Receiver hitch failure

DJinCO · April 10, 2004

On some other forums I have seen evidence of the receiver on 00-03 Chevy's (to include a co-worker's 2500HD) suffering catastrophic failure while towing. Even if the tow is documented within the tow weight limits.

Has anyone on this forum suffered such a failure? I have just ordered a new Putnam Class-5 to replace my stock receiver hitch.

Is this a widespread failure or to small for a GM recall? Or does the majority of the population who own these trucks not really tow?

Cheers,

gmcjoe · April 10, 2004

This is the first I've heard this.

My 2000 GMC with the factory hitch has had zero problems

Shaners · April 10, 2004

I remember reading someone else in here had that problem... it was quite awhile ago though. I can't really remember who it happened to, but I have a good guess... (I just don't want to mention the wrong person if I'm incorrect)

Wingnut · April 10, 2004

I towed around 6k lbs very frequently (2 to 3 times per week) on short, and long trips up until a few months ago. Zero problems out of either truck. Both have the factory installed class III hitch.

To answer your question directly, it's not a common problem.

gnutruk · April 10, 2004

I too remember one instance. I'm guessing it was nearly two years ago, and there were some pictures of a totally ripped receiver hitch. Impossible to imagine how that could have happened. I seem to recall that the post showed up on Edmonds, or maybe pickuptruck.com.

This kind of potential problem would NOT be on my list of things to worry about. GM certainly has a 2X safety factor for their hitches, and it may actually be closer to 4X. That would be a tow vehicle at the max rating, and pulled under stressful conditions as well (that is, high speed, bad road, etc.).

I'm sure the Putnam hitch folks -- and all the other companies that make after-market hitches -- would appreciate it if we all started tearing off our factory hitches and replacing them with something sexier. But may I suggest -- and please don't take this wrong -- that a better use for the money would be to donate it to the American Cancer Society, your local women's shelter, American Heart Association, food bank, etc. etc ????

gnutruk

DJinCO · April 10, 2004

I would also poo-poo this as internet hoopla if I had not seen this happen with my own eyes to my friend's 2001 2500HD. He was towing a 6000lb travel trailer using a weight distributing hitch. Turned a corner and the receiver was toast.

Yea, I've got plenty of money and time to replace stuff on my Tahoe that doesn't need to be replaced. NOT. I do believe in the utmost in safety however.

I was just curious if anyone else was having these problems.

BTW, go out and look at the GM hitch. Why does it have two bolts attaching the hitch to the bumper? The replacement hitch I am installing does not have those but it does have a 16,000 lb rating. Hmmm, I wonder? How does the bumper survive a 5mph impact without ripping those bolts out? Hmmm?

Just a thought not a flame.

Cheers,

gmcjoe · April 10, 2004

I would also poo-poo this as internet hoopla if I had not seen this happen with my own eyes to my friend's 2001 2500HD. He was towing a 6000lb travel trailer using a weight distributing hitch. Turned a corner and the receiver was toast.

WOW

Did he buy this truck new or was it used?

What exactly happened to the hitch?

DJinCO · April 10, 2004

He bought it new. The hitch separated at the single sided weld (problem) along the side of the receiver. Looked like a twisted pretzel.

Cheers, Doug

GM GIMP · April 10, 2004

I'm towing about 9K with my 1500HD '02. no problems yet

but I'll keep doing inspections on a regular basis. BTW my

truck is rated to tow 10,000 lbs.

Ben · April 10, 2004

Am a GM fan, but not blindly so.

GM screwed up on the NBS receiver. Bone stupid design that is NOT strong enough.

Depends on transfering the WD hitch bar's loading to the bumper, then to the bumper brackets, then to the frame rails.

Reported and pictures at RV.net tow vehicles. Here's the link to the thread: RV.net thread on Suburban's receiver breaking

Here's some pictures from that thread and Burbman's picture album.

Link to his album if the above pictures don't make it:.....Burbman's receiver picture album

Ben · April 10, 2004

I would also poo-poo this as internet hoopla if I had not seen this happen with my own eyes to my friend's 2001 2500HD. He was towing a 6000lb travel trailer using a weight distributing hitch. Turned a corner and the receiver was toast.

Yea, I've got plenty of money and time to replace stuff on my Tahoe that doesn't need to be replaced. NOT. I do believe in the utmost in safety however.

I was just curious if anyone else was having these problems.

BTW, go out and look at the GM hitch. Why does it have two bolts attaching the hitch to the bumper? The replacement hitch I am installing does not have those but it does have a 16,000 lb rating. Hmmm, I wonder? How does the bumper survive a 5mph impact without ripping those bolts out? Hmmm?

Just a thought not a flame.

Cheers,

It has those two bolts on the bumper because they've cheapened the receiver. It no longer is strong enough by itself to do the weight distribution from the hitch to the frame rails.

Needs to transfer that force to the bumper. The bumper is designed to take a hit from different direction, so will bend in the direction the receiver pushes.

Then the bumper will try to transfer that loading to the brackets holding the bumper to the frame rails.

This "food chain" will bend the bumper and brackets so that not enough of the WD from the hitch is transfered. Why many can't drop their TV's front end wtih a WD hitch and WD bars...no matter how heave a bar and how many links tightened.

For those who still don't believe, take a 2 inch square bar about 6 feet long. Shove it into a NBS receiver and lift. Note that the receiver tube will bend towards the bumper, the bumper will move up and bend. It's brackets are behind so can't see them, but they will move before transfering enough load to the frame rails.

Also look at other NBS receivers that have been used to tow heavy. Most all I've seen in parking lots are bent either downwards or upwards.

99-2door · April 10, 2004

A guy showed me where his hitch had ripped out from under his truck. He had replaced the rear bumper and didn't put the bolts back that attach the hitch to the bumper. He loaded a S-10 on his car hauler trailer and it bent the entire hitch assembly down and ripped the frame rails on the truck where the hitch was attached. Luckily he was not moving down the road when that happened.

Of course his leaving the bolts out was the cause of that, but that just shows what kind of leverage the design of the hitch gives the load.

DJinCO · April 10, 2004

And that's why I'm replacing my hitch. I think that everyone should be informed.

Cheers,

Ben · April 10, 2004

A guy showed me where his hitch had ripped out from under his truck. He had replaced the rear bumper and didn't put the bolts back that attach the hitch to the bumper. He loaded a S-10 on his car hauler trailer and it bent the entire hitch assembly down and ripped the frame rails on the truck where the hitch was attached. Luckily he was not moving down the road when that happened.
Of course his leaving the bolts out was the cause of that, but that just shows what kind of leverage the design of the hitch gives the load.

I'd file a complaint with the NHTSA.

Like said before, am a GM person, but they've really done a stupide thing with thei penny wise, pound foolish receiver.

How many towing +10K lb trailer out there not knowing that they are close to losing it?

How many of us are next to that set up just about to lose their TT?

Here's the NHTSA complaint page to file: NTHSA complaint page

DJinCO · April 10, 2004

Thanks for that site Ben. Fortunately for me I have not experienced failure so I have no claim against GM. My mantra has always been "preventative maintenance before failure."

Cheers,