Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 01-28-2015, 07:20 PM   #1
2 Rivet Member
 
Tintini's Avatar
 
Vintage Kin Owner
Oakland , California
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 32
Twisted PP Stinger

We bought a Propride a year ago for our 25' 1970 Airstream and have put about 3,000 miles on it. The stinger is slightly twisted to the right along the axis of that portion of it that inserts into the TV receiver. We noticed this after a 2,000 trip. I put the TV on a lift and the hitch looks fine. I emailed Sean who said that a twisted stinger is not normal, that I should be able to use it, but should "watch it." He asked if the head moved side-to-side by hand if if we ran our chains through the bars. Yes to both. Our TV is a 2014 ML350 and we don't over torque the jacks because the front wheel wells are 1/2" higher with the jacks raised than without the TT hitched up. Has anyone else experienced a twisted stinger or know what causes it?
Tintini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2015, 08:08 PM   #2
2 Rivet Member
 
cptfish's Avatar
 
2014 27' FB International
salem , Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 84
Can you post a photo?


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums
cptfish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2015, 09:34 PM   #3
cwf
Rivet Master
 
cwf's Avatar
 
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro , Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,406
Images: 2
Blog Entries: 2
Twisted? Did the 'yoke' move?
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
cwf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2015, 04:42 AM   #4
Retired.
 
Currently Looking...
. , At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
One of our customers had this occur. There were two theories about what happened. First, that the safety chains were run over the bars, instead of between them, and the second was the driver jacknifed the trailer while backing.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
overlander63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2015, 04:53 AM   #5
"Cloudsplitter"

 
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas , Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
Images: 1
Question

"watch it"?.....yeah, I think thats a good idea,

Bob
ROBERT CROSS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2015, 05:19 AM   #6
Rivet Master
 
dznf0g's Avatar
 
2007 30' Classic
Oswego , Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,658
Images: 5
Do you leave it in the receiver while unhitched? Somebody hit it in a parking lot? Any witness marks pointing to a hit?
__________________
-Rich-

"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
dznf0g is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2015, 07:16 AM   #7
2 Rivet Member
 
Tintini's Avatar
 
Vintage Kin Owner
Oakland , California
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by overlander63 View Post
One of our customers had this occur. There were two theories about what happened. First, that the safety chains were run over the bars, instead of between them, and the second was the driver jacknifed the trailer while backing.
Neither happened to us. Most of the paint has flaked off that portion of the stinger that is twisted. I wonder if that hints at the cause.
Tintini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2015, 07:19 AM   #8
2 Rivet Member
 
Tintini's Avatar
 
Vintage Kin Owner
Oakland , California
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by cptfish View Post
Can you post a photo?


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums
I don't think it would show much. I haven't measured it, but the twist is probably less than 10 degrees
Tintini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2015, 07:22 AM   #9
2 Rivet Member
 
Tintini's Avatar
 
Vintage Kin Owner
Oakland , California
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by dznf0g View Post
Do you leave it in the receiver while unhitched? Somebody hit it in a parking lot? Any witness marks pointing to a hit?
Good thought. We did leave it in the receiver while unhitched, but no witness marks.
Tintini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2015, 07:22 AM   #10
Moderator
 
moosetags's Avatar

 
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach , Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,156
Images: 5
A picture of the hitch bar would really help in trying to determine a cause for the twisted hitch bar. This is important information as many Airforums Members are using the ProPride Hitch System.

Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
moosetags is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 07:33 AM   #11
2 Rivet Member
 
Tintini's Avatar
 
Vintage Kin Owner
Oakland , California
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by moosetags View Post
A picture of the hitch bar would really help in trying to determine a cause for the twisted hitch bar. This is important information as many Airforums Members are using the ProPride Hitch System.

Brian
I'll post a picture over the weekend.
Tintini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 04:11 PM   #12
Rivet Master
 
dbj216's Avatar

 
1986 34' Limited
1975 27' Overlander
1969 21' Globetrotter
Conifer , Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,291
Images: 1
Gee, interesting. A twisted 2" mild steel hitch bar. I wonder how much torque it would take to permanently deflect a 2" steel bar.

The Propride hitch rides under the ball coupler. It's a socket joint so we can traverse up inclines to buy fuel without putting stress on the A frame or tow vehicle receiver. I don't know what angle the rotation stops when the hitch hits the coupler, maybe 30 degrees? The hitch bar is pulled tight into the hitch with the over center clamps. it is constrained by the 2" receiver and hitch coupler. It seems it would be very difficult to apply much twist to the hitch bar when connected.

You engineers out there calculate the twisting force to permanently deform a 2" solid bar that's say 1 foot between the applied force and the attachment point. I know I don't have a wrench in my garage long enough to do it!

Tintini, put a level or some other straight edge on your stringer and take the photo. Then we can compare the angle of the straight edge to your rear bumper. That might magnify the twist you see.

It's a mystery to me. Finding the cause will be interesting.

David
dbj216 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 04:27 PM   #13
Rivet Master
 
SteveSueMac's Avatar

 
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W , New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
Twisted PP Stinger

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tintini View Post
...snip...
He asked if the head moved side-to-side by hand if if we ran our chains through the bars. Yes to both.
...snip...

