mikeinatlanta

So another thread has me wondering. Has anyone actually bent or damaged a factory receiver (either one) by overloading it? If so, which one and at what kind of load?

mikeinatlanta

Nothing? Let's expand it a little. Has anyone ever even heard of a factory receiver bending or failing due to load? Basically anything but a crash.

icantdrive55

Unless it was you that posted, there was another post in one of the forums here that claimed the receiver had bent while towing a 3500-4000 trailer. Truthfully, I can't see a receiver bending from towing stresses if it's within spec. Crash damage, certainly.
The only way I could envision a receiver bending is if you used a hitch that had an unusually long extension, which would create an extremely high lever-arm effect on the receiver tube....and maybe cause the damage you're asking about.

mikeinatlanta

It wasn't me. I have yet to see and example of one failing. If I ever see one I may upgrade to the Curt.

Steve83

My father nearly tore his '97 K3500's factory receiver off the frame towing travel trailers & tractors between Texas & Florida. If he hadn't bought a Ram & given me the Chevy, it would have come off on the road because he didn't even notice it was getting lower. I replaced it with a Curt, and sold the truck a few years later.


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Jeff1024

Not to open the usual can of worms but is the Curt really an upgrade? Yes, it is rated for more WC Capacity than the OEM hitch but as we have gone over like a billion times the 500lb WC Capacity is a limitation of the truck not the hitch.

Ragingun

I've bent one trying to pull another truck out of a mud hole.

8100hd

Many factory receivers will flex under the load of TW/WDH. So if the after market one is stronger and more rigid it maybe worth it.

mikeinatlanta

The Curt is cross bolted to the frame so has fasteners loaded in shear. Also extends about 12" up the frame. The Ford receiver is basically four bolts loaded in tension at the very end of the frame. Huge difference.

I'm not really concerned about it if the factory receiver never bends. Have better things to spend $500 on.

mikeinatlanta

Yes, and like a billion times guys have been wrong on that point, but that isn't a question for this thread. Please save the arguing of that point (and associated denial of Fords own towing publication) for the other threads on the subject.

Trying to learn if the factory receiver (on a Ford) is actually subject to failing. Don't care about ratings, looking for real life what it takes to bend one.