Super-Glide 5th Wheel Hitch Concern.

[MMerlino]

Another easy improvement

Matt400



The attached picture shows the referenced pin. I was advised from another reader of the problem. His slider was dimpled from the forceful banging into the pin (as is mine). The picture shows a simple fix of putting a 3/16" flat plate with a 5/8" hole drilled in it over the pin. The picture shows mine in place minus the welding. I welded the perimeter and filled in the hole around the pin. This displaces the shock of the slider banging onto the pin throughout the slider and protects the pin as well. Included in the attached photograph is a small schematic drawing of the dimensions of the plate.



Good Luck,



MM

 

[Matt400]

That's the one I was thinking, so just to clarify, this is the only suspect to a possible safety issue correct?

 

[MMerlino]

Matt400



No the pin above does not involve the safety issue. It just causes the slider bar to dimple and eventually - due to the dimpling - will cause additional friction on the ability of the slider bar to slide.



The most important pin which started this thread and whose failure due to poor welding could break and separate off the slider bar. This then leave absolutely nothing to prevent the slider bar from opening while towing your trailer. Naturally this catastrophic failure and subsequent results could cause the trailer to separate from the vehicle. If your break away brake feature works you just lost a trailer. However, it could cause a collision between a loose trailer and another vehicle. In that case - even if noone was seriously hurt - you had better have very good insurance.



See post one, picture number 3 & 4 to identify the pin (it is the only pin in the slider bar). Picture 4 especially shows the poor weld. There just wasn't any penetration into the slider bar.



You mentioned the back side of the pin being welded. My original pin was in fact welded on the back then ground smooth to facilitate movement of the slider bar. However, like the pictures mentioned above the weld had little to no penetration into the slider bar steel. I still have the original and will take a picture of the back side and post to this thread to show you.



As previously stated the purpose of this thread is to bring this possible fatal flaw to the attention of all our members who own these hitches. They certainly good hitches but if you own one I cant encourage you enough to inspect yours and just for safety's sake weld or have welded the pin as described in post one of this thread.



MM

 

[Matt400]

Ohh, I see now, the pin that the handle attaches to. In this case something is different on mine. While it does have a push nut to retain the handle- there is a machined groove where you could put a clip if you like and mine has no weld at all in the location you pointed out.



So in the email Steved posted:

The current design has also been changed which has changed the push nut that holds on the handle to the pin,. Instead of a push nut they now use a small hitch pin clip and a grove have been made in the pin to hold it in place

is true about the groove being there, just don't know how that pin is secured in the bar.



I wonder if they changed it to a press fit that has a knurled shoulder on the pin, like a wheel stud?



Sure would be neat if their quality control / engineering dept. would chime in here.

 

[MMerlino]

Matt400,



Pullrite's engineering department has been advised of this. I have seen a new Superglide hitch as recent as about 7 months ago. The pin was still only tack welded on the handle side. Do yourself a favor and weld the pin 360 degrees around on the handle side paying attention on penetration into the slider steel (it is much harder than the pin steel). If you don't have a welder yourself, remove the slider bar and take it to any competent welder. You should be able to have it welded for about $20. Cheap insurance compared to loosing your trailer...



MM

 

[Matt400]

Matt400,



Pullrite's engineering department has been advised of this.

With over 3300 views on this thread maybe they will comment. I sent them an email pointing to this thread also.

I posted a help request on an ISSPRO gauge and technical support jumped right in, was refreshing.