BarneyS wrote:
As far as bolting the brackets on, most of the instructions for installation do not say to bolt the brackets on as it is usually not necessary. However, in discussions with the hitch manufacturers, several of our members have been told to bolt them on to solve bending problems on their high hitch weight trailer.
And just to add to your statement... sometimes bolting those brackets can solve sliding problems. I do not have heavy tongue weight (approx 900 lbs) but my brackets would not stay in position at all. No matter how tight the set bolts were secured, those darn brackets just kept sliding during slightly tight turns. I had to undo the bars for even small turns due to the sliding brackets for my first couple of trips. Since drilling and bolting, they have never had a chance to move again.
