rogersmithiii

I was backing my horse trailer into the driveway, and heard a grinding sound. Immediately stopped, and exited the truck to investigate. Saw this.

Looking underneath, the hitch rotted and cracked. The mounting brackets that mount to the hitch and frame look good, as does the frame. A few years ago, I got hit in the rear, and the insurance company put on a used bumper / hitch. I'm wondering if this is the result. Perhaps I should have demanded new.

Do I take it to my Ford dealer, and put on an OEM replacement, or do I put on an aftermarket? Should I have a respected dealer or trailer place inspect it, or can I do the install myself?

I'm just happy the damn thing didn't let go with the horse inside, going down the highway at 65 MPH.

I must have good karma.

Rockjock3

If it was replaced with a metal hitch then it rusted and cracked. Insurance usually warrants the work for a certain time. Now, if they installed a rusty used hitch that is on you for not checking the repairs. If it wasn't rusty when replaced, however, then the rust happened since you have had the hitch and that could have happened with a new one as well and is just bad luck. Yes, very luck no horses and not on hwy, good for all on that note.

Norotso

Not to stir the pot but is that trailer exceeding the max load for that hitch w/o a WD system which led to premature failure...?

winchested

Yes considering tounge weight is max @ 500 lbs without WDH?

Regardless, just buy another OEM receiver. It is called a bumper reinforcement through the dealer. It's 6 bolts to the frame 3 on each side and 4+ small screws that hold the actual bumper the receiver.

Ricktwuhk

It's great that the failure happened as it did, no one was hurt, no property was damaged. And it's clearly over capacity so that helped cause the failure. I strongly believe that the majority of people that tow are overcapacity / unsafe. Most don't know questions to ask or how to be safe. My father in-law always bought towed with a Crown Vic / Mercury Marquis, used bars, but I firmly believe had no idea what he was doing. His hitch broke once so he got it rewelded. He used old tires, and didn't use trailer tires if car tires fit. He was the norm, not the exception.

Remember, it's not just your safety, or your family's safety, it's everyone else's safety also.

bubbabud

A common misconception about a WDH. A WDH actually puts more load and strain on the receiver than a strait pull. The weight warnings are due to the rest of the suspension front and rear.
All the WDH does is apply a down ward force through the receiver to the front axle of the tow rig and trailer axles so they share more of the total load and remove it from the back axle of the tow rig.

jp360cj

That's what I was thinking. As far as the receiver is concerned, tongue weight is tongue weight. Whether it gets distributed to the front or rear axle, the weight still has to go through the hitch & receiver. Being over the total tongue weight capacity would be a doesn't story.

Dirttracker18

Why do you assume it is over capacity?

Is there something in that image I am missing that allows you to measure the weight on that tongue?

Having towed trailers like that I am assuming it a single horse trailer (judging by the tongue design). That would put the entire set up (trailer and horse, assuming it was in the trailer at the time) at less than 4000#.

How is that over capacity?

I could be completely wrong here and maybe it is way over but I just don't see how you are making that assumption?

TheX

^^^^ Truth ^^^^

joe mcmillan

Go to You Haul or many other stores to purchase a new hitch.
They are easy to install. If you do not wish to install, You Haul and or others will do the job for you.
Fortunate that you caught this when you did. No damage to horse or others.