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08-11-2011, 05:48 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
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Hitch age?
My wife just asked how old a hitch can be before it should be replaced. I didn't know the answer so I thought I'd ask here. My guess is that it's more of a "inspect it regularly and watch for cracks or other signs of failure", rather than a time limit.
On a related note, what should we be checking on the hitch? Is it just looking for cracks or odd wear, or is there more?
We ask because we bought our '95 with the hitch, and the hitch setup was new in '08, meaning it's 3 years old now (I'm going to check that it's not covered by the recall, but since our trailer spent 2010 in a barn, it seems pretty unlikely). It's a Reese hitch, and it seems to be in good condition now.
Having towed it over 1,000 miles already (wow, how did that happen?), I believe the hitch has the correct ball height, angle, and WD bars for the trailer in question ('95 Excella 30', with an extra battery and spare tire on the tongue). I'm still dialing in the WD bar setting - the PO had them way too light - but I think I have it now, and I'm just chomping at the bit to try it.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
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08-11-2011, 06:19 AM
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#2
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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The one hitch failure I have experience with thats sometimes overlooked....
A fellow camper was backing into his spot at a rather sharp angle when the left side attachment bolts failed dropping the receiver...
When we got home I replaced ours with grade eight's and got into the habit of inspecting them at every Spring get-ready.
Watch the pin hole for signs of elongation, welds for cracks overall condition thats about all you can do.
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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08-11-2011, 06:41 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1958 30' Sovereign of the Road
Plymouth
, New York
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,776
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1985??
Our Reese Hitch came with the 1985 34 footer that we bought in 1998 and it was probably bought new when the trailer was new.. I still have this hitch and use it ALL the time, now towing our much lighter 1958 30 footer! Not much can fail with the Reese setup.. but "knock on wood" - I look it over every once and a while.
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08-11-2011, 06:42 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,669
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I think it's mor of an inspect the wear points and look for cracks etc. What brand and model do you have?
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08-11-2011, 07:25 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Like Bob said, I think you will expereince more failures with the hitch receiver setup than the actual WD hitch. The GM trucks especially have had trouble with the receiver holes elongating, and welds cracking. It seems all the late model factory receivers have excessive clearance with the hitch drawbar (probably from being built with imported steel), and this seems to exagerate the hole elongating and weld cracking problem.
However, the Reese hitches have had a history of a few bars breaking, a few cams bending (if they were not setup right), and over a long time, the hitch head will wear where the bars ride in the small indents, but this wear only shows up after years of use. All you can do is watch for excessive or irregular wear and any stress cracks.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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08-11-2011, 08:06 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2011 31' Classic
Nellysford
, Virginia
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,067
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At our Spring Rally a member passed around the ball he had to replace (after many miles). He discovered the problem one day trying to unhook. When the ball begins to wear it appears to degrade quickly into a severely out-of-round condition. He caught it before it became a failure problem.
__________________
Greg Heuer, Spirit of Virginia Airstream Club
2011 31' Classic Ltd. - The Silver Otter III
2013 GMC Denali 2500HD 6.6 DuraMax - Sierra Blanca
TAC VA-18 | Life Mbr ACI 1927 - Spirit of Virginia Club | AIR 53869
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08-11-2011, 08:07 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Cuddebackville
, New York
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,346
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
It seems all the late model factory receivers have excessive clearance with the hitch drawbar (probably from being built with imported steel),
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Huh? It seems to me if you build something with a specific dimension, you can build it out of cardboard and it will have the correct dimension. Don't the receivers start out big? I don't think they are deforming from use and a too soft steel. I think they build them big for easy of removal.
__________________
2014 25' Flying Cloud Rear Twin
2019 Ford Expedition Platinum
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08-11-2011, 08:14 AM
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#8
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam
Huh?..... I think they build them big for easy of removal.
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They sure do...even the new TowBeast we installed in 06 required shimming to reduce the slop.
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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08-11-2011, 08:14 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
1993 34' Excella
York
, South Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,417
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After many years & many,many miles I replaced my hitch head(ball mount). The "sockets" that the spring bars fit into had worn quite thin, even with regular oilings. I even had one of the dog bone looking stirrups break on a trip. Had nearly 100,000 miles on the equipment so it was probably past due. The platform on the truck was fine. I'm still running those same 750# bars, but new head & new truck. Reese dual cam, old style.
__________________
John
WBCCI #268 Palmetto State Airstream Club 22
Region 3 Past President....come with us, you will like it.
