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08-02-2008, 06:26 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1973 Argosy 26
Norristown
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 645
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GMC 2500HD Owners Beware.
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08-02-2008, 06:48 AM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
1972 31' Sovereign
High Springs
, Florida
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 2,311
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I have a 2003 with 56K on it and no hitch problems yet. Will have had the truck 4 years in September. I did notice that the pin hole in the receiver on the passenger side is starting to wear or elongate. Not sure why it is doing this on one side only. I tow a boat, horse trailer and flatbed carry-all, as well as the Airstream with this truck.
__________________
ARS WA8ZYT
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 D/A Ext. Cab
Propane Powered Honda EU2000i
Lots of Hot Sauce!
Air # 283
WBCCI 1350
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08-02-2008, 07:25 AM
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#3
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,156
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Get Rid of OEM Receiver!
The GM factory receivers through 2006 are junk. They are not up to the job of towing a heavy trailer with a WD hitch. I pull an '05 25FB with a 2005 GMC Yukon XL 2500. The welds cracked on the OEM receiver, and it scarred the crap out of me. I replaced it with an aftermarket Class IV receiver. When I took the factory receiver off, I realized that it was pretty light duty. It weighs about 20# and the bracing bars are about 12" long. The Class IV replacement weighs 65# and the bars go about 30" under the frame.
I recently purchased a 2004 Suburban 2500. The first thing I did was replace the crappy factory receiver.
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)
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08-02-2008, 07:52 AM
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#4
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Aluminut
2004 25' Safari
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, Illinois
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,477
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I've had a similar exp as Pick has with the elongated pin hole which they replaced my hitch under warranty with the same type of hitch. Next round, when this one acts up, I will be going with a Reese replacement.
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08-02-2008, 08:13 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,721
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You should replace the factory hitch with an aftermarket receiver.
Here's another warning. Some of the aftermarket receivers mount only to the frame and don't have the bolts that attach to the bumper. Some of them do. You can't tell fom the websites because they usually have pictures of "generic" hitch receivers.
However, if the website says " requires factory bumper" that's a good indication that its the style with the bumper bolts.
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08-02-2008, 08:53 AM
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#6
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,156
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All Class IV/V receivers that I have seen attach with heavy bolts to the frame rails and do not attach to the bumper at all.
Here's a photo of the OEM receiver that was on my '05 Yuk XL 2500. You can see how the welds were cracking and beginning to separate. When this happened, I took it to the GMC dealer. They offered to replace the receiver with a new one of the same type. I decided that replacing a junk receiver with the same junk receiver was foolish. Our Lucy is much too valuable to be trusted a junk receiver.
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)
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08-02-2008, 09:56 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,721
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Maybe the Quadrasteers are different? All the late model Sierra, Yukon, Tahoe have a couple of bolts that attach to the bumper, in addition to the four bolts to the frame rails.
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08-02-2008, 10:00 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1969 25' Tradewind
Irmo
, South Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 744
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I'm a member of a Chevy truck forum as well. The OEM hitch failures are very well documented there. When buying any Chevy/GMC truck, I'd advise making sure the truck has the towing package, but ditch that receiver first thing for one that is actually made to pull more than the occasional Jet Ski.
__________________
AIR #8891
Unrestored 1969 25' Tradewind
Overkill Tow Vehicle of the Year Award:
2001 GMC 3500 4x4 Dually 6.6L Duramax
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08-02-2008, 12:03 PM
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#9
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,156
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markdoane
Maybe the Quadrasteers are different? All the late model Sierra, Yukon, Tahoe have a couple of bolts that attach to the bumper, in addition to the four bolts to the frame rails.
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No, the Quadrasteers are the same as the others. It's the OEM junk receivers that bolt to the bumper. Most of the aftermarket Class IV's and V's attach to the frame only with 6 heavy duty bolts.
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)
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08-02-2008, 12:42 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1986 25' Sovereign
Southern Middle
, Tennessee
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,319
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My previous post must not have made the trip. I have a '01 Chevy 2500hd with no problems with cracks on welds, no rust and no backing out of bolts and no elongation of receiver tube locking holes. I wonder if it isn't a case of substandard receivers from the manufacturer?
__________________
Craig
AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
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08-02-2008, 12:54 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1969 25' Tradewind
Irmo
, South Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 744
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davidz71
My previous post must not have made the trip. I have a '01 Chevy 2500hd with no problems with cracks on welds, no rust and no backing out of bolts and no elongation of receiver tube locking holes. I wonder if it isn't a case of substandard receivers from the manufacturer?
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Yet.
I'd keep a close eye on it, especially if you are using any sort of weight distribution hitch on a regular basis.
