B&W hitch part failure

[norty1]

I have friends who just use a bungee cord to keep it from flopping around when not in use?

[TxLoser]

Good idea too. I think that leaf spring also helps with stability since it adds some resistance to the side to side pivot when it has a load. I noticed there’s no strike marks where to saddle has hit on the good side. With the broken leaf it strikes where this red circle is. With no load on it, it does sit flat with even with the broken leaf. This why I didn’t realize it was even broken till I moved it by hand.

[Nature Ist]

My Companion hitch does not have the same set-up' it is one complete casting, and certainly looks substantial.
It would be interesting to know what caused that part to break. It would appear that at some point the truck and trailer must have been on very uneven ground, which put a lot of force on the hitch. I've often wondered what would happen if I went off onto very uneven ground where the truck and trailer were on very opposite planes; essentially lifting one side of the truck almost off the ground. I could see that putting a lot of strain on the hitch.

[TxLoser]

Over the five or so years I’ve used this, it has been twisted like that, but all just normal circumstances. Campsites etc. Never so much it could lift part of the truck or make the overhang hit the bed rails. I suspect it was fatigued from the get go, and finally just broke.

[Learjet]

Riding with the hitch in the bed with no trailer hooked up fatigued that part over time. All that part does is stop the hitch from flopping around when unhitched. My companion has a hydraulic damper that does the same thing.

[AKRUEBBE]

Originally Posted by Learjet

Riding with the hitch in the bed with no trailer hooked up fatigued that part over time. All that part does is stop the hitch from flopping around when unhitched. My companion has a hydraulic damper that does the same thing.

The hydraulic damper is only for cushioning side to side movement. The head leveling spring cushions the back to front movement'

[Learjet]

Originally Posted by AKRUEBBE

The hydraulic damper is only for cushioning side to side movement. The head leveling spring prevents cushions the back to front movement'

you are correct...there are two parts on the companion that do the same job as that one part on the patriot.

[TxLoser]

Interesting. I never thought of it fatiguing from being unloaded. So, what your saying is I need to camp more.

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by TxLoser

Interesting. I never thought of it fatiguing from being unloaded. So, what your saying is I need to camp more.

No question about it. We all do.

So I'll change the saying to fit the sport, "You never see an RV parked in front of a psychiatrist's office"!

[TxLoser]

So B&W did upgrade that part. They sent it again, but this time with a mounting plate to fit previous holes and instructions. I must’ve not been the first to have this break.