Warning; Check Your Hitch!

[NMWildcat]

Sorry, I'm just not seeing the logic in this thinking. Also think 'a lot' of trucks and SUVs is a little more limited than implied.
But it does remind me why we avoid California in general.

Originally Posted by woo10-210

In SoCal with all of the stop-and-go traffic a lot of pickups and SUV's leave their hitches in full time. It's a first defense against being rear-ended and saves many bumpers . . . for the lead vehicle at least.

[babock]

I live in so cal and don't see any more hitches left in than any other place. I sure don't leave mine in.

[woo10-210]

Originally Posted by babock

I live in so cal and don't see any more hitches left in than any other place. I sure don't leave mine in.

That could certainly be the case but I see a lot of hitches left in. I know for a fact that our group of friends and family with lifted trucks leave their deep drop hitches in permanently to act as a bumper.

[NMWildcat]

Around our farm, those hitches that are left in act mainly as shin biters for the truck user

Originally Posted by woo10-210

That could certainly be the case but I see a lot of hitches left in. I know for a fact that our group of friends and family with lifted trucks leave their deep drop hitches in permanently to act as a bumper.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by woo10-210

That could certainly be the case but I see a lot of hitches left in. I know for a fact that our group of friends and family with lifted trucks leave their deep drop hitches in permanently to act as a bumper.

Around here they are left in and used as a step!

[upflying]

Originally Posted by woo10-210

In SoCal with all of the stop-and-go traffic a lot of pickups and SUV's leave their hitches in full time. It's a first defense against being rear-ended and saves many bumpers . . . for the lead vehicle at least.

I like this idea, spear the radiator and condenser with your hitch when a texting driver rear-ends you. We continue on, damage free.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by CentralMePistol

So as I start this story every one is fine and problem is solved.
Go check your hitch receiver on your truck. Look it over for rust, even check the back. Done? Go do it first then finish reading.

Back... ok. So today as a pulled into a rest area and made a small corner I hear a “PING” and then metal dragging. I go a few yards and my wife says, oh that was the car behind us keep going. We are hurrying with a screaming 18 month old who wants lunch. I think, ok, and go a few more yards. Nope, that dragging sound is US!
I stop right there and get out to look... the WDH has popped a bar clean out of its mount and the whole hitch was leaning to the side. Like not straight. Seriously. Bent down to the right and at a funky angle. OH. CRAP.
A trucker behind me leans on his horn but I stay put. I get down and start looking things over... the bend was in the receiver and hitch itself. Oh boy... this can’t be good. As I look closer sure as a bear poops in the woods- the hitch tube above the receiver is bent and cracked.
Darn it.
I limp into the RV area and park it. Look things over again... why in the Willy whacks did this happen??Well as I’m checking it over I feel the back and... a hole- where there shouldn’t be one! Fiddle sticks!
I crawl under and there it is- the whole tube had rusted through! Pipe finally gave and it was bad news. It must have been slowly dropping down and bending away. When it gave the last bit it must have changed the pressure on the WDH bar and let it fly. Thank god we stopped for lunch when we did. No really, say thanks for me again- I have been all day. If that had let go on the highway things could have been disastrous for me and everyone around me!

Short part of story; called around and found a nearby u-haul that had a hitch in stock. Left the wife and kiddo with the gene and headed out. They were great! From break to back on the road- 2.5 hours total. (U-haul in Augusta Maine- Zach came through for us!)

So my moral? Go outside and check your hitch for rust and damage- might just save your life.
Attachment 213007
Attachment 213008

Other details people will ask. 2012. No other outward signs. Yes a I love in Maine. Yes we use a lot of salt.

I guess GMC would not be real Proud of that 7 year old Hitch !!!

[upflying]

Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945

I guess GMC would not be real Proud of that 7 year old Hitch !!!

Could be why GMC limits corrosion coverage for only 3years/36000miles.

https://www.gmc.com/owners/warranty-details

[MillMitch]

CentralMePistol, thanks for the reminder. Living in MN, winters are long and salt/sand are frequent, so periodically checking under TV's and TT's is a good idea.

[B and B]

Originally Posted by CentralMePistol

Yes.

Poor GM Quality. I will never buy one. Had two many bow tie disasters to list!

[NMWildcat]

You should dress more casually

Originally Posted by B and B

Poor GM Quality. I will never buy one. Had two many bow tie disasters to list!

[jim44646]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

I can honestly say I have never in my life...which has been quite long...seen a hitch rust out like that. I had a 1979 F150 that I sold in 2008 and the hitch was still good.

I have. A guy dropped his trailer at the stop sign by my house. I went out and helped him Jack up his trailer tongue disconnected his hitch. Backed my truck in and put his trailer in my back yard while he went to get a new hitch. By the way. GM is noted for rusted failing hitches.

[campkasten]

I've visually inspected my receiver regularly ever since I bought this truck 16+ years ago. I've even inspected and checked the bolts connecting the receiver to the truck frame as I do not want anything loosening up under stresses & strains of towing.

I've seen only minor rust on the surface (which I've fixed) & no loose bolts found.

[thebrakeman]

Originally Posted by JPin AZ

I think SeaDog has moved past salty, to pickled!

[frank4711]

Got a break here in Florida ... we are not allowed to drive on the beach anymore

[WolfPup2018]

I mean to have it rust like that it appears maybe some salts, or water has found its way seeping into that area. Strange that it’s rusted from between the bumper like that. I would think maybe a snow plow truck and the salt spreader leaking salt has slowly eaten it’s way through over the years. OR an aftermarket defective tow hitch.

Clearly something had been eating at it from the middle point.

I agree it might be tough to catch this as seen from underneath you might see some rust but not suspect it’s eaten through the metal.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by WolfPup2018

I mean to have it rust like that it appears maybe some salts, or water has found its way seeping into that area. Strange that it’s rusted from between the bumper like that. I would think maybe a snow plow truck and the salt spreader leaking salt has slowly eaten it’s way through over the years. OR an aftermarket defective tow hitch.

Clearly something had been eating at it from the middle point.

I agree it might be tough to catch this as seen from underneath you might see some rust but not suspect it’s eaten through the metal.

That type of hitch could have openings at both ends that allows snow, ice,water, salt, sand to enter and settle where the receiver was welded to the structure.
That area is always warm from driveline heat so the snow melts quicky and doesn't dry out due to the confined space. The corrosion starts and eats away at the welds.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by jim44646

I have. A guy dropped his trailer at the stop sign by my house. I went out and helped him Jack up his trailer tongue disconnected his hitch. Backed my truck in and put his trailer in my back yard while he went to get a new hitch. By the way. GM is noted for rusted failing hitches.

DW's 2006 Yukon XL and my 2006 Tahoe have the same hitch. I crawled under to take a look. The paint is still good on the metal--not even surface rust.

Both cars are North Carolina cars. They do salt and brine the roads here, but we try not to drive much when they have.

[Mark72358]

Yes, I agree with you. I could have had a bad experience. The back bumper on my TV was a little rusty and didn't look good so I decided to replace it and glad I did. During installation of the new bumper I noticed the hitch rusted almost through on the top and back side where it could not be seen without removing the bumper.

[Egalt]

Originally Posted by CentralMePistol

Thank you captain obvious. Hence my warning to others to look in a place one normally might not inspect for damage. I have driven it all summer, 30+ days of travel without any other sign. Yes, I am lucky it happened when it did.
If you inspect the every inch of your truck on a regular basis you clearly have more time to kill than most of us.

Love the Captain Obvious reference... :roflb lack: