I towed a friends HEAVY toy hauler with my little 16K husky hitch. He forgot to take off some kind of spacer plate that is used with his slider hitch. In towing and turning with this spacer thing on his kingpin, it damaged the plate on my hitch. My fifth wheel hitch is all bent somehow. The jaws still close but the plate where trailer kingpin area rests is all bent. Has anyone ever seen this happen? Is it ok to tow with a non smooth surface on hitch? Hope this makes sense. Just wondering if anyone has ever towed with a damaged hitch or am I looking at getting a new hitch.

Sounds like he left the capture plate for his Superglide on his trailer.I don't know for sure, but I would venture a guess that you are looking at a new hitch (or at least a new head if it is removable). I would not want to tow with it that way.

Bionic Man wrote:Sounds like he left the capture plate for his Superglide on his trailer.I don't know for sure, but I would venture a guess that you are looking at a new hitch (or at least a new head if it is removable). I would not want to tow with it that way.Sure does sound like capture plate ........What part of your hitch was damaged??The flat plate that pin box rests on?ORThe sloped wings where pin box plate slides up on?Flat plate...not good. That area should be flat smooth as that is the mating area that pin box plate sits on and rotates on.Replace head IF metal shop can't pound flat/smoothSloped wings.....not pretty but hitch still functional

I'm also sure the capture plate was on the hitch. I've heard of this happening. I personally would not want to pull with a bent up hitch. I would be afraid of compromising the ability to carry the load. Good luck.

Ya, you need to replace everything that is bent. Unfortunately that might mean replacing the entire hitch.The document on the Superglide do warn that "damage may occur" in this type of situation.

Bent plate | Good Sam Community

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Nov 25, 2014
50/50 responsibility.

Glad to hear your friend is stepping up.

Besides......he needs to replace his 'capture plate' and that is ALL on him.
gkainz
Explorer
Nov 24, 2014
Ok, if I were in either the OP or friend's shoes, I'm not sure which side of the argument I would land on.

Since I have no knowledge (until now) of Pullrite and capture plates, had it been me pulling, I would assume the friend should have warned him or prep'ed the kingpin for the OPs hitch.

I would also assume I would have fully inspected prior to hitching up, and hopefully spoken up with "this doesn't look like what I am used to - what's this all about?"

So ... ???
garysol
Explorer
Nov 24, 2014
I would tell your friend to inspect his capture plate on his trailer for damage as well.
glazier
Explorer II
Nov 24, 2014
rattleNsmoke wrote:
If the trailers owner had any respect for his 'friend' he'd offer to pay for any and all damages incurred while that friend was doing a good deed. Just my .02 and the right thing to do.

X2
rattleNsmoke
Explorer
Nov 23, 2014
If the trailers owner had any respect for his 'friend' he'd offer to pay for any and all damages incurred while that friend was doing a good deed. Just my .02 and the right thing to do.
Bionic_Man
Explorer
Nov 23, 2014
Slownsy wrote:
I think the owner should supply a new hitch as it is all on him.
Frank.

Really? No responsibility for the guy towing the trailer to look at the king pin before hooking up? If you were towing a bumper pull, would you look to see what size trailer ball was needed? How is this different?

Sounds like an accident to me. Unfortunate situation with enough blame to go around if that is what you are looking for.

If I was the one towing the trailer, I would be happy to split the cost of repair with the trailers owner, but I would also be willing and not upset to pay for it myself.
momanor
Explorer
Nov 23, 2014
Let me also add that the capture plate will most likely need to be replaced too ...
Slownsy
Explorer
Nov 23, 2014
I think the owner should supply a new hitch as it is all on him.
Frank.
greende
Explorer II
Nov 22, 2014
After following this thread from the beginning, I just have to comment. Forgive me, I do not want to rub salt in the OPs wounds, but you would think the "friend" would have told him about the capture plate since the Pullrite literature has it written all over it about problems with the capture plate and standard hitches. Sorry for your loss and inconvenience.
sayoung
Explorer
Nov 22, 2014
No good deed goes unpunished

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