do I have the dreaded weak GM OEM hitch?
Truck is 2008 Chev 2500HD. The sticker on the hitch says: 15837632 V-5 GM. I dont have a good picture of it, but a simillar one can be seen here. It's got the round cross bars. Thanks
Forum Discussion
This is, as is for most of life, not an absolute
Meaning that since quite a few have failed...does it mean that they all will...
Meaning that since some have had no problems...does it mean that no one else will...
The GMT800's the worst of this architecture where the torque tube (cross tube)
is supplemented by the bumper...or as the designers 'thought' it would work out
But in doing so, they lessened the torque tube's wall thickness and
reduced the transfer area's cross section (the torque tube bracket to
TV frame rail). That then has less 'meat' to do it's job and allows
the torque tube to bend downwards (both the reduced wall thickness
and bracket)
Toss in admitted poor production and quality control during 'some' of
the production runs...has the welds not penetrate well or at all
Even the GMT900's have some poor production and quality issues, but
they seemingly are small and only one has been reported that I know of
This is the GMT800 and the first to report it was Burbman
This thread shows a member who 'thought' he'd reweld it and during his
prep of grinding it down to bare metal found this...where the OEM weld
did NOT penetrate (fuse the two parts together)
New body style Chevy hitch questions. w/pics...GMT800
Notice the void between the two parts that should have been fused
together. Invisible and that for those who say they 'will keep an eye
on it'...
This is the same spot, but with more ground away
This is my analysis back then and still think so. Why 'keeping an eye'
on it won't see the water/rust damage until it is too late...
This is the only picture of a GMT900's weld crack that I've come
across, but not looking... :E
This is the first image by John Barca showing the GMT900's receiver
and how it ties into the RV frame...with those designed in stress
raisers for crash crumple zone duties
2007 2500 Suburban towing question
Why the GMT900 receiver is only rated for 1,000 lbs tongue with WD
Bottom bubble points to the bracket stress raisers...reduced cross
section as a designed in 'first' point of failure(s)
Back to the OP's receiver...noodle this: a decent or traditional
receiver is in the $150 to $200 buck range...plus about an hours
remove/replace time
Then if you do change it out...weigh them both against each other
The traditional design will weigh considerable more than the OEM...
You choice, but if me, I'd change it in a flash
Meaning that since quite a few have failed...does it mean that they all will...
Meaning that since some have had no problems...does it mean that no one else will...
The GMT800's the worst of this architecture where the torque tube (cross tube)
is supplemented by the bumper...or as the designers 'thought' it would work out
But in doing so, they lessened the torque tube's wall thickness and
reduced the transfer area's cross section (the torque tube bracket to
TV frame rail). That then has less 'meat' to do it's job and allows
the torque tube to bend downwards (both the reduced wall thickness
and bracket)
Toss in admitted poor production and quality control during 'some' of
the production runs...has the welds not penetrate well or at all
Even the GMT900's have some poor production and quality issues, but
they seemingly are small and only one has been reported that I know of
This is the GMT800 and the first to report it was Burbman
This thread shows a member who 'thought' he'd reweld it and during his
prep of grinding it down to bare metal found this...where the OEM weld
did NOT penetrate (fuse the two parts together)
New body style Chevy hitch questions. w/pics...GMT800
Notice the void between the two parts that should have been fused
together. Invisible and that for those who say they 'will keep an eye
on it'...
This is the same spot, but with more ground away
This is my analysis back then and still think so. Why 'keeping an eye'
on it won't see the water/rust damage until it is too late...
This is the only picture of a GMT900's weld crack that I've come
across, but not looking... :E
This is the first image by John Barca showing the GMT900's receiver
and how it ties into the RV frame...with those designed in stress
raisers for crash crumple zone duties
2007 2500 Suburban towing question
Why the GMT900 receiver is only rated for 1,000 lbs tongue with WD
Bottom bubble points to the bracket stress raisers...reduced cross
section as a designed in 'first' point of failure(s)
Back to the OP's receiver...noodle this: a decent or traditional
receiver is in the $150 to $200 buck range...plus about an hours
remove/replace time
Then if you do change it out...weigh them both against each other
The traditional design will weigh considerable more than the OEM...
You choice, but if me, I'd change it in a flash
