Receiver collar cracked

[Mekanic]

Originally Posted by NDIrish

Mine was OEM. It looks like junk pot metal where it ripped apart. The metal is a dull gray and very porous

Sounds like the OEM is buying cheaply made parts. THey might want to know about it really.

Originally Posted by 2012TxSilvy

Curt is replacing on a good faith this one time and said I'm overloaded. I've asked to show me based on my trailer GVW that I'm overloaded. Hopefully this next one is quality and won't fail the same

Sounds like they know you might call back.
ANY of cheap hitches like Reese or Curt are likely to say Made in China right on them.

Might have to find some one That proudly say Made in the USA
like these people B&W Trailer Hitches | Towing Adventure

[CharlesinGA]

Torklift.

Charles

[NDIrish]

Ford replaced mine in the same week. They seemed rushed to get ahold of the broken one. I guess they wanted to analyze it.

[2012TxSilvy]

Finally got the truck back from Ford (week for 2 recalls and a tsb). Finally got the new hitch installed! Ready

[2012TxSilvy]

I hope this is only crack paint but install new one then hooked up to look at wdh setup. Took hitch out and I hope this isn't a crack already. I've attacjed, lowered, raised for bar and then lowered to measure. Revese to remove and looked and it seems like a crack to me.

[dix39]

I would have to agree that it doesn't look good. If they are trying to maintain a reputation, it wouldn't make much sense for them to send a replacement just like the one that failed before.

I don't know what's available in your neck of the woods, but there are several methods of detecting cracks that are difficult or impossible to be seen by the naked eye. One uses electronically created magnetic fields and iron filings that line up along the crack, another uses liquids, sometimes with colored light. If you would be interested in trying something like this to be certain the hitch isn't flawed before installing and using it do a search for "magnaflux", or something similar. A machine shop that deals with engines, cyl. heads, etc could use this as well as aircraft mechanics. I was exposed to it through aircraft maint., but that was many years ago.

Best of luck.

Steve

[2012TxSilvy]

Originally Posted by dix39

I would have to agree that it doesn't look good. If they are trying to maintain a reputation, it wouldn't make much sense for them to send a replacement just like the one that failed before.

I don't know what's available in your neck of the woods, but there are several methods of detecting cracks that are difficult or impossible to be seen by the naked eye. One uses electronically created magnetic fields and iron filings that line up along the crack, another uses liquids, sometimes with colored light. If you would be interested in trying something like this to be certain the hitch isn't flawed before installing and using it do a search for "magnaflux", or something similar. A machine shop that deals with engines, cyl. heads, etc could use this as well as aircraft mechanics. I was exposed to it through aircraft maint., but that was many years ago.

Best of luck.

Steve

Ok, thanks Steve

Curt stopped responding so guess it's on me now. I'm going to get a length of steel welded on. I had thought that was for safety but I'm being told now it's for looks. Is that accurate?

[2012TxSilvy]

I just got an email asking about my wdh setup so just sent pics. I'll see what they say.

Thanks all

[dix39]

Perhaps both, but I would be leaning more toward safety. I think that is a pretty highly stressed part of the receiver and it makes sense to me to have a bit of reinforcement there. It also takes a bit of time (money) to add it. I'm not sure they would do that just for looks.

Steve

[2012TxSilvy]

Originally Posted by dix39

Perhaps both, but I would be leaning more toward safety. I think that is a pretty highly stressed part of the receiver and it makes sense to me to have a bit of reinforcement there. It also takes a bit of time (money) to add it. I'm not sure they would do that just for looks.

Steve

It must due to the cracking. Went by the welder shop today and he sent me out saying that I need to remove the plastic from the bumper since the heat will melt it. Guess I know what I'm doing tonight

[SteveNSue]

A quick thought about welding. The receiver collar is typically spot welded only to retain it's position on the metal sleeve. The strength of the sleeve would be changed by the heat of welding when making a full weld around the collar. That heat would make the sleeve brittle unless heat treated to reduce weld induced stresses.

Ask your welder about heat about it.

https://app.aws.org/wj/2001/09/0049/

[Demiles]

Most hitch manufacturers say specifically not to cut, weld or drill on it. The reinforcing collar should be welded all the way around not just spotted.

[2012TxSilvy]

Originally Posted by Demiles

Most hitch manufacturers say specifically not to cut, weld or drill on it. The reinforcing collar should be welded all the way around not just spotted.

How do they get it on then if not welding?

[2012TxSilvy]

Originally Posted by SteveNSue

A quick thought about welding. The receiver collar is typically spot welded only to retain it's position on the metal sleeve. The strength of the sleeve would be changed by the heat of welding when making a full weld around the collar. That heat would make the sleeve brittle unless heat treated to reduce weld induced stresses.

Ask your welder about heat about it.

https://app.aws.org/wj/2001/09/0049/

They mentioned this very thing yesterday when I went to talk with a couple of local welders saying it's going to crack it if they heat it up. I am thinking it's going to continue to crack anyway. I do plan on adjusting the bars so that they are more level to the trailer tounge so that should relieve some stress. Not sure if I should try that and watch it. The collar just has a hairline crack at the moment. Not sure what I should do to try to be ready for a trip this weekend. Very frustrated about this. What would you all do?