New Trailer Needs New Coupler
I previously posted some negative and difficult experiences with unhitching our new trailer, and am grateful for all of the suggestions in doing so. Unfortunately, none of them worked. Prior to depa...
Forum Discussion
A good welder will be able to grind away the old welds, and heat the metal, to cause it to break away from the factory frame material. It might take a couple of hours work, but it can be done in the parking lot of the dealership.
Welding the new one on is not all that difficult either, and any certified welder can do that sort of job. Chances are that the frame is not heat treated, and everything will be fine. But do check the welds after about 3 trips carefully, and again say in 3-4 months. If the paint is cracking, then take it by the welding shop for further inspection. If the paint is fine, then the welds under it will be OK too.
Stress cracks would show up first as rusty areas under the paint where water will accumulate and the paint should be flaking away. Chances are this will not happen, but that is what you would be looking for in 3-6 months. If you do not find anything (I suspect this will happen) all will be fine.
There have been a few members who's truck mounted hitch failed, and looking at pictures of the failed hitch, one can see that the paint cracked off and it was rusty for some time before hitch failure, and the item fell apart. A yearly inspection or having some clue of what to look for should have prevented the problem when the owner started seeing rust and flaking off paint - before the failure point.
Good luck!
Fred.
Welding the new one on is not all that difficult either, and any certified welder can do that sort of job. Chances are that the frame is not heat treated, and everything will be fine. But do check the welds after about 3 trips carefully, and again say in 3-4 months. If the paint is cracking, then take it by the welding shop for further inspection. If the paint is fine, then the welds under it will be OK too.
Stress cracks would show up first as rusty areas under the paint where water will accumulate and the paint should be flaking away. Chances are this will not happen, but that is what you would be looking for in 3-6 months. If you do not find anything (I suspect this will happen) all will be fine.
There have been a few members who's truck mounted hitch failed, and looking at pictures of the failed hitch, one can see that the paint cracked off and it was rusty for some time before hitch failure, and the item fell apart. A yearly inspection or having some clue of what to look for should have prevented the problem when the owner started seeing rust and flaking off paint - before the failure point.
Good luck!
Fred.
