Receiver loose!!!

[Hoefler]

Check those bolts that attach the receiver to the frame. There is only 6 of them!!

I had noticed that my safety chains were hanging unusually low when I went to unhook my trailer. So I crawled under for a look. I found that the receiver had shifted down and you could see that it was about 1/2" off where the bolts were originally. I went to check the attaching bolts to the frame, they were loose. I jacked up under the hitch, loosened the bolts further and shifted the receiver back to where it is supposed to be and re-tightened the bolts. I will be contacting the dealer in the morning.

 

[PLevesque]

You may already know this and have done it, but for those of us that may not be aware, if hitch bolts are found to be loose, they should be replaced. These bolts must be fully tensioned (torqued to spec) to create high a clamping force and avoid fatigue failure. Loose bolts are exposed to an unknown number of load/unload cycles which will ultimately lead to a sudden failure. Also, any high strength bolts that have been fully tensioned and removed for any reason, should also be replaced. Be safe, bolts are cheap. A little advice from a grey and bald structural engineer.

 

[steved]

I've seen this once... replace the bolts as already noted.

I also know of a lawsuit where a shop installed a hitch on an F350 (IIRC) and it fell off with the trailer. They used *brass* bolts so they wouldn't corrode... need I say more. Moral of the story, use the correct fastener for the application.

 

[crobertson1]

Holy cow! I will check mine!

 

[jkalchik]

I've seen this once... replace the bolts as already noted.

I also know of a lawsuit where a shop installed a hitch on an F350 (IIRC) and it fell off with the trailer. They used *brass* bolts so they wouldn't corrode... need I say more. Moral of the story, use the correct fastener for the application.

*BRASS* bolts?

Unglued doesn't begin to describe what my temperament would be in that situation.