04-07-2013, 03:38 PM
Yet another place to examine.
We were going from Austin to Miami to have a slide seal replaced. In far nowhere OK, we stopped for lunch and happened to notice our hitch (we tow a twenty foot car trailer) pointing down about 30 degrees. Didn't seem safe to drag the trailer, so we called for assistance. A guy came out with a welding rig. We discovered the hitch is attached to the Coach by two bolts at each end and an L shaped bracket in the middle. The bracket is bolted to the coach and welded to the hitch. We found that the L vertical had failed horizontally due to metal fatigue and over time had caused the welds to fail on the L and on one of the 45 degree support. This allowed the tongue weight (about 425 pounds depending on the odd bicycle) actually bend the hitch bar. The welder replaced the 1/8 inch thick steel L with 3/8 inch steel and did new welds every where on the hitch. After some bending the hitch is now correctly oriented and stronger than ever.
Wouldn't have ever looked at the hitch attachments that closely before.
Another item for the once a year checklist.
Phil & Judy Horton
Coach 470 and a twenty foot car trailer
Currently at Newell
We were going from Austin to Miami to have a slide seal replaced. In far nowhere OK, we stopped for lunch and happened to notice our hitch (we tow a twenty foot car trailer) pointing down about 30 degrees. Didn't seem safe to drag the trailer, so we called for assistance. A guy came out with a welding rig. We discovered the hitch is attached to the Coach by two bolts at each end and an L shaped bracket in the middle. The bracket is bolted to the coach and welded to the hitch. We found that the L vertical had failed horizontally due to metal fatigue and over time had caused the welds to fail on the L and on one of the 45 degree support. This allowed the tongue weight (about 425 pounds depending on the odd bicycle) actually bend the hitch bar. The welder replaced the 1/8 inch thick steel L with 3/8 inch steel and did new welds every where on the hitch. After some bending the hitch is now correctly oriented and stronger than ever.
Wouldn't have ever looked at the hitch attachments that closely before.
Another item for the once a year checklist.