Hitch bolt loose!!!

[Blue Crabber]

Well, recently i have been having problems with my trailer lighting. So i dove into it tonight to check it out. Found a bad ground, so now thats taking care of.

But what else i found scared me even more than that! I was taking a look at my hitch while i was under there. I don't have the factory hitch, it was an aftermarket made for the truck. It is bolted to the frame with 4 3/4in bolts. One of the bolts was loose!! Kind of scared me that one of the bolts could vibrate loose like that. I am guessing that it wasn't wrenched down tight enough when installed, but who knows!

Think i will be adding "check hitch bolts" to the pre-tow checklist now! I always triple check everything when towing but the coupler, safety clips, safety chains, etc. won't do me any good if the hitch they are connected to falls off of the truck going down the highway!

 

[fishingman220]

Re: Hitch bolt loose!!!

if i was you, just for a good piece of mind, i would replace all the bolts with grade 8 fasteners and use lock nuts or lock washers.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Hitch bolt loose!!!

Good advice, i think that i might just do that. The sad part is that this bolt does have a lock washer on it!

So i can't see how it was tightend down properly when installed. But replacing all is not a bad idea - esp. for peace of mind.

 

[trogdor!]

Re: Hitch bolt loose!!!

I used a little thread lock on each of the bolts when i installed my aftermarket hitch along with lock washers just to make sure.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Hitch bolt loose!!!

Lock washers for sure.

 

[ddrieck]

Re: Hitch bolt loose!!!

If you end up replacing the bolts that hold the hitch to the frame use grade 5 bolts and not grade 8 as indicated above.

Grade 5 have a stronger shear strength and are made to be used where forces are pulling it to the side. (like when you bend a pencil)

Grade 8 have a stronger tensile strength and are made to pull down tight like a head bolt on and engine.

Since 90% of the forces acting on the hitch will be pulling the bolts to the side (shear) you need to use grade five.

Darren

 

[quackaddict1]

Re: Hitch bolt loose!!!

Good call ddrieck, I wouldn't worry to much about those bolts. Tighten it up, and check em periodically, but don't try to tighten them a little every time, you will either shear one off or they will rust in so bad you will never get them out.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Hitch bolt loose!!!

Drieck - thanks for the info!

Well last night i looked at the hitch again and the 3 other bolts looked fine and are properly tightened down. So i cranked the loose one down and all is fine now.

I still think that i will do a visual inspection a few times a summer to verify all is in good order.

Thanks everyone.