Forum Discussion

Mrzip36's avatar
Mrzip36
Explorer
Nov 21, 2014

Bent plate

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.
  • Mrzip36's avatar
    Mrzip36
    Explorer
    Nov 22, 2014
    After discussing the situation and researching, You are all correct about the trailer using a superglide hitch with the capture plate attached. It damaged my hitch pretty bad so It looks like I will be getting a new hitch. The friend said he will pay for part of it. Live and learn.
  • schlep1967's avatar
    schlep1967
    Nomad
    Nov 21, 2014
    Get everything inspected by a competent mechanic. Your Hitch. Where your hitch attaches to the truck. The pinbox on his camper. And I would imagine the capture plate is toast.
  • newman_fulltime's avatar
    newman_fulltime
    Explorer II
    Nov 21, 2014
    how many will trust a damaged yitch to tow their fiver if the plate bent how much strain did it put on bolts welds the jaws.All your looking atis the damage look at your rails good see if they are bent your uprights could be twisted some as well
  • ol_Bombero-JC's avatar
    ol_Bombero-JC
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2014
    Water-Bug wrote:
    Pictures please.


    Assumptions are your friend has a Pullrite SuperGlide.

    Ask him the name of the hitch type he would normally tow with.
    (The brand/name of the hitch *he* has to tow his heavy toy hauler).

    More info would help - but repair/s to your hitch *are* in order!

    ~
  • n7bsn's avatar
    n7bsn
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2014
    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.
  • kennethwooster's avatar
    kennethwooster
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2014
    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.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Nov 21, 2014
    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?

    OR

    The 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/smooth

    Sloped wings.....not pretty but hitch still functional

  • Bionic_Man's avatar
    Bionic_Man
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2014
    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.

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