Dropped Trailer on Bed Rails Today
I've read many threads that dropped trailers are a result of operator error. I believe that, but I've now come to believe that equipment can and do fail from time to time. I have a Reese Pro Series ...
Forum Discussion
Found this posting about a problem with a Reese hitch...
I think that while looking and poking at the borrowed 16K I have discovered why these hitches may fail more than other types.
The safety latch is a cheap piece of stamped steel with 5/16" hole to secure a padlock or bar in. What I discovered on this one is that with anything short of a 5/16" bolt pulled up tight I can push the safety up far enough to allow the rod to be pulled out. If the moving part of the safety is bent, even a little bit, which this one was, it gets even easier to unlatch it. Even with a rod or padlock through the safety.
As someone on RV.NET pointed out under this scenario the rod could move out and the trailer unhitch. The springs in the jaws would pull it back in fast enough to relatch and the poor sucker with the now crushed bed or worse would have no idea other than to blame himself for a mistake he didn't make.
Check the engagement of the 'safety latch' and see if yours can be overcome. May have been why your hitch released when ALL looked good
I think that while looking and poking at the borrowed 16K I have discovered why these hitches may fail more than other types.
The safety latch is a cheap piece of stamped steel with 5/16" hole to secure a padlock or bar in. What I discovered on this one is that with anything short of a 5/16" bolt pulled up tight I can push the safety up far enough to allow the rod to be pulled out. If the moving part of the safety is bent, even a little bit, which this one was, it gets even easier to unlatch it. Even with a rod or padlock through the safety.
As someone on RV.NET pointed out under this scenario the rod could move out and the trailer unhitch. The springs in the jaws would pull it back in fast enough to relatch and the poor sucker with the now crushed bed or worse would have no idea other than to blame himself for a mistake he didn't make.
Check the engagement of the 'safety latch' and see if yours can be overcome. May have been why your hitch released when ALL looked good
