · 07-03-2016, 10:36 PM

Thats what happens when a welder isn't set hot enough, no penetration on the one side. Get it ground out and rewelded, it will be fine.

Iraqvet05 · 07-04-2016, 04:45 AM

The company that owns Fastway and Equalizer is very good with warranty claims, at least in my case. I had an issue with an E2 hitch head and after an a mail and a phone call, they shipped me a new head and paid for the return shipping of the old head.

jsallman1 · 07-04-2016, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seann45

Now you realize why you have safety chains and are told to X them under the trailer...

I actually wonder since the chains are attached at the very front next to the ball if the crossed chains would actually catch anything or not rather than just having a set of crossed chains dragging a tongue down the road. I would think it would be more effective if jayco attached them 6-8" behind the ball. I do keep the crossed regardless.

Doboy Dawg · 07-04-2016, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brownie31

Thats what happens when a welder isn't set hot enough, no penetration on the one side. Get it ground out and rewelded, it will be fine.

That is very poor prep work right there. There is likely more issues than just heat setting here. Judging from the picture there was no penetration into the metal. Probably poorly grounded, mill scale not removed from metal. That is really poor quality.

I would have a qualified welder fix it, if the manufacturer won't replace it. Even then I would be concerned with the replacement.

If it was mine I would grind of the weld and reweld it.

jsallman1 · 07-08-2016, 06:55 PM

So Equalizer is of course sending a complete replacement head, they are also sending me a 1400lb head vs the 1200lb I had, Wet I am really pushing that 1200lbs, dry/loaded I am around 875. They were very interested in getting the old unit back to inspect what happened. Overall, I am pretty happy with the response and feel better with the bit heavier head moving forward.

homer1959 · 07-08-2016, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsallman1

So Equalizer is of course sending a complete replacement head, they are also sending me a 1400lb head vs the 1200lb I had, Wet I am really pushing that 1200lbs, dry/loaded I am around 875. They were very interested in getting the old unit back to inspect what happened. Overall, I am pretty happy with the response and feel better with the bit heavier head moving forward.

Nice to see them doing that, I own obe and ill look at it first thing tomorrow thanks for the heads up !

Jagiven · 07-08-2016, 09:15 PM

It could have been ugly, if it had failed while on the road.

I check mine everytime I install it.

SecretCoveDave · 07-08-2016, 10:43 PM

Haven't really checked before. Will now. Thanks.

North of 49° · 07-09-2016, 09:03 AM

it might be a good idea to check your receiver too. I know someone who was poking around under their truck and noticed that the hitch was all rusty -- not just surface rust, but crumble-in-your-hand rust. It wasn't that old of a vehicle either. They were planning a trip, and if they didn't notice it, it could have been nasty.

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