Inspect your trailers and hitches

BHD · Mar 14, 2014

Inspect your trailers and hitches

Just a reminder, to do a intensive inspection of your equipment from time to time,

a few days ago I wanted to move some cattle, so I caught the cattle and got them in a pen to load into the stock trailer, (an old small bumper hitch trailer), when I went to hook it up I saw no problems, hooked up the safety chains and wiring, and moved it and back it up and loaded the cattle, pulled out and got out to shut the gate, and was standing and looked over at the trailer and saw a black line behind the latching part of the ball hitch and where it was welded to the tongue of the trailer, It was crack up both sides of the hitch, and only a thin piece of flat steel was still holding the hitch on the trailer, and even the break away chains were welded to about where the crack was, so even if the hitch would have broke not sure is the chains would have held or not,

so the cattle got unloaded and delayed there trip,

I do not know if it would have broke off or not but I am sure it would have bent to where it would have been dangerous and most likely broke with a load of animal on,

but you guy with water trailers with a live load (like moving animals) can put extra stress on a hitch, even a dead load with the dynamic of road there is a lot of stress as well,

a few things make sure your using the correct size of ball, it is tight,
and there is no stress cracks developing,

If it is a tandem axel unit and walking suspension, from time to time check to see if the linkage is not wore out,

and of course keep your brakes working, and lights,

CobyRupert · Mar 14, 2014

I shouldn't admit this, as it was one of the dumbest things I've ever done.
Once hooked up a small 5'x8' utility trailer and drove 60 miles to pick up a hot tub. When I got there, I looked at the hitch, the coupler latch was wide open, with the safety bolt still in the "storage position" preventing it from closing! Somehow I had gotten distracted and never hitched it. The trailer tongue had just ridden loosely on the ball, held by gravity only, for 60 miles! And it's not that tongue heavy, one can easily lift it with 1 hand, maybe 30-40 pounds force.
When I think about how I could have hit a bump just at the right moment I still shudder. Eeesch! (Hopefully the safety chains would of worked)
Stupid, stupid stupid!

grsthegreat · Mar 14, 2014

yeiks...good eye. that could have been a mess. Many years ago i had a trailer ball snap off. as i recall it was a 3/4" threaded bolt. But i was only towing an empty converted truck bed trailer at the time. The chain held when it broke, but the trailer flipped and smashed my tailgate.

Happened on a freeway too. Luckily i was able to stop and pull over without any other trouble. I was amazed that the bolt snapped. The ball head was still in the receiver, the rest gone.

This was back in the late 1980's, so was probably a USA made ball too. i think the issue was the 3/4" bolt...too thin....but who knows. It was a unit that came with the truck.

hslogger · Mar 14, 2014

I had a buddy with a tree service that pulled a heavy chipper. Years he pulled it, no problem. One day the chipper came off the ball, but was held by the chains. It came off the ball because the BALL had WORN itself so small that the tightening apparatus just didn't tighten it enough. The chains held because he went to the heaviest chain he could buy. Too often people put on some whimpy chain because they think compliance is enough. The reason they are called safety chains is that they are supposed to do the job under extreme conditions. Moral of the story is don't let your balls wear out and put on REAL Chains.

CobyRupert · Mar 14, 2014

hslogger said:
I had a buddy with a tree service that pulled a heavy chipper. Years he pulled it, no problem. One day the chipper came off the ball, but was held by the chains. It came off the ball because the BALL had WORN itself so small that the tightening apparatus just didn't tighten it enough. The chains held because he went to the heaviest chain he could buy. Too often people put on some whimpy chain because they think compliance is enough. The reason they are called safety chains is that they are supposed to do the job under extreme conditions. Moral of the story is don't let your balls wear out and put on REAL Chains.

Please DON'T post pictures.

grsthegreat · Mar 14, 2014

CobyRupert said:
Please DON'T post pictures.

hehe...good one. no one wants to see some worn out balls :laughing:

Diamondpilot · Mar 14, 2014

Don't forget the truck side of things. I broke the hitch on my 2004 Super Duty by overloading. I caught it the next time I hitched up.

I have seen 3 hitches fail. Two were rusted through from inside out on 90's GM trucks.

Chris

Ken45101 · Mar 15, 2014

A friend borrowed a utility trailer and lost the locking pin on the hitch latch. When I was bringing the trailer home, it worked it's way off of the hitch. Fortunately, the safety chain held and I caught it quickly. The "friend" had not bothered to hook up the safety chains when he borrowed the trailer. I no longer let him borrow it.

Diamondpilot said:
Don't forget the truck side of things. I broke the hitch on my 2004 Super Duty by overloading. I caught it the next time I hitched up.

I have seen 3 hitches fail. Two were rusted through from inside out on 90's GM trucks.

Chris

Another friend borrowed my car hauler to haul a car. Abut a mile from the start, the hitch dropped down to the roadbed, the truck frame rusted and failed where the weight distributing hitch was attached ('92 Chevy 1500?) Fortunately, he was going slow and slightly downhill. Yes, the safety chains were attached to the failed section. In another mile, he would have been going up a steep hill on a highway.....

oldballs · Mar 15, 2014

Although this is a serious thread, I just had to say... "oldballs" can not only be rusty or worn down, but their owners can also have Alzheimers.

So when I hitch up I try to be extra careful.

Looking4new · Mar 15, 2014

I have a routine that I stick to all the time.
1. Drop lunette onto pintle hook.
2. Close and latch hook.
3. Grab safety pin and install. It hangs on the front of trailer when trailer is not in use.
4. Hook up light cord.
5. Raise landing gear.
6. Check out lights (they are already on as I put the 4 ways and headlights on BEFORE starting to hook up.
It takes about 2 minutes to do this and 2 minutes out of my lifetime is nothing compared to the world of grief I could have if things screw up.