[boatdoc]

Hi folks;
I own a 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 HD with 6500 miles, of which about 1600 miles is towing loads below 5000 Lbs. Truck is eqipped with factory HD hitch. During return trip from camping I felt as something was not right with the hook up. Upon close inspection I have discovered that the two bolts holding the hitch to the bumper have backed out most of the way and were ready to fall out. While those two bolts do not carry much of the load, they do balance the spread of the load along the hitch front to back. By being backed out more than 1/2" the trailer weight was carried by bolts which attach the hitch to the frame. I feel that this may not have been an issue but, the ball is two feet back from those bolts. The two foot distance acts as a cantilever and I wonder how much stress the remaining bolts have received during towing. The two back bolts have only flat washer, no lock washer and I am not sure if there are nuts inside the bumper. I will be returning the truck to the dealer with this issue,
and I will report on it next week. For now check your hitch attaching bolts to the bumper. Thanks, "Boatdoc"