Could have been very nasty!

[tommays]

Re: Could have been very nasty!

This really should be a DOT complaint as they would inspect and force a recall if there were true issues with the ball


https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/Consumer.cfm

 

[Crookcatchr]

Re: Could have been very nasty!

I do notice that they don't list those hex based balls on their website. I also don't see the stainless draw bars and balls that Walmart sells either. I was actually looking at getting one of those but I may think twice now if they're not US made.[\QUOTE]

Just a quick refference, Wal-Mart does not offer the same quallity of product as you can buy from the same company. Wal-Mart tells, in this case Reese, what it is going to sell their product at, so Reese will make that product but it will not be up to the same spec as the same product that they are seeling because they can not make money by selling the same product at Wal-Mart as what they sell and keep the quality.

Sorry to Hi-Jack, but back on topic. I would deffently right Reese and tell them what happened. You might get a better quality ball out of the deal.

 

[MrBill]

Re: Could have been very nasty!

I assume that the 3/4" ball shaft was mated to a 3/4" hole, not a 1" hole. I have pulled stumps and the like with my hitch and tow rig many times, even though I know that's what the tow hooks are for. Glad to hear there were no injuries...I'd never expect that component to fail under those conditions.

 

[nuttyxp]

Re: Could have been very nasty!

without hi-tech equipment a bad forging is hard to detect before failure occurs. Whatever you use there is no substitute for a well set up pair of safty chains. As you well know, balls can fail...
good thread guys...

 

[alan ber]

Re: Could have been very nasty!

Hi all,

I thought someone in here might find this interesting.

Last week I cut down a small 3" diameter pine tree in my yard. I left about 4 feet of trunk sticking up so I could use it as a lever to rip the stump out with my truck.

I attached a chain to the tree up high and attached a tow strap to the chain to absorb some of the shock when I pulled.

I put the hitch into the reciever and attached the strap to the ball (2" Reese with 3/4" shank). I got into the truck put it in gear and crept up to take up the slack. The lines tightened and "PLINK!"....something broke. The chain went limp.

I figured that I broke the strap. I got out to find that the BALL HAD BROKE OFF THE SHAFT!! I couldn't believe it! I just towed my 5000lb boat last weekend with that ball! It could have very easily broke while towing.

It litterally took about 30lbs of force to shear that ball off. I hadn't even started to pull yet!

Has anyone else ever had a ball fail like this? It make me nervous...very nervous to tow anything ever again.

BTW- this was a new ball (less than a year old) and kept in the truck when not in use, so corrosion is not the issue.

Chuck

I was pulling a utility trailer and I needed more height. I put a spacer under ball . The spacer was another bolt and then I bolted the washer and bolt at bottom. Used trailer this way for a year until one day it snapped in two. When it broke my vehicles chains kept it from sailing away but when I stopped my first reaction was to stop fast becasue of all the noise behind me.
The trailer smashed into my van and denting in the corner of trailer.
al in Orlando

 

[SooLineRob]

Re: Could have been very nasty!

Just a quick refference, Wal-Mart does not offer the same quallity of product as you can buy from the same company. Wal-Mart tells, in this case Reese, what it is going to sell their product at, so Reese will make that product but it will not be up to the same spec as the same product that they are seeling because they can not make money by selling the same product at Wal-Mart as what they sell and keep the quality.

Not to start a "bashing Wal-Mart" argument, but this is EXACTLY why I do not shop there. The way Wal-Mart does business causes problems like the OP experienced ... and I guess I won't be buying AC/DC's new album either!!!

 

[tommays]

Re: Could have been very nasty!

Wal-Mart does not offer the same quallity of product as you can buy from the same company.



As we make stuff for wallmart and all the other large chains they are a ALL a bit of a pain BUT we only make are products ONE way ,

A chain might get 4 packs instead of 6 or 12 packs or something like GTX oil is sold in a 5 quart jug at wallmart VS a 5.5 at other places


Places like Costco alllways have a Giant size to make there store different

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Could have been very nasty!

Wal-Mart does not offer the same quallity of product as you can buy from the same company.

As we make stuff for wallmart and all the other large chains they are a ALL a bit of a pain BUT we only make are products ONE way ,

A chain might get 4 packs instead of 6 or 12 packs or something like GTX oil is sold in a 5 quart jug at wallmart VS a 5.5 at other places

Places like Costco alllways have a Giant size to make there store different

I drove all over today looking for a good quality USA made trailer ball and receiver to carry as a spare in my second vehicle, I couldn't find a one. I went to every autoparts store, Walmart, K Mart, and the likes, and two hardware stores and nothing. Other than mail order, I guess they don't exist anymore. The part that's even worse is the price range for the same Reese, made in China 2" drop receiver and a 1 7/8" ball which ranged everywhere from $19.99 at Walmart to $39.99 at the auto parts store for the same part numbers. The balls varied as well.
I did see a couple of Master Lock branded Stainless combos but couldn't find one with the 1 7/8" ball. And even at that, the store that had them couldn't find a price for the 2" combo they did have so they couldn't sell it to me anyway. I ended up mail ordering what I needed from a trailer hitch retailer online.
I can't describe how frustrated I was not being able to find something that wasn't made in China, and no one even had a 'good' Chinese one, they all looked real junky or cheap. The best looking one was the cheapest at Harbor Freight, but even they were only about $6 cheaper.