SAFETY WARNING FOR TOADS

[aksnowman]

My brother started full timing this year and yesterday while disconnecting the Toad he noticed there was something wrong with the RV side of the tow receptacle. When he got underneath the back of the RV he found the tow hitch was bolted to the frame but that the frame had cracked where the two bolts are installed. The crack is about 4" long and if not discovered likely would have resulted in the separation of the Toad from the RV. I am to sure of the Model but the RV is a Thor product, 38' long and only a couple of years old.


Click For Full-Size Image.

[judelaurenzo25g]

wildmanbaker wrote:
From the picture, that is the Ford frame that has failed, not an extension added by the Thor. I can't say for sure, but it looks like someone used a weight distributing hitch with this setup, that it was not designed for one. More than likely, the factory information packet also says to not use a weight distributing hitch either.

How can you tell a WDH was used? I don't see the hitch or the bars.

[wildmanbaker]

aksnowman wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:
I'm not sure of the height difference between the hitch and the toad base plate but common sense says that if there is a huge difference in height, this can put undue strain on the hitch. A typical toad with a tow bar has basically zero hitch weight but during acceleration, braking, and bumps, the bending force from the tow bar can cause a hitch to bend, or in this case, maybe the frame to tear, even if the tow bar is level.

Wasn't there but saw the end product of the base plate installation when he was here last summer... The installation of the Base plate was one of the best I had ever seen. The tow bar was level with the RV when hooked up. So there was no extra down or up pressure on the system, the stress was forward and backward, level distribution of stressors. I have seen other towers connected that have inclines that I would be scared of and even the installation allows for a slight angle to the hookup bars. His, again was level. Your thought that bumps, braking and other normal operations would cause this are unfounded and ill-conceived. If you were correct this type of damage should be seen on all tow systems which are designed to take the bumps, stops starts and emergency stops and maneuvers.

I believe that this has to do with whether the toad will tend to submarine, or ride over the tow setup when breaking, not the stress on the hitch or mounting. The frames are pressed into shape, not forged. This does create some stress points at the curves. Ford does give some rules for drilling and welding on their frames. From the one picture, Thor has complied with these requirements.

[magicbus]

aksnowman wrote:

magicbus wrote:

aksnowman wrote:
...It won't hurt to take a look at your own hitch.

I came home from a cross-country trip one year. Same deal... removing the hitch and something seem different and I noticed a weld where the receiver mounted to the assembly that attached to the frame had a crack in it. Right down one side of the receiver tube. A marine welder friend said it was just a bad weld from the factory, and then he fixed it.

Dave

Except this is the frame that is cracked, on both sides (only have the one photo) so it aint a bad weld.

Easy big guy, nobody said it was a bad weld. I was agreeing with your statement that "It won't hurt to take a look at your own hitch" because I too almost lost my hitch even though it was a factory installation and I had dragged a Jeep around for 30K miles before it became an issue.

Dave

[rgatijnet1]

I said that if the height difference was great, the force on the hitch could be greater, even if the tow bar WAS level. This is called leverage and that leverage will increase as the height difference increases. Hitches have a rated capacity when the load is level with the hitch receiver. If the drop hitch put the ball too low it could possibly have hit the ground at some point and put a lot of increased stress on the hitch/frame.

[blownstang01]

This looks like damage from tongue weight. Maybe I missed it, but is he the original owner ? Has he ever towed a trailer ? If he's towing 4 down with a tow-bar the tongue weight is negligible, hard to see this kind of damage towing 4-down. Don't take me wrong, I'm not doubting you but I'm wondering if it has been cracked a long time due to trailer towing ?

[aksnowman]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
I'm not sure of the height difference between the hitch and the toad base plate but common sense says that if there is a huge difference in height, this can put undue strain on the hitch. A typical toad with a tow bar has basically zero hitch weight but during acceleration, braking, and bumps, the bending force from the tow bar can cause a hitch to bend, or in this case, maybe the frame to tear, even if the tow bar is level.

