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polarlyse · 09-27-2016, 09:00 AM

I am currently at odds with FORD over an issue involving my F-350 Super Duty pickup w/ 6.7l diesel. I purchased this truck new in Aug. of 2015 so it's just 14 months old and has 35,000 miles. My estimate is approx. 30,000 of that is towing our 30' Airstream. So I guess you could say that, at least in the past year, we do a lot of towing. My complaint stems with my noticing a deformation, or elongation, of the hole in the trailer hitch that retains the draw bar for our hitch. I noticed this during this past summer while traveling to and from Alaska. The hitch is factory installed along with the retaining pin.

Two weeks ago I brought my truck in to a nearby dealer for a periodic transmission service and while there asked them to take a look at the hitch deformation. Their response was that the hitch was worn out and needed to be replaced to the tune of $900+ since it is not covered by the warranty. When I asked what would have caused it they responded that I have overloaded it.
I took it for a second opinion to another dealer and was given an entirely different cause but ultimately they also denied my warranty claim saying that the hitch is an "accessory" and therefore covered by a 12/12 warranty that is no longer in effect. Now, through a Ford truck forum I was put in contact with a Ford customer service rep and then on to someone else. An E-mail today from this party says they followed up with the original dealer and was told the cause was my using an improper retaining pin with the hitch. They are supposed to contact me tomorrow. We'll see when that happens. The retaining pin is the one supplied by FORD with the class V hitch on the truck.

So. We'll see what direction this issue goes. Just wanted to warn those towing with Ford SD to take a close look at their hitch.

Sorry for the long explaination.

HowieE · 09-27-2016, 09:15 AM

Generally the manufacture's supplied receiver is as cheap as possibly available.

The attached picture show my GM receiver after I got home from Alaska.

Look on E Trailer at some of the Name Brand after market receivers with higher ratings. Half the price of Ford

polarlyse · 09-27-2016, 09:24 AM

Hi Howie. I'm gonna play hardball with them. But if it comes down to needing to replace it I certainly won't get a FORD one. My other truck ( Dodge 3500) had a supplemental hitch by SUPERHITCH. It added a second receiver that attached to the factory hitch. I towed using the supplemental one since it was a better height and I never had any sign of deformation or pin bending. Both receivers were 2"

Must be all the lead bars I carry in my Airstream. Truck is rated 14,000 #.

Moflash · 09-27-2016, 09:29 AM

I had the same problem with my first new F350 (2012).I found that the factory pin with the 45 degree bend was the culprit.On my new truck I installed a straight locking pin that has a lock on one end.No more problems.
I am going to replace my hitch with a Curt brand H.D 2 inch receiver hitch as I do not like using the adapter for the 2.5 receiver and it has a higher tongue weight rating than the factory hitch.About $169 on Amazon shipped to your door.

https://www.amazon.com/CURT-15410-Cl...tis+hitch+f350

polarlyse · 09-27-2016, 11:56 AM

That's exactly what they are trying to tell me. Baffles me how Ford can supply a hitch rated class V and a sub-standard pin for that hitch. I'm just going to play around with them for awhile and see how far this can go. I'd be happy if they simply replaced it. Actually I will just get a better pin and be done with it probably. I hate the thought of dealing with a locking pin and key every time I disconnect.

ThanX

KWN306 · 09-27-2016, 12:08 PM

I had the same issue on my new 2016 F150, the hitch is too sloppy for the 2" receiver. I complained to Ford and the answer I got was they are all like that. It is just cheap foreign built junk.

I had this same problem on my old Dodge Ram and the hitch head wore out the pin hole. With the Dodge, I went to etrailer.com and purchased a new hitch for less than $400.00 and installed it myself.

I also purchased an item made by Blue OX from etrailer.com that you bolt to the hitch shank and the hitch itself and it took all the wiggle out of the equation. I believe the part was $59.00. This makes the hitch head a PITA to remove (9/16" socket and ratchet) but it will save you from purchasing another hitch down the road.

BTW, check your hitch head shank to make sure it didn't get damaged either, mine on the Dodge did.

m.hony · 09-28-2016, 09:44 AM

I think it is the slop or play in the shank and receiver that causes the pin hole to become elongated.
My pin hole on my 2" receiver is elongated.
The only way I know to stop the pin hole from elongating is to stop the slop or free play with a hitch tightening or anti rattle device.
I got the Stowaway Hitch Tightener from Amazon 3 years ago and there has been no more slop or play or elongation of the pin hole.

polarlyse · 09-28-2016, 02:08 PM

Thanks all. I'm not really losing a lot of sleep over this. I'm not afraid that it's gonna separate or catastrophically fail while on the road. I'm just annoyed that FORD seems to be blowing me off and telling me it's my fault. I just won't buy that. Their truck, their hitch and the pin they provide with it should all be compatible and appropriate for the rated usage.