Forum Discussion

Explorer

Mar 13, 2016

Second bent hitch pin

I resently purchased a 2015 F250 from a 2001 and now am having problems with bending my hitch pin. The first one I was like eh it was a cheep pin. Had to get it quickly because I wasn't aware of needing a longer pin on these heavy duty hitches with the sleeve in them. I baught a fairly pricey master lock pin and once again it's ben after our trip. Our trailer is about 7000 plus pounds and pin is rated for 10k pounds. Is it my weight distributing hitch that is doing this? I thought I saw a post about this somewhere that your not supposed to use weight distribution with the sleeve. Thanks for any guidance.

43 Replies

RinconVTR
Explorer
Mar 13, 2016
I'd say we need a pic of this. The hitch pin is in double shear. Its not likely to bend and its highly resistant to shear.
WyoTraveler
Explorer
Mar 13, 2016
Am I on the same page? Are you referring to the 5/8" dia hitch pin that holds the receiver hitch? Seems like it would shear before bending. I had a 5 ton truck hit me in the rear while I was stopped at a red light. He hit my hitch. it sheared off the bolts holding the hitch to my PU but never bent or sheared the hitch pin. I think if that pin is bending or shearing I would go to a 3/4" dia pin
Lynnmor
Explorer
Mar 13, 2016
I mentioned this a couple of times and was told each time that it was not possible to bend the pin when using a sleeve. I got a 2-1/2" shank so that I no longer need that floating sleeve.