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09-02-2015, 08:03 AM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Saskatoon Sask Canada
Posts: 10,714
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike837go
Putting some 'worst case scenario' thoughts together....
Is the cover designed to fail? Rip loose? Open when excessive force is applied? Or does the cord fail? And where?
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The cover is designed to easily fail.. even if it wasn't thousands of pounds of RV pulling on the cord would rip it out of the socket..
__________________
Seann
2004 Chev Silverado Duramax optioned past the max. 2009 Jayco Eagle 308 RLS 900watts of solar, Lithium batteries (400amp hour), 2000 watt (4000 surge) whole house inverter.
145days boondockinig in2023 2022/151 2021[/COLOR]
93/2020,157/2019219/2018 206/2017,215/2016, 211/2015, 196/14, 247/13, 193/12
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09-02-2015, 09:15 AM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: north az
Posts: 305
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In my younger, dumber days, I failed to apply a lock on the hitch after hooking up. Hit a deep rut in the road, and the trailer came off the ball. I did have the safety chains crossed, so the trailer dropped down on the chains. Slowly slowed down to a stop. Worst that happened was a need to change clothing at once! Thirty years later, and I have never forgot to lock hitch in place, when hooking up.
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09-02-2015, 12:14 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,740
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A couple years ago coming home from a trip, on the interstate, the traffic was going slow, at one point. I passed a TT on the shoulder. Couple of guys were looking at the hitch. The tongue was sitting on the chains.
Last spring, I was hooking up. Everything hooked up right, but something seamed a bit off, after having the equalizer bars on. I fully unhooked, and when I did I found the ball was not properly seated in the socket. Glad I took the time to figure out why, verse jumping in and going.
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09-02-2015, 05:20 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Fuquay-Varina
Posts: 884
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When moving a ball, use a new lock nut
We had a ball mounted on the bumper of a Ford Ranger for fourteen years. When it was replaced with a 2012 Tacoma, I moved the ball but never thought to use a new split lock washer. Bad oversight.
A year after we bought the Tacoma we put the Honda Shadow on a Kendon bike trailer and pulled it to Pennsylvania for a week of touring. The roads in Maryland and DC were so rough, the nut on the ball apparently vibrated loose and fell off on our return trip to N.C. When we hit a really bad bump, the ball popped completely out of the hitch.
The trailer tongue slammed into the pavement at 70 mph. We immediately got onto the shoulder. The safety cable kept the trailer behind us and it didn't flip. The only damage was some scraped paint and frayed wiring harness on the underside of the trailer tongue. After a side trip to the local Pep Boys for a new ball --- AND a new lock washer --- we resumed our trip.
So, if you ever move a ball to a different hitch, splurge and spend an extra quarter on a new lock washer. I certainly will.
__________________
2014 Greyhawk 31FK
2007 Honda Shadow Sabre 1100cc
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09-02-2015, 05:49 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 942
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Someone on another RVing forum I frequent posted some very disconcerting photos. The hitch on their tow vehicle was all rusted out -- not just surface rust, but crumble-in-your-hand rust. Fortunately, they caught it before it failed, and replace it. They posted it as a PSA reminder for everyone to take the occasional look at theirs.
__________________
Geoff & Jill
& Sierra, the little white monster
2013 Ford F-150 XTR SC Ecoboost
2015 Jayco Jay Flight 24FBS
Winnipeg, Manitoba
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09-02-2015, 06:03 PM
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#26
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 21
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wires
In the unlikely event of the trailer completely disconnecting from the tow vehicle, either the wires will strip out of the connector or strip out of the trailer. I saw a trailer where this happened a few years back, where it was in an accident and flipped over on its side and stripped all the wiring out of the trailer side clean. The tow vehicle ended up under the "Y" hitch of the trailer off the ground, but still connected. Trailer ball snapped off and hitch torn. This was back in the 1970's.
__________________
2009 GMC Sierra Crew Cab 4 x 4 Diesel/196 litre Titan tank
2013 Jayco Eagle 28.5 RLS 5th Wheel
Soon to be: 2019 Jayco Eagle HT 27.5RLTS 5th Wheel
2018: 21 days Camping
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09-03-2015, 08:31 AM
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#27
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Broomfield
Posts: 26
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09-03-2015, 09:13 AM
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#28
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,772
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I have a buddy whose OEM bumper hitch pulled loose on a Chevy. Left him in a lurch until it could be replaced.
Inspect the welds and rust.
__________________
Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
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09-03-2015, 09:34 AM
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#29
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Broomfield
Posts: 26
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I check all the time- luckily, mine was manufactured long after these happened, so I hope they figured it out. I still check it though- I figure everyone should.
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09-03-2015, 10:24 AM
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#30
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bartonville
Posts: 513
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I saw these alarming photos right after buying my 2500HD Silverado and replaced the OEM hitch before ever pulling my trailer. Not worth the worry.
Anyone want to buy a brand new OEM hitch for a 2005-2007 Chevy 2500?
__________________
Scoutr2 (Mike)
2015 Jay Flight 32RLDS Elite
2012 Chevy 2500HD Crew Cab LTZ (6.6L Duramax/Allison)
Equalizer Hitch (1200# bars)
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09-03-2015, 12:02 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Bremerton
Posts: 342
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Metal creep is also an issue. During recent hitching/unhitching, I noticed movement between my hitchhead and dropbar. I had tightened these with gusto a couple years ago during my last hitch adjustment, so I didn't expect them to come loose.
I spent a buck or so on new grade 8 split washers, got in my best weight-lifter stance and re-tightened those nuts. No movement now. I need to check the ball nut, but I don't have a socket big enough.
Make sure you all check hitch bolts (with a wrench) periodically.
Tim
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09-03-2015, 02:04 PM
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#32
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 942
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I was hit from behind in a rear end accident earlier this year, damaging a brand new after market hitch I had just installed. I made sure that both the insurance company and the body shop knew about it. The insurance company said it's up tot the body shop to inspect it to see if it needed replacing, but they would approve it if necessary. It did need replacing, and the body shop was just going to throw a stock GM 5,000 lb hitch on there. Nope, says I. Check the sticker. That's a brand new 6,000 lb hitch. I want nothing less than what I have. They had to call around until they found one. The idea of towing with a potentially damaged hitch is enough to give me the willies.
__________________
Geoff & Jill
& Sierra, the little white monster
2013 Ford F-150 XTR SC Ecoboost
2015 Jayco Jay Flight 24FBS
Winnipeg, Manitoba
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