Forum Discussion

bluie5's avatar
bluie5
Explorer
Aug 23, 2017

Should I trust my hitch?

Yesterday on northbound I-35 just north of Ames Iowa we were rear ended pulling our Jayco. Thank God no one was injured. Should I be concerned with possible unseen or undetectable damage to my hitch set-up? We were hit pretty hard and the Ford Escort that hit us was totaled. I pulled the Jayco the rest of the way home about 250 miles. Looking at the trailer now I think the frame behind the axles is bent. Am I just over stressing about the hitch?
  • Even the rear of trailers frame is directly linked to trucks frame via the ball and the hitch. The truck needs to have its frame checked for square.
  • Insist on a new reciver...better/best traditional designs run in the +/- $200 buck range

    Agree to also have everything checked. Especially the frame, as the receiver bolts directly to the frame and any forces directly transferred to the frame

    If insurance doesn't want to replace the receiver...write them a letter noting that and put them on notice that they now own any resultant future issues based on a denied ~$200 buck position...

    Ditto the WD Hitch system...albeit a bit more expensive. Add that this system has or may have hardened components that might have micro stress fractures that only something like a magnaflux/X-Ray/etc would show...but why bother with that expense vs new...

    Good luck and hope everyone is okay...on that soft tissue injuries too often do NOT display any issues till later...and...are tough to resolve/treat/etc
  • Trailer, hitch, truck frame......have the whole shebang inspected as part of the Ins. Claim

About RV Tips & Tricks

Looking for advice before your next adventure? Look no further.25,104 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 23, 2025