A month or so ago we were towing our travel trailer and the weight distributions hitch failed. When that happened the entire weight of the trailer was on the hitch. When I looked at the situation the hitch looked damaged so we got AAA to tow the trailer home and stored it.Today I had time to take the truck to an automotive shop that does a lot of fabrication and hitch work.The hitch was not bent or damaged but the frame was deformed and the rear two bolts on the hitch were nearly separated from the frame.The mechanic did not take long to diagnose the problem. The hitch that was installed by the RV dealership was not the correct one for my vehicle and furthermore it was installed improperly.The solution: I ordered a new Curt hitch and a Curt trunnion flat bar weight distribution hitch.The shop will repair the frame, reinforce it and install the new parts.FYI the trailer tongue weight was well within the spec's for the hitch and the truck.I am thankful we got everything home in one piece and am looking forward to getting our rig back on the road.jesseannie

Can you post some pictures of the damage so we can see what failed?

I'm thinking at a minimum the RV Dealership would be paying for the frame repairs. And they would be getting off cheap with that as they should be paying for the damage and refunding everything you paid for the first hitch and the cost to install the first hitch. Plus the towing costs.

schlep1967 wrote:I'm thinking at a minimum the RV Dealership would be paying for the frame repairs. And they would be getting off cheap with that as they should be paying for the damage and refunding everything you paid for the first hitch and the cost to install the first hitch. Plus the towing costs.I agree.

What was the make and model of the truck?

Sure the RV dealer "should" be paying, but that would be a long row to hoe, and cost more than just fixing the problem and getting on with life.I would like to see photos of the damage and the improperly installed hitch.Did the mechanic say how it was improperly installed? These days most hitches are no-drill, bolt-on affairs, especially when it comes to pickup trucks. Very difficult if not impossible to screw up.

Hitch Failure UPDATE | Good Sam Community

spadoctor
Explorer
Nov 25, 2015
While checking out a fuel leak on my 00 Excursion I found the receiver rotted through all across the bottom. Until now you could only get a replacement from Ford but now Curt is making a class 4 replacement. Turns out the big 3 have their receivers made in China.
JoeTampa
Explorer
Nov 25, 2015
drsteve wrote:
GeoBoy wrote:
If you remember the older GM hitches that came on GM HD trucks up to 2007, they were very poor hitches. When I decided to tow with my 05 I immediately changed the OEM hitch out to a Torklift hitch.

Good move. The OEM receiver on my '06 developed breaks in some of the welds, and was replaced with an aftermarket model by the dealer.

I just replaced the hitch in my new-to-me 2006 Silverado. The difference is remarkable:
jerem0621
Explorer II
Nov 25, 2015
jesseannie wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
Your WD hitch did not fail, the truck hitch did.
Big difference.

Actually BOTH failed.
The WD system failed I lost one of the tension bars, when that happened the frame was damaged by a poorly installed hitch.

But semantics aside it is fixed and I am ready to start camping again/

jesseannie

I think what you are doing is great! Good job on the fix and replacing the hitch.

Thanks!

Jeremiah
jesseannie
Explorer
Nov 25, 2015
Grit dog wrote:
Your WD hitch did not fail, the truck hitch did.
Big difference.

Actually BOTH failed.
The WD system failed I lost one of the tension bars, when that happened the frame was damaged by a poorly installed hitch.

But semantics aside it is fixed and I am ready to start camping again/

jesseannie
Grit_dog
Navigator
Nov 24, 2015
Your WD hitch did not fail, the truck hitch did.
Big difference.
jesseannie
Explorer
Nov 24, 2015
Today I had my new Curt 1000# tongue weight hitch installed the fabrication mechanic who did it repaired the small amount of frame damage then used 1/4" steel angle material to reinforce the area where the damage was.
The new correct hitch was then installed. the entire job looks clean and professional, I am very confident this is a good installation.
Next weekend I will install the new Curt Tru-Track trunnion bar WD system.
Then a couple of camping trips to test it out.

Jesseannie
krobbe
Explorer
Nov 14, 2015
drsteve wrote:
GeoBoy wrote:
If you remember the older GM hitches that came on GM HD trucks up to 2007, they were very poor hitches. When I decided to tow with my 05 I immediately changed the OEM hitch out to a Torklift hitch.

Good move. The OEM receiver on my '06 developed breaks in some of the welds, and was replaced with an aftermarket model by the dealer.

My '03 didn't appear to have any cracks but after reading on here about the weak GM hitches, I replaced it with a Curt class 5. The Curt bolted right up after I cleaned and touched up the frame with some black Rustoleum. I suspect there is a lot less flexing going on as my tongue weight can be between 1100 and 1200#'s.
I also relocated the trailer plug receptacle with a neat Pollak 7pin/4pin into the bumper next to the lic plate like I've seen on newer trucks. Now I can plug in my cargo trailer without using an adapter or my Chevy logo hitch cover tail-lite. If any one is interested in doing this mod, I used a 1.5" knockout to punch 2 holes through the steel bumper. Only a little filing was needed to clean up the edges where the 2 circles met to create the oval opening. The knockout created an extremely clean opening and looks professional.
Need-A-Vacation
Explorer
Nov 14, 2015
drsteve wrote:
GeoBoy wrote:
If you remember the older GM hitches that came on GM HD trucks up to 2007, they were very poor hitches. When I decided to tow with my 05 I immediately changed the OEM hitch out to a Torklift hitch.

Good move. The OEM receiver on my '06 developed breaks in some of the welds, and was replaced with an aftermarket model by the dealer.

It was the same design on the 1500's also. While I haven't heard of any issues on the '07-'13 GM 1500 hitches, they were still the same basic design as the previous hitch , and would/ will allow "wind up" (twist) when used with higher tw's. Had this with our '10-1500. Replaced it with a very stout Curt square tube.

The new '14- current 1500's have a square tube hitch. The '11-'14 HD's have a square tube style hitch, though still not as stout as a Curt or Reese. BUT... the new '15 HD's have a round tube design AGAIN! WHY???
drsteve
Explorer
Nov 13, 2015
GeoBoy wrote:
If you remember the older GM hitches that came on GM HD trucks up to 2007, they were very poor hitches. When I decided to tow with my 05 I immediately changed the OEM hitch out to a Torklift hitch.

Good move. The OEM receiver on my '06 developed breaks in some of the welds, and was replaced with an aftermarket model by the dealer.
noteven
Explorer III
Nov 11, 2015
Glad the whole issue didn't fall off ... that would be mission disabling...

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