SAFETY WARNING FOR TOADS

Maybe the hitch was an after-market hitch, added on after the original purchase.

Original equipment

For the OP: Did your brother purchase the Motor Home brand new or used? If used, it's possible the previous owner had the hitch installed. And rather than welding, used the bolt-on method.

Bought it used but this hitch is original equipment

If this is the case, it's possible the frame was never intended to support a hitch capable of towing anything.

This Thor Product with the original tow hitch is rated well above the weight of the toad.

My previous trailer (Thor product) had a receiver hitch on the back, clearly labeled with a weight limit and clearly labeled not for towing.

This is not a trailer or with wheel which I would not tow with nor recommend towing with

My current 5er came with a factory installed hitch (welded) and it si clearly labeled with a weight limit and clearly labeled, Not For Towing. So, just wonder if the hitch was an after market?

I would expect Thor Industries to have welded components. I've never seen one that was not.

Me too, but Brother says he found this same problem occurred on a similar Thor product back in 2015. not welded then too... Welding is more expensive until hindsight is applied. LOL

Click For Full-Size Image.

From the picture above.
this is due to overload (weight) bearing down on the ball, using the rearward extension as a lever to twist the hitch.
to me this is the user's fault. or the poor frame quality material.

to note the, frame isn't as thick as the hitch.

One more reason I'd never own a Thor

Glad he caught it! frequent inspections go a long way towards safety. Personally I wouldn't bother notifying the Ford, the RV manufacturer or NTSB or anything. None of them are going to admit to anything, or do anything about it. They will just say he overloaded it.

Take it to a good welder and let him go to town.

Delete

DutchmenSport wrote:
I'm able to see the image now. I can't believe Thor installed it that way. It had to be installed by second-party, not the manufacturer. If using bolts, the bolts should have gone through the frame (Horizontal-sideways), not on the bottom, (up and down vertical). No, this is after market, never intended by the manufacture to tow anything. Frame is too light. You can see that, especially compared to the hitch metal. Also, hitch looks much newer than the frame of the MH. In my opinion this is a result of overloading. Here again, is the brother the first and original owner?

Wrong my Dutchman friend... Check their specs site...

Rear HitchRear Hitch TypeReceiverTongue Weight 500 lbs. Tongue Weight (kgs)226.8

Towing Capacity 5,000 lbs.

Their specs/their equipment

camperdave wrote:
Glad he caught it! frequent inspections go a long way towards safety. Personally I wouldn't bother notifying the Ford, the RV manufacturer or NTSB or anything. None of them are going to admit to anything, or do anything about it. They will just say he overloaded it.

Take it to a good welder and let him go to town.

Sure and how quilt should one feel when not reported and someone else's toad breaks free, causes damage to other's property, causes injury or death. Not sure how well he or I would sleep at night not having tried to do the right thing...

Tom/Barb wrote:
From the picture above.
this is due to overload (weight) bearing down on the ball, using the rearward extension as a lever to twist the hitch.
to me this is the user's fault. or the poor frame quality material.

to note the, frame isn't as thick as the hitch.

One more reason I'd never own a Thor

Came real Close to calling you an ass... Stating this for the last time... Original Equipment installed during the manufacturing process. Original owner bought the RV with the standard tow hitch installed, the one you see in the picture.

People, the is about getting the information out about a seriously dangerous problem. Not second guessing the installation, the use or the user. Please get the word out to Thor owners. It won't hurt to take a look at your own hitch.

aksnowman wrote:
...It won't hurt to take a look at your own hitch.

I came home from a cross-country trip one year. Same deal... removing the hitch and something seem different and I noticed a weld where the receiver mounted to the assembly that attached to the frame had a crack in it. Right down one side of the receiver tube. A marine welder friend said it was just a bad weld from the factory, and then he fixed it.

Dave

From the picture, that is the Ford frame that has failed, not an extension added by the Thor. I can't say for sure, but it looks like someone used a weight distributing hitch with this setup, that it was not designed for one. More than likely, the factory information packet also says to not use a weight distributing hitch either.