Broke my new hitch

[fast03]

Towed the boat to Big bear this weekend. Lake was fun everything was great till coming home. Had a truck across the road on a blind corner and I had to lock the whole rig up to stop. Well my new reese Hitch just pulled right down jerking the rear bolts out of the welded in nuts. I will be having a conversation with the guy who sold it to me. I just pulled my 12k toyhauler no problems and now a 4500 lb boat does it in, I think the surge brakes did not come on strong enough and the trailer slammed forward. Hitch is ruined but everyone is ok, except my broken finger trying to get the rig to separate. to top it off the guy that I managed not to center punch just drove away, even though the most godawful sounds were coming from my truck. never even acknowledged me. Sorry for the rant.

 

[mytmousemalibu]

Glad you and family are ok:hug: Id be pissed! At all of it! Me and hitches dont get along, the last one crushed my ankle

I hate surge brakes too, they scare me

 

[Kat]

Glad you and family are ok:hug:

X2 :hug:

 

[fast03]

Thanks for the kind words. yeah I think surge brakes are much of the problem. The reese does not bolt to the bumper like the stocker, so with a drop hitch I think it was too much leverage as the load shifted forward to activate the brakes. Yeah my wife and son were pretty spooked. My son did great cause he directed traffic on the blind curve while I dragged to trailer, hitch leaving a trench in the road, so a safe spot

 

[fast03]

Thanks Kat

 

[JoshH]

I'd be contacting Reese about how their 15k lb hitch failed with a 4500 lb boat, but like everyone else said, I'm glad to hear everyone was safe.

 

[wikdlmm]

by surge do u mean hydraulic brakes? Glad everyone is ok

 

[Whitetail Addict]

Glad everyone is ok...that could have been ugly.

Like everyone else said, I'd be having a talk with Reese and the distributor.

Iirc...Surge brakes are a type of trailer brake system that works off the momentum of the load pushing forward on a device in the tongue of the trailer...said device triggers the brakes based on the amount of force detected. No brake controller or plug. I do not know if the shoes are activated by fluid or electric.

 

[ShopSpecialties]

Good to hear you and the family is ok. The hitch on my van has been in use for about 400,000 miles. I definitely would be having a talk with the person that installed it.

 

[fast03]

Thanks everyone. I am getting ready to make that call in a few minutes.

 

[trailerpro]

Did the metric nut at the end of the frame rip out of the frame, or did the bolt malfunction? There is basically a very large oval hole at the end of our frames that has the nut welded into it. Very weak looking when you study it. Heavy hitches really need fastened to the side of the frame at the rear bolt.

 

[fast03]

Did the metric nut at the end of the frame rip out of the frame, or did the bolt malfunction? There is basically a very large oval hole at the end of our frames that has the nut welded into it. Very weak looking when you study it. Heavy hitches really need fastened to the side of the frame at the rear bolt.

Exactly what happened I think. Bolts ripped right out of the threaded nut welded to the frame. I am getting a full refund from Reese no questions asked and alot of apology. I am going back to the OEM hitch that utilizes the bumper bolt holes along with the six on the frame rails.

 

[malibu795]

Exactly what happened I think. Bolts ripped right out of the threaded nut welded to the frame. I am getting a full refund from Reese no questions asked and alot of apology. I am going back to the OEM hitch that utilizes the bumper bolt holes along with the six on the frame rails.

the tork lift hitch i have has been taking the abuse i have been giving it.. while hooked tothe sled..

mine you hook my hook point is roughly 11-12" above the top shank.
and yes i can fit a 35" tire under neather the truck with hitch installed as well. (LB truck)

glad you and your family are ok minus the finger

 

[trailerpro]

Exactly what happened I think. Bolts ripped right out of the threaded nut welded to the frame. I am getting a full refund from Reese no questions asked and alot of apology. I am going back to the OEM hitch that utilizes the bumper bolt holes along with the six on the frame rails.

So when you say bolts ripped out of the nut, the nut is still in place, spot welded to the frame? Any chance the installer put the 9/16" bolts(which come with the hitch for the trucks without the factory bumper/nut in the frame) into the metric nuts?

 

[T2CH]

by surge do u mean hydraulic brakes? Glad everyone is ok

Surge brakes are hydraulic to the shoes. Most boat trailers use these as the tires usually get completly covered in water.


Glad everyone is alright

 

[dmaxlover]

Pics?

 

[fast03]

So when you say bolts ripped out of the nut, the nut is still in place, spot welded to the frame? Any chance the installer put the 9/16" bolts(which come with the hitch for the trucks without the factory bumper/nut in the frame) into the metric nuts?

I installed it myself. I used all the bolts per the instructions. Yes the nuts welded to the frame is where the bolts pulled out. I had just checked everything several weeks ago before towing my toyhauler and everything was inplace and tight. Towed the boat several times also. I don't know why this would happen, all I can think is the bolts were very low quality here is the htich after I used a floor jack to push it up to drive it home.

 

[Big Block 88]

When we mounted mine I made my own washers out of 3/8 PLate I think it was 6"X2.5" and it squeezed the hitch between it and the frame. Looks like those washer are a bit small

 

[trailerpro]

http://reeseprod.com/fitguides/pdf/N37044.pdf

I think this is your hitch. It says you reuse the factory bolt. Do you remember if that is what you did? I've never had a problem with the factory bolts. Weird.

 

[Dazedandconfused]

Man that is a scary feeling. I've been down that road before but mine came completely off wedgeing the trailer under the truck. Glad you all are ok.