Not the time to be cheap

[Timm R Oday25]

I was hooking up my flat bed trailer , when I noticed an oddly placed rust hole . Upon further inspection , I determined the factory installed receiver had rusted through

I’m grateful to have caught it before I hooked up the boat . Until this happened to me I had never heard of this .

I ended up having use the ends of the ordinal to be able to mount the bumper . Do yourself a favor and check yours

 

[Tedd]

Yikes! Salt water exposure, maybe?

 

[Timm R Oday25]

Nope ,not likely here in the upper midwest . Weird ..

 

[Will Gilmore]

Nope ,not likely here in the upper midwest . Weird ..

Salt on the roads? Do you have a dirt driveway that you park your vehicle on? I do and I replace more ball joints, brakes and universals than I would if my driveway was paved. Especially if I don't drive the car much.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Timm R Oday25]

No Will , the truck sits parked about 28 days a month on my asphalt driveway . There was no rust on the truck when I bought it 4 years ago . I have never seen this much rust on a vertical surface before .

 

[DayDreamer41]

What make of vehicle?

 

[Timm R Oday25]

2009 F150

 

[DayDreamer41]

Just think about how many of those are out there, that shouldn't happen to an 11 year old, had to be some bad steel there.

 

[Cmackg]

I had that happen with my F-150 on the off ramp on I-95. Looked out the mirror to see it dragging behind me. The spare tire slowed it down. Pretty much a heart-stopper. the boat looked hilarious getting towed away. I ended up renting a u-haul with a hitch to get the boat home.

 

[LeeandRick]

Was this truck ever a rental vehicle, like U-Haul? I no people who have no tongue extension and will rent trucks to launch their boats and submerge the rear of the bed. A time or two in salt water would fill the tube up on the hitch and there is no paint inside.

 

[Timm R Oday25]

A rental ? Not likely ,I bought from the original owner who used it for hauling trailer for his contracting company . We've been dunking our rear ends in the water up here for many years . I use a 20' extension on the front of the trailer and I still need to back in enough the put the exhaust in the water . Even then all the brake lines ,differential and leaf springs are fine . Yes ,I check that stuff a couple times a year.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Looking at the orin photos, it appears bolts being over tightened depressing the tube in which may have weakened the tubing causing failure???

 

[Timm R Oday25]

Respectfully Dave ,I don't think so . The 2" square tube fits into a square hole on both ends I'm not understand how the bolt torque would affect it . The original reason for the post is to let others who trailer become aware that this may happen . It only takes a minute to get on your knees and take a quick look. Are all the bolts there ? Are any lose ? I couldn't even imagine the liability of a trailer coming loose on the interstate . So what if I'm insured to the hilt ? I wouldn't want to look in the mirror knowing I could have prevented something.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Having pulled boats as a dealer all over the eastern half of the country to include Canada and mexico, trust me you have not seen what I saw. It was just a question as it did appear that way but you are right to keep reminding to look at your equipment to make sure it is in working order. I have to living up on top of a mountain with a long driveway but the views are spectacular.