Yes to running the chains through the bars? That would be problematic and possibly the cause of the twist of the stinger. Let's make sure we're talking about the same thing. Please see my picture below. This is how the safety chains should be connected to your TV - they are NOT running through the bars. Did you run your chains a little backward first and then THROUGH the bars or did you run them under the bars as in the photo?


Name:   ImageUploadedByAirstream Forums1422660249.371043.jpg
Views: 442
Size:  127.9 KB
SteveSueMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 04:57 PM   #14
4 Rivet Member
 
Livingston , Texas
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 394
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tintini View Post
We bought a Propride a year ago for our 25' 1970 Airstream and have put about 3,000 miles on it. The stinger is slightly twisted to the right along the axis of that portion of it that inserts into the TV receiver.---
Is your stinger bent to the TV's right like the one shown in the photo below --
or is it twisted about its longitudinal axis as a drive shaft might be if too much torque was applied?

The thread in which this photo was posted is: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...ml#post1377674

Ron


Ron Gratz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 05:31 PM   #15
Moderator
 
moosetags's Avatar

 
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach , Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,156
Images: 5
I remember that thread. the bent hitch bar was the result of the safety chains being routed above the spring bar. I thought then, as I do now, that the chain would have broken prior to the hitch bar bending 45 degrees.

Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
moosetags is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 05:44 PM   #16
Rivet Master
 
SteveSueMac's Avatar

 
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W , New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
Quote:
Originally Posted by moosetags View Post
I remember that thread. the bent hitch bar was the result of the safety chains being routed above the spring bar. I thought then, as I do now, that the chain would have broken prior to the hitch bar bending 45 degrees.



Brian

Brian - not sure if these are the same chains but according to this article, http://www.etrailer.com/question-21549.html this pair of safety chains had a 17 ton break point. I'm guessing that kind of pressure (via chains over the WD bars) could twist a 2" stinger before breaking the chains.

Note: Like Bill Belichick - I wouldn't say I'm the Mona Lisa Vito of trailer chains... :-)
SteveSueMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 07:26 PM   #17
Rivet Master
 
dkottum's Avatar
 
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake , Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
I don't know of a positive conclusion of what bent that earlier bar, but I think many of us believe it was from jackknifing the trailer when backing into a camp site.

As Ron questioned, is this one a twisted bar or a bent bar?
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles

The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
dkottum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 07:33 PM   #18
2 Rivet Member
 
Tintini's Avatar
 
Vintage Kin Owner
Oakland , California
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveSueMac View Post
Yes to running the chains through the bars? That would be problematic and possibly the cause of the twist of the stinger. Let's make sure we're talking about the same thing. Please see my picture below. This is how the safety chains should be connected to your TV - they are NOT running through the bars. Did you run your chains a little backward first and then THROUGH the bars or did you run them under the bars as in the photo?

Attachment 231409
We may be getting somewhere, but I'm confused about "through" and "under" the bars. I drop the chains between the bars to the ground, then run them under the bars to the TV. I think they look like your photo, but I'm not sure.
Tintini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 07:37 PM   #19
2 Rivet Member
 
Tintini's Avatar
 
Vintage Kin Owner
Oakland , California
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron Gratz View Post
Is your stinger bent to the TV's right like the one shown in the photo below --
or is it twisted about its longitudinal axis as a drive shaft might be if too much torque was applied?

The thread in which this photo was posted is: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...ml#post1377674

Ron


Ron:

The stinger is not bent as in your photo, but twisted along the longitudinal axis of that portion of the stinger that is inside the TV receiver.

Jeff
Tintini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 08:14 PM   #20
Rivet Master
 
SteveSueMac's Avatar

 
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W , New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tintini View Post
We may be getting somewhere, but I'm confused about "through" and "under" the bars. I drop the chains between the bars to the ground, then run them under the bars to the TV. I think they look like your photo, but I'm not sure.

Ok. Here's the difference between "under" and "through". If you go back to my picture - that shows chains UNDER the ProPride entirely. It's really critical for you to remember whether you had them in that position - or THROUGH the bars which, if you look at my picture would mean you brought the chains backwards (to the left side of the picture) to go under then over the weight distribution bars and forward (to the right of the picture) to the tow vehicle.

Can you remember exactly how the chains were connected to the tow vehicle? It takes an awful lot of force to twist a 2" (or in my case, a 2.5") steel "brick" like the ProPride stinger. If your safety chains were wired around the weight distribution bars, that would apply an enormous amount of pressure to the stinger it's not expected to see (with safety chains under the head as described in the user manual).
SteveSueMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
twisted safety chains - damage to chain holders Ramblinboy Hitches, Couplers & Balls 7 04-23-2012 04:12 PM
Hensley Stinger Exchange ctdair Hitches, Couplers & Balls 0 08-30-2010 05:48 AM
Hensley Arrow on a 2006 GMC 2500 - what is the 'drop' for the stinger? 72Blazerod Hitches, Couplers & Balls 5 05-13-2010 10:13 PM
Hensley with Propride adjustable stinger boondockdad Hitches, Couplers & Balls 5 12-03-2008 07:55 PM
Hensley Stinger Cover davidz71 Hitches, Couplers & Balls 2 05-14-2006 09:21 AM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:14 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.