cross21114 wrote:
Coincidently, we are on our way back from Alaska towing a Ford Expdition with a Blue Ox base plate and a Ready Brute tow bar. We towed this rig about 35,000 miles in total with no problems.
Saturday, we hooked up in the Badlands, SD and unhooked in Mitchel. I was shocked to find this when I unhooked. This is the "tab" which is inserted into the base plate to connect to the kunkle (not sure what the best term is for this part).
I have found a place in Sioux Falls take can get them Wednesday (I'll get 2 so I'll have a spare). My wife flew home yesterday since i will be here for 10 days to hunt pheasants. Having 2 vehicles and 1 driver conplicates logistics.
By the way, I also insert the pins from insude to outside so the pins don't ride against the cotterpin. I changed from the pins supplied which have a bent head as I found the bent heads round the hole in the kunkle. I use 1/2" bolts in which I drilled a hole for the cotterpin (and a big one).
I noticed the same thing on my Demco tow plate, the center tang of the tow bar widened the receiver end of the tow plate. I would squeeze it parallel again with large vise grips. After a few hundred miles it would open up again. I did not want to work harden the steel and cause a failure so I added a 3/8 steel plate on either side for support which fixed the issue. I have towed the car about 100k miles with out further issues.