__________________
AIR #8891
Unrestored 1969 25' Tradewind
Overkill Tow Vehicle of the Year Award:
2001 GMC 3500 4x4 Dually 6.6L Duramax
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08-02-2008, 01:04 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1986 25' Sovereign
Southern Middle
, Tennessee
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,319
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Journalist
Yet.
I'd keep a close eye on it, especially if you are using any sort of weight distribution hitch on a regular basis.
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Based on other posts, that would be the smart thing for me to do. Thanks.
__________________
Craig
AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
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08-02-2008, 01:21 PM
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#13
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4 Rivet Member
2007 25' Safari FB SE
North/East
, New Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 367
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moosetags
The GM factory receivers through 2006 are junk. They are not up to the job of towing a heavy trailer with a WD hitch. I pull an '05 25FB with a 2005 GMC Yukon XL 2500. The welds cracked on the OEM receiver, and it scarred the crap out of me. I replaced it with an aftermarket Class IV receiver. When I took the factory receiver off, I realized that it was pretty light duty. It weighs about 20# and the bracing bars are about 12" long. The Class IV replacement weighs 65# and the bars go about 30" under the frame.
I recently purchased a 2004 Suburban 2500. The first thing I did was replace the crappy factory receiver.
Brian
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Brian
What after market Class IV receiver did you replace the OEM with?
__________________
2007 Safari 25' FBSE LS
2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew Cab 4WD Duramax
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08-02-2008, 01:46 PM
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#14
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4 Rivet Member
Fond du Lac
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 396
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I was just on-line looking and Putnam has a nice Class 5 that looks like a good replacement. I know Jack C has one on his GMC van to go with his 30' slide. For my TV it looks like a model #25182 at about $159.
__________________
Rich
2010 43' Newmar Dutch Aire
formerly 2006 34' Classic
Changing the World One Child at a Time
www.compassion.com
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08-02-2008, 02:19 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,721
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moosetags
No, the Quadrasteers are the same as the others. It's the OEM junk receivers that bolt to the bumper. Most of the aftermarket Class IV's and V's attach to the frame only with 6 heavy duty bolts.
Brian
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There are aftermarket receivers that attach to the frame with six bolts and to the bumper with two more, same size. Seems like overkill to me.
Hidden Hitch has a fine one.
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08-02-2008, 02:44 PM
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#16
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,156
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2dabeach
Brian
What after market Class IV receiver did you replace the OEM with?
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I replaced my OEM receivers with Draw-Tite Class IV Ultra Frame Receiver Hitches - Part #41930.
I first bought one of these for my 2005 Yukon XL 2500 in September, 2006. I got this one from a dealer in Fort Beach, Florida, and had them install it. It cost about $375 installed. I am very satisfied with its performance having pulled Lucy over 20,000 miles with it.
In April of this year, I purchased another one of the same receiver for my newly acquired 2004 Suburban 2500. I purchased the second one from etrailer.com (800-298-8924) for $242.95 with free shipping. I installed this one myself, and it was not difficult. If you get this one, I would suggest getting the 3" Connector Mounting Box (part number 18157). It costs $6.10 and does a nice job of mounting the TV wiring outlet.
If you order any Class IV receiver, be sure to specify 1500 or 2500, they are different. Here are a couple of pictures of the Draw-Tite on the Sub.
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)
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08-06-2008, 12:05 PM
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#17
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4 Rivet Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 334
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Hitches commonly develop elongated holes in receivers when the use of the common J-shaped retaining pin is used.
The problem is the curved side of the pin tends to create uneven pressures and corresponding wear on the receiver hole.
Although the elongated hole probably does not present much of a problem except in appearance, people who want to prevent it can put a hose clamp on the pin at the curve to stop it from contacting the hitch. Or, they can use a type of retaining pin that is not J-shaped.
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08-06-2008, 04:00 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1999 27' Safari
Kent
, Ohio
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 806
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I love my super duty. With that tow cammand sytem. 5.4 engine and the new torque shift tranny. My race car trailer weighs in at 11000 lbs slightly higher and it is a dream. I sold my last chevy rearend issues fuel pumps brakes. I had it I had a heavy duty ford and it was a tank. My 2006 superduty as seen in my photo area is the absolute best I have had so far
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08-06-2008, 10:21 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1999 27' Safari
Kent
, Ohio
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 806
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I would like to also add that My SuperDuty came with a V5 rated hitch. I noticed that chevy does come standard with a V4 I wonder why
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08-07-2008, 05:53 AM
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#20
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4 Rivet Member
Fond du Lac
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 396
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Anyone have any experience with a Curtis Class V on a Chev/GMC product 2004 style? I saw one at Mills Fleet Farm yesterday for a Dodge and it was very heavy duty.
__________________
Rich
2010 43' Newmar Dutch Aire
formerly 2006 34' Classic
Changing the World One Child at a Time
www.compassion.com
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