Wasn't there but saw the end product of the base plate installation when he was here last summer... The installation of the Base plate was one of the best I had ever seen. The tow bar was level with the RV when hooked up. So there was no extra down or up pressure on the system, the stress was forward and backward, level distribution of stressors. I have seen other towers connected that have inclines that I would be scared of and even the installation allows for a slight angle to the hookup bars. His, again was level. Your thought that bumps, braking and other normal operations would cause this are unfounded and ill-conceived. If you were correct this type of damage should be seen on all tow systems which are designed to take the bumps, stops starts and emergency stops and maneuvers.

[aksnowman]

wildmanbaker wrote:
From the picture, that is the Ford frame that has failed, not an extension added by the Thor. I can't say for sure, but it looks like someone used a weight distributing hitch with this setup, that it was not designed for one. More than likely, the factory information packet also says to not use a weight distributing hitch either.

I guess Thor should have thought of that... Original equipment....

[aksnowman]

magicbus wrote:

aksnowman wrote:
...It won't hurt to take a look at your own hitch.

I came home from a cross-country trip one year. Same deal... removing the hitch and something seem different and I noticed a weld where the receiver mounted to the assembly that attached to the frame had a crack in it. Right down one side of the receiver tube. A marine welder friend said it was just a bad weld from the factory, and then he fixed it.

Dave

Except this is the frame that is cracked, on both sides (only have the one photo) so it aint a bad weld.

[rgatijnet1]

I'm not sure of the height difference between the hitch and the toad base plate but common sense says that if there is a huge difference in height, this can put undue strain on the hitch. A typical toad with a tow bar has basically zero hitch weight but during acceleration, braking, and bumps, the bending force from the tow bar can cause a hitch to bend, or in this case, maybe the frame to tear, even if the tow bar is level.

[wildmanbaker]

From the picture, that is the Ford frame that has failed, not an extension added by the Thor. I can't say for sure, but it looks like someone used a weight distributing hitch with this setup, that it was not designed for one. More than likely, the factory information packet also says to not use a weight distributing hitch either.

[magicbus]

aksnowman wrote:
...It won't hurt to take a look at your own hitch.

I came home from a cross-country trip one year. Same deal... removing the hitch and something seem different and I noticed a weld where the receiver mounted to the assembly that attached to the frame had a crack in it. Right down one side of the receiver tube. A marine welder friend said it was just a bad weld from the factory, and then he fixed it.

Dave

[aksnowman]

Tom/Barb wrote:
From the picture above.
this is due to overload (weight) bearing down on the ball, using the rearward extension as a lever to twist the hitch.
to me this is the user's fault. or the poor frame quality material.

to note the, frame isn't as thick as the hitch.

One more reason I'd never own a Thor

Came real Close to calling you an ass... Stating this for the last time... Original Equipment installed during the manufacturing process. Original owner bought the RV with the standard tow hitch installed, the one you see in the picture.

People, the is about getting the information out about a seriously dangerous problem. Not second guessing the installation, the use or the user. Please get the word out to Thor owners. It won't hurt to take a look at your own hitch.

[aksnowman]

camperdave wrote:
Glad he caught it! frequent inspections go a long way towards safety. Personally I wouldn't bother notifying the Ford, the RV manufacturer or NTSB or anything. None of them are going to admit to anything, or do anything about it. They will just say he overloaded it.

Take it to a good welder and let him go to town.

Sure and how quilt should one feel when not reported and someone else's toad breaks free, causes damage to other's property, causes injury or death. Not sure how well he or I would sleep at night not having tried to do the right thing...

[aksnowman]

DutchmenSport wrote:
I'm able to see the image now. I can't believe Thor installed it that way. It had to be installed by second-party, not the manufacturer. If using bolts, the bolts should have gone through the frame (Horizontal-sideways), not on the bottom, (up and down vertical). No, this is after market, never intended by the manufacture to tow anything. Frame is too light. You can see that, especially compared to the hitch metal. Also, hitch looks much newer than the frame of the MH. In my opinion this is a result of overloading. Here again, is the brother the first and original owner?

Wrong my Dutchman friend... Check their specs site...

Rear HitchRear Hitch TypeReceiverTongue Weight 500 lbs. Tongue Weight (kgs)226.8

Towing Capacity 5,000 lbs.

Their specs/their equipment

[DutchmenSport]

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