Bent hitch

[Newowner2011]

My trailer has a bent hitch and will this affect the towing of it. It's bent maybe 5 degrees to the side.It's an EZ Loader 19ft

 

[Newowner2011]

Re: Bent hitch

It's actually the coupler and not the hitch that is bent.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bent hitch

no, unless it is also weakened and may break. The trailer will pull straight back from the ball, and will be off-center an inch or two.

 

[Newowner2011]

Re: Bent hitch

Thanks for the info. The more I've been looking at it, it looks like the trailer itself forward of the tongue jack is where it is bent.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bent hitch

Once something is bent, it is never as strong as it was originally. Depending on where and how badly the bend is and the tongue weight involved, it may or may not be an issue. I suspect the bend is due to turning too short and the bumper of the tow vehicle did the deed.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bent hitch

if the trailer is bent, it should still track straight but off center.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Bent hitch

Bent tongues and couplers are often caused by backing into something.
A curb, a tree stump, a well head hidden in long grass, ask me how I know. :facepalm: :facepalm:

If a minor slight bend, probably ok.
If it is kinked, or damaged, or you have a trailer large enough to have brakes, you might want to get it fixed.

 

[Newowner2011]

Re: Bent hitch

Where would I take it to be fixed ? Metal fabrication place?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Bent hitch

yep, but, why don't you start by showing us some pics

 

[ufm82]

Re: Bent hitch

Is the tongue integral to the trailer or is it a separate piece of tube? You can buy a piece of tubing from a metal supplier, bolt on/weld on a new coupler and bolt the new piece onto the trailer. Been there, done that. If it is welded to the trailer a trip to a shop will be needed unless you can do that yourself as well.