2021 Factory Receiver Hitch - Not Impressed!

[jwskrintney]

Wondering if anyone else has had the same issue. My 2021 Ram 3500 Limited factory receiver hitch is wallowing out at the locking pin for the stinger. Pulled my 37' travel trailer from Texas to Minnesota. When I got home and attempted to change my receiver stinger from my weight distributing hitch back to my standard hitch, I could not remove the stinger. I ultimately had to beat it out with a 8lb hammer. Once I got the stinger out, I observed a "lip" of steel had developed on the back side of the locking pin hole. The hole had wallowed out and the steel was compressed to a lip on the inside of the receiver which was causing the friction making removal of the stinger so difficult. Now the locking pin hole is more of an oval than round. I can't wait to hear what excuse the dealer will have when I take it in for warranty repair.

 

[lpennock]

Made in China.

 

[bcbender]

Its aircraft grade steel not for highways use...

 

[sag2]

My stinger has hardly moved when towing, especially with a WDH. Was the pin loose when you started? Unless there was movement from the start it would seem difficult for the stinger to move and wallow out the hole.

 

[kthaxton]

Are you using the 2.5" to 2" adapter? If so, that's the problem. Get a new 2.5" stinger.

 

[odinjunior]

That adapter allows too much movement.

 

[kthaxton]

That adapter allows too much movement.

Even worse, it takes the hitch pin out of being a direct sheer point (if that makes sense), and allows leverage to be placed on it. Ram really should communicate to the owner that they should not be used in most towing situations.

For the OP, my money is on the adapter being used and the cause of the problem.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Yes with heavy trailers I can see it being a huge problem. Now my aluminum snow go trailer with two 4 wheelers not so much. 1500 lbs. I hate to buy a bigger 25/8 stinger but might have to

 

[CJ8Rockcrawler]

It's disappointing since the 04 in the driveway has pulled the same trailers for years without issue and the 22 has a wallowed out hole already.

 

[HBellmyer]

That's a class 5 receiver that is 2 1/2". You have to use the insert to bring the size down to 2" or the stinger will work back and forth and egg out the pin holes.....

 

[Turbo Terry]

Are you trying to say the factory insert was not used ? The adapter was not found and used

 

[Ozymandias]

Wait for the TOs answer, he didn't respond to any of the questions yet.

 

[kthaxton]

It's disappointing since the 04 in the driveway has pulled the same trailers for years without issue and the 22 has a wallowed out hole already.

Does it have a 2" or 2.5 " reciever?

 

[kthaxton]

That's a class 5 receiver that is 2 1/2". You have to use the insert to bring the size down to 2" or the stinger will work back and forth and egg out the pin holes.....

As Terry alluded to....it isn't quite clear what you are implying here....but we won't know until the OP reply's back... but the likely problem includes using the adapter. As explained, those adapters are a terrible idea for all but the lightest trailers. Or maybe a better way to say it is.....using a 2" stinger in a 2.5" hitch with an adapter is a terrible idea.

Nobody is suggesting not to use the adapter while still using a 2" stinger or ballmount in a 2.5" hitch, but if that's all you got, yeah, you have to use the adapter, just plan on bent hitch pins and/or wallowed out hitch pin holes. That said, The proper thing to do is get a 2.5" stinger so an adapter isn't needed. Problem solved.

 

[CJ8Rockcrawler]

Does it have a 2" or 2.5 " reciever?

2 inch on the 04. 2.5 on the 22.

I've towed both with an adapter and 2 inch stinger and a 2.5 inch stinger on the 22.

 

[Turbo Terry]

The adapter sleeve 2 5/8 was made in China really

 

[Hoefler]

Indication of a very light tongue weight, allowing the shank to rattle around in the receiver.
Or 2" shank in the 2.5" receiver, which I have seen all to often

 

[Topzide]

Indication of a very light tongue weight, allowing the shank to rattle around in the receiver.
Or 2" shank in the 2.5" receiver, which I have seen all to often

That seems to be the biggest issue, whenever I'm towing the car trailer, I move the load forward till i see enough tongue weight on truck. You need to adjust for the type of trailer due to axle placement and limits of the trailer. This has served me well in all the years of pulling trailers. You can over load the tongue with these trucks all to easily! Know your truck and trailer! I've many miles towing with the 2.5" adapter and haven't seem any wear issues. Now if towing with 2" and no adapter, that's another story in itself!

 

[AH64ID]

I’ve read that a curved pin will do more damage than one with a shoulder. I’m now running one with a shoulder and so far no damage.

I had to replace the hitch on my 05 because the pin hole wore out. My 18 was wearing pretty badly too.

 

[Hoefler]

Worn pin hole is an indication of light tongue weight, hitch rattling in the receiver going down the road. If you can lift the tailer tongue by hand, your too light.