Go often to the house of a friend, for weeds choke the unused path........Emerson
Are you kind?..... Uncle John's Band
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08-11-2011, 08:16 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam
Huh? It seems to me if you build something with a specific dimension, you can build it out of cardboard and it will have the correct dimension. Don't the receivers start out big? I don't think they are deforming from use and a too soft steel. I think they build them big for easy of removal.
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The key, at least I think, is imported steel. Think metric system.
I remember when a 2" drawbar fit tight in a 2" reciever, and slop was not an issue.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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08-11-2011, 02:50 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
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Thanks everyone - your answers were basically what I thought, but I wanted to be sure. Just watch for signs of issues.
Quote:
Originally Posted by robandzoe
Our Reese Hitch came with the 1985 34 footer that we bought in 1998 and it was probably bought new when the trailer was new.. I still have this hitch and use it ALL the time, now towing our much lighter 1958 30 footer! Not much can fail with the Reese setup.. but "knock on wood" - I look it over every once and a while.
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That's kind of what I was thinking - it's not something you should necessarily have to replace after "x" years; it's more of a wear and tear thing, or if something goes awry.
dznf0g: It's a Reese WD hitch. I think the bars are 1000 lbs. I want to look at it much more closely so I'll see if I can figure out what bars and all it has.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
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08-11-2011, 06:05 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,669
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Cleaning the old grease off every 500 - 600 miles helps, IMHO. There is a lot of metal powder generated by the forces applied to the spring bars in their sockets as well as the ball socket. I have become a big fan of the Reese brand grease. Although I have only been using it this year, the wear pattern on the trunnions and ball contacts is becoming smooth and mirror-like. I have used all kinds of other grease over the years, but his stuff is definitely the best.
I also use petroleum jelly on the cams and clean them daily. I dremmeled the spring bar saddles to a smooth finish when they were new and I now have a very glassy wear pattern, instead of a groovy, choppy pattern. The hitch is also very quiet with smooth wear surfaces. Also, when I say "clean the surfaces", I mean periodically cleaning with brake clean. Even with the wiped down surfaces, you would be surprised at the black that comes up with brake clean. That steel powder is an abrasive. Clean and properly lubricated will make them last a lot longer.
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08-11-2011, 06:16 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
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So I checked over the hitch; other than being a bit dirty it seems fine. The weight distribution bars are 1200 lbs and clearly marked Reese. The hitch, on the other hand, only has a couple numbers stamped on the shank (16/06-DT3213), but no other info I could find.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
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08-11-2011, 06:20 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,669
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skater
So I checked over the hitch; other than being a bit dirty it seems fine. The weight distribution bars are 1200 lbs and clearly marked Reese. The hitch, on the other hand, only has a couple numbers stamped on the shank (16/06-DT3213), but no other info I could find.
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At the risk of sounding like our beloved Andy, I think you should be using 800# bars. Andy would probably say 600#, but I think that's a little light for your unit, if you have the proper tongue weight.
What's your total loaded trailer weight and tongue weight.
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08-12-2011, 05:56 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dznf0g
At the risk of sounding like our beloved Andy, I think you should be using 800# bars. Andy would probably say 600#, but I think that's a little light for your unit, if you have the proper tongue weight.
What's your total loaded trailer weight and tongue weight.
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I don't know. The trailer is marked for 750 lbs but the original owner added a third battery on the tongue and a spare tire under the front of the trailer so it's going to be heavier than most up front.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
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08-12-2011, 05:57 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,669
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If it's less than 1000#, I'd use 800# bars. My TW is 975#, I run 800# bars and am happy with the setup.
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08-12-2011, 06:06 AM
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#17
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Skater,
Just noticed...are you towing with the B190?
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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08-12-2011, 10:17 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS
Skater,
Just noticed...are you towing with the B190?
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No, we bought an '06 F-250 for towing. Now we just need to sell said B190.
Anyway, changes to the hitch are not in the cards for now unless there's a serious, major problem, and so far I'm not seeing one.
The PO had the WD set with practically no weight on them at all. I've been tightening them and am down to 6 links from the bar (PO had it at 8), and the last time I drove it around town it felt GOOD...I can't wait to try it on the road next weekend. These changes are making a definite improvement in the height of the front of the truck - at 7 links, it was up at the front a tiny bit (so small I had to look at it a while before I could see it), and I think the 6 link setting will take care of that.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
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09-03-2011, 01:12 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Cuddebackville
, New York
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,346
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
The key, at least I think, is imported steel. Think metric system.
I remember when a 2" drawbar fit tight in a 2" reciever, and slop was not an issue.
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Nope. They would still spec a specific dimension.
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