Frame Rail Under Coupler Question

austintrip wrote:
After watching this video kinda wonder if the previous owner maybe had a hitch clearance issue. Or maybe their bars did hit at one time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GalckZzw2DE&ab_channel=AaronRose

As the Youtube poster mentions, the hitch is attached too far back on the tubing..

Here is a snapshot from the video.


Click For Full-Size Image.

I placed a red arrow were the weld bead stopped..

That is the spot where the frame tubing should have stopped.

Since the weld bead stopped short of the end of the tubing any material past that weld is not structural.

However, if you look closely at the setup in the video, you will notice that since they do not have the hitch head in a vehicle receiver the hitch is hanging at a severe angle which makes the bottom of the hitch look like is has less clearance than it should.

In reality, the hitch should not ever be at that severe of an angle while towing.

The youtube poster should have supported the hitch and then moved the the hitch side to side and most likely they would have more clearance to the point they would have had to jackknife the vehicle and caused damage to vehicle and trailer.

I just got back from a campground where I had a front row seat to some towing greenhorns, yeah, they jackknifed a trailer backing into a spot.. Not sure how much damage was inflicted but I did hear some noises that should never be when contact was made..

After watching this video kinda wonder if the previous owner maybe had a hitch clearance issue. Or maybe their bars did hit at one time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GalckZzw2DE&ab_channel=AaronRose

No need to weld completely shut, just a single tack in the middle is all that would be needed for stabilization of the ends of the tubing.

As I also mentioned, could have been intentionally factory bent in the center to make the joint where they come together thinner which may be helpful for making a bit more clearance for a tighter turning radius.

The bend at the ends should not cause any loss of strength at the hitch since the hitch assembly is welded to the top of the frame and the hitch assy should cover at least 12" of length that tubing.

The trailer ball mount assy adds reinforcement and the fact that is should cover at least 12" of the A frame top means a lot of the weight is spread out over a fairly large area of the frame tubing.

Trailer frame tubing is often bent at the trailer body to make a A frame/tongue which typically results in a bend and indentation on the tubing.

I would not be all that concerned.

If the bends were near the trailer body or in the middle of the A frame then I would be concerned.

If it bothers you, then take the trailer to a certified welding shop and have them add some reinforcement gussets.

Do the WDH bars line up with it?
Doesn't look manufactured to me. Looks like too tight of turn and the bars hit.
I would check very closely for cracks in the weld that secures the coupler and reweld if you find any. Otherwise, just cosmetic.

There were some rub marks on it. I used a wire brush and cleaned it up then painted with black paint. But, I will say that if that center piece was made for true support/sturdiness i would have thought they would have welded them all the way up.

Looks intentionally designed and built that way from factory to me.

If someone backed into it, bumped it by accident it would have been on one side only and there would have been some paint scraped off.

Factory may have bent that to thin it out at the hitch and to stabilize the ends of the tubing.

Tubing frames are not may favorite design, personally I would rather C channel frame, much sturdier but heavier..

Here are 3 pics of what i was talking about.
https://flic.kr/p/2m5yHrJ
https://flic.kr/p/2m5BzMq
https://flic.kr/p/2m5D5Rr

You'll have to post a picture of the area. If you're worried about it, weld it up. If you don't have a welder, ask a neighbor or take it to a muffler shop.