Equali-i-zer Hitch Weld Failure

[Minipad]

I had a similar failure about 5 years ago (12K hitch on a Tundra pulling a 25'). Equal-i-zer immediately replaced my hitch by a swap at a dealer. Since, I have been towing the same 25' with an F350 and no issues.



On a side note, a local welder told me that this doesn't necessarily indicate that the hitch was going to fail as the crack may be in slag that wasn't completely knocked off during the process or a second pass on the weld. I'm sure we would have heard the tale of one actually separating. But, still not something to ignore. I check mine every time I hook up and even when I stop for fuel, etc. Good to check all of the bolts on the A-frame of the trailer as one of those getting loose can add stress to the hitch as does loose bolts on the head itself.

[Holy Grail]

Originally Posted by KK4YZ

Hi. I’m unsure how a 3/4 T truck or air bags would alleviate this, unless you mean that the stiffer/ higher suspension would not need as much or any torque from the weight distribution bars. But I thought the purpose of a weight distribution hitch was to distribute the hitch weight. Leveling is used as an indicator of weight distribution. Or do I have it wrong?

You're right! However, if an unusually large amount of force is needed to level the hitch, then the hitch head is more likely to fail. That was the case with my half ton Ram and Flying Cloud 28.

[16595]

We had one of those “paint cracks” while in Alaska/Yukon. Had others inspect it. Had it welded at a NAPA store in Dawson City. Equalizer hitch.

Traded for a Blue Ox that fall.

I do not check hitch as I should but but decided it would be a good idea on such a trip

I now have the head mounted to an AirSafe box.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

Looking at the pictures that is a substandard weld .
I am surprised it passed inspection .

Agreed.

Welds should be very regular and consistent, which these were not.

We had a custom hitch weld fail years ago, and were very happy to have spotted the problem while barbecuing some chicken in Abilene, Texas, as the sun was setting at just the right angle to illuminate the defect.



Thanks!

Peter

[JCWDCW]

A weld that fails that way was a poor weld to begin with. Probably an inexperienced welder; They don't always hire highly qualified welders to do this kind of work. The crack propagates right along the fillet, so there was poor melt distribution into the body. Could also be that Equalizer messed up on their weld specification...no way to tell, but at least the are backing the part without argument.
JCW

[r carl]

Do you guy's know what type of welder was used to weld those pieces?

[Jack West]

I had a similar situation last year after using my Equalizer for 4 years and 35000 miles towing our 2013 23' FB flying cloud. The folks at Equalizer were quick to replace it and I also had to send the defective one back to them. Now I check it every time I hook up.

[Mollysdad]

I had mine apart last week. All was fine but I’m glad I checked.

[LakeState]

once a year look over your leaf springs, loose fasteners holding your truck receiver to the frame, any airbags and there fasteners. Torque all your fasteners attached to the AS ie weight distribution/anti sway hitches. shock bolts on the AS. Step fasteners. propain dish. safety chains. Battery box. lug nut torque twice a year.

[sarge12212]

Looks to me like the metal itself failed, not the weld.

[Al U. Minium]

Originally Posted by sarge12212

Looks to me like the metal itself failed, not the weld.

That's the Heat Affected Zone HAZ. The metal adjacent to the weld is weakened by the heat involved in the welding process. It is where welds crack.

[Al U. Minium]

Originally Posted by r carl

Do you guy's know what type of welder was used to weld those pieces?

I don't know. But my guess is a big MIG on spray. You can see some splatter from the welding. Also due to the size of the material as it is plenty thick.

[Crackerman]

On the hitch I fixed, it looked exactly like that. However, it was not the weld that failed.
Take the head off of the stinger, and you will see that the metal itsself had failed and was pulling apart. The weld held fine.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Al U. Minium

That's the Heat Affected Zone HAZ. The metal adjacent to the weld is weakened by the heat involved in the welding process. It is where welds crack.

MIG or Stick welding weren't the issue.
Whoever did the welding was inexperienced. Had the heat up too high for the material thickness and it should have been a gusseted bead.

[devolo]

There appears to be a constant pattern of failures here, whether from the wields or steel. I wonder how Equalizer views this, or are they experiencing a normal number of failures as others in the industry do? The small size of that connection point has always bothered me. Maybe it's time to switch.