Looks to me as if someone may have backed into something or in to you with the ball in the receiver. Every get hit from behind, or drag thru a ditch off road, back in to a loading dock or concrete wall? FYI, this is one reasone not to leave the ball in the receiver.
That is a hell of a lot of force. That hit is designed to take up to 10,000 lbs of thrust force and up to 1000lbs of leveraged weight. That is impact damage. Check the top underside of the square where the receive enters, I will bet that its bent up. I'd remove the hitch and inspect all the mount points for possible damage as well before even thinking about replacing the hitch and definitely do not try and weld it back its high strength steel it will never hold the same again. Sorry about the damage I hope it is confined only to the receiver opening

 

Looks like someone towed with a WDH set a bit on the tight side. Anyone that tows with a WDH can go look and see that the hitch pushes up in the receiver around the opening, in turn pushing down on the back of the pocket behind the pin just like that picture shows.

 

my question is a bit on the odd side.

don't hitches nowadays have additional square channel around the front and back to add extra support in case of situations like this?

I agree with the mod, it does look like a WDH issue.

and I also agree, just buy a new one and get it installed by a shop. that way, if it hits the fan again, you've got the paperwork you'll need to get warranty.

 

WOW that would scare me half to death. you are lucky nothing serious happened.

 

First: What is "WDH"?

Loading a vehicle or something, by driving up unsupported ramps, puts a lot of "up pressure" on the ball. ??

 

guessing it means "weight distribution hitch"

 

I believe you're right, I believe you're right!

 

well, it was that or "width deep height". lmao

 

I Googled it .. "washer, dryer, hookup" .. I said, "naaaah".

 

funny that...

I yahooed it, it came up with "white dirty ho*ker" ... I said, I've already got me a nice girlfriend. lol