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10-11-2013, 03:05 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 769
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Replacing a hitch on a TV
So....we are on our last trip of the season and are with a few other friends. Last night around the campfire, it was mentioned the one of our friends "has to replace his hitch". He was told that hitches should be replaced every 7-10 years. I just started to laugh. Really? Has anyone ever heard of such a thing? I Googled it and nothing. I think my friend was misinformed. I've never heard anything like that in my life. Now...after an accident being struck from behind or if its severely rusted then OK. To clarify this...it is the receiver....not the ball.
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2019 Jayco 26BHX Eagle HTX Fifth Wheel
2018 Chevrolet Silverado Double Cab 2500HD 4X4 6.0L 4.10 axle
Reese 16K Round Tube Slider Hitch
HD Trailering Package with Integrated Brake Controller
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10-11-2013, 03:39 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 750
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Never heard of it either, unless it's been wrecked or tweaked one way or another.
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2016 Pinnacle 36REQS
2022 Ford F-450 6.7 4x4 CC LB Dually
Mike & Chelle, My kids when they decide to go with us.
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10-11-2013, 09:59 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: North Idaho/Arizona
Posts: 5,446
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I have never heard of that either. I guess I learn something new every day.
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2011 Eagle 330RLTS with just about every option.
2017 Silverado 1500 4x4 5.3 with tow package. (no, we don't tow the Jayco with it.)
2018 Surveyor 265RLDS well equipped.
Life in the slow lane is still life.
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10-11-2013, 10:06 PM
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
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Nope, never heard of it.
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2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
2018 Jay Flight 24RBS
2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
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10-12-2013, 07:01 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Friendswood
Posts: 917
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Replacing a hitch on a TV
Your friend must have been mis informed.
Unless a hitch is compromised in some way from an accident or severe rust it should not have to be replaced.
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10-12-2013, 10:29 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Kalamazoo, West Michigan
Posts: 1,817
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lx22f/c
Your friend must have been mis informed.
Unless a hitch is compromised in some way from an accident or severe rust it should not have to be replaced.
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I concur. Ask your friend if he changes the air in his tires every 50,000 miles as you are supposed to. After a certain number of heat/cool cycles it loses its compressability and must be changed.
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2006 23B Hybrid with 10k round bar WDH
2011 F150 4x4 SCREW Ecoboost, Max Tow, Integrated TBC, 3.73 LS axle, Firestone Ride Rite airbags.
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10-12-2013, 12:28 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: North Idaho/Arizona
Posts: 5,446
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Perhaps this nasty rumor was started by someone selling or manufacturing hitches. That would really help business. You know how things work. If someone says something enough times it will become true.
__________________
2011 Eagle 330RLTS with just about every option.
2017 Silverado 1500 4x4 5.3 with tow package. (no, we don't tow the Jayco with it.)
2018 Surveyor 265RLDS well equipped.
Life in the slow lane is still life.
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10-12-2013, 01:34 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,778
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcfarmall
I concur. Ask your friend if he changes the air in his tires every 50,000 miles as you are supposed to. After a certain number of heat/cool cycles it loses its compressability and must be changed.
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With winter coming, ask your friend if he puts winter air into his tires. Perhaps ask about when was the last time he added blinker fluid.
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10-12-2013, 01:44 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 34
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Replacing a hitch on a TV
I just saw a hitch replaced that needed it. It had cracked welds. It was an Oem hitch on a 1 ton dura max.
It had towed a toy hauler or an open car hauler probably 40-50k miles. Never overloaded but more dirt roads than we see. Supported off road race cars from here (Wa) all the way to Baja.
He noticed some clanging noises and added a clamp thing to keep the hitch insert from moving in the receiver. After that didn't work he saw the cracked welds.
So they do wear out, but I don't think it's a calendar type thing. No accidents or any real rust either.
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10-12-2013, 02:08 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 769
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Well after some friendly jabbing and more laughing I got to the root of his concerns. Seems as though one of his in laws was killed some years ago by someone driving in front of his car towing an RV out in New Mexico. He was told the hitch was worn out and fell apart. The RV flipped and his in law tried to avoid it and was killed. I felt terrible hearing this story.
Although I'm not sure he got all the details of the accident, I assured him there wasn't a need to replace his hitch as often as he does. I'm sure there is more to this story....overloading......blowout...etc.
My advice to him was just to have it inspected every year and save his money. No more discussions about this subject came up about it again. Wow! I feel bad for laughing at him.
__________________
2019 Jayco 26BHX Eagle HTX Fifth Wheel
2018 Chevrolet Silverado Double Cab 2500HD 4X4 6.0L 4.10 axle
Reese 16K Round Tube Slider Hitch
HD Trailering Package with Integrated Brake Controller
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10-12-2013, 02:14 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Luray, VA (central Shenandoah Valley of VA)
Posts: 1,430
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I have a frame hitch on my 1976 Ford F150 that was installed in 1976, used regularly, and is still in fine condition. Another on a 1972 brand X (before I parted ways with GM over their worthless warranties) that is still just fine, last time it was used a good while back. As previous posters have indicated, steel is steel, and as long as it is not damaged, either by distortion or rust, it will remain steel, with the same strength it had when new. The ball may wear out if not greased, but the hitch will be fine. Even balls are good for a long time - I have one that was purchased by my grandfather somewhere in the 1940's that I still use with no problem.
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2003 Ford F-350 V-10 Crew Cab 4WD Long Bed
2004 Jayco Designer Medallion 29 RLTS 5th wheel
Bill, Gayle, Teddy (Jack Russell terrier), and Honey (Beagle)
Retired at last !
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
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10-12-2013, 03:48 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Dale Hollow Lake Tn/Ky
Posts: 2,525
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Lots of things that can go wrong with a tow, but agree a hitch system doesn't age by itself. Had an incident when a trailer popped off an undersized ball and one where the driver failed to lock the trailer to the ball. Sorry to hear the bad story on this one, but for sure it wasn't an aged hitch problem.
Have to admit a mistake I made years ago when I pulled my runabout for the first time. Hooked it up using the 1-7/8" ball I used with my first pop-up. Got away with it [short tow] but it could have been a disaster. Always verify the required ball required by a new tow.
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10-27-2013, 06:28 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Finger Lakes of NY
Posts: 89
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Never heard of a hitch Aging out. I do crawl underneath the TV once a years or so and take at look at the fasteners.
Last time out I pulled over like I always do about 4 or 5 miles in just to check things over,and discovered I had forgotten the keeper pin fir the ball lock.
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