Check your hitches

[GotDodge]

Had the dealer check my hitch for a crack that I saw. They told me that it was a scratch. Well took it home knowing that I was right. I then had a job 110 miles away from home, in towing the 4600lb trailer for 3 days to the job- I check the hitch -the crack was even longer now. So back to the dealer I went,had the service manager crawl under the truck and look at the hitch. He agreed that it was a crack. He had to order me the new designed hitch. He also told me that I was only the third one to have a hitch replaced in his store. Well in front of all his other customers I told him that cracked hitches much run in the family-because my dad and brother had their hitches replaced in his store. All he could say is "I will have your hitch as soon as posible thank you" and then walked through the back doors. I guess he better keep his mouth shut next time. Sorry for the long post but wanted everyone to beware.

 

[RJOL]

I've seen this thread about bad hitches before... what part of the hitch is cracking? Is it just one area, or several different places?



Is there a owner fix (i. e. welding on support gussets)?



Don't use my hitch that much (5th Wheel) but I don't want to worry about it if I do...

 

[DarrellB]

Recalled

Mine is a 99 and they had a recall on them about a year ago, they bolted some extra brackets to it and sent me on my way. Said it was the fault of the manufacturer of the hitch something like the weld was not deep enough.



About a month ago I was envolved in an accident were a guy in a 250 ford a$$ ended my camper while I was hauling it to the camp site. He did $3600 worth of damage to the trailer but the hitch held just fine no crack bends or brakage except for the camper. Not sure were the bathroom went yet. (when a say woe I mean woeeeeeee)



God Bless The USA, Go Getum George

Later

Big D

 

[Thomas]

Safety Recall #872 applies to trucks equipped with a trailer tow package (sales code AHC) built from January 1, 1998 through September 29, 1999. Also covered are trucks with Mopar Accessory trailer hitch part numbers purchased from Mopar between January 1998 and March 2000.



Safety Recall #872

 

[BV]

OEM hitch

The OEM hitch on my 99 should have only been rated at 3,500# - - needless to say, it is now on the garage floor and in it's place is a better hitch.

 

[DHawthorne]

Mine is cracked in the radius on both sides. Since there was a recal on it, I did not post anything. I originally wanted to post some pictures. Mine will go back to the dealer for replacement next week when I finally get home off this 7 month road trip.



The cracks are caused by cold working the steel in the radius. I see this alot on steel structures used in construction of ships, caused by the same thing. I would have them stress releived, and drill stopped before rewelding. I was going to do that to mine, but thought it would be nice just to have a new one, since

someone don't known how to do that type work.



Dave

 

[BK]

mine was on recall, but they wouldnt replace it since it wasnt cracked, they would only put support brackets on. The frame mount of the hitch was cheaply designed and only had three mounting points leaving a very long line from the last frame mounting point to the "load". This acts as a real long lever.



That and I believe the steel used on the hitch was sub-par, since the cracks generally form at the bend by the frame mount surface.



Most class 4's have thicker side bracket material and have braces welded into the corner of the bend to help support the frame mount part of the hitch...



I spend months argueing with DC to replace the hitch cause their bracket's were/are a bad bandaid IMHO, so I chucked the hitch and got a real one, a Titan.



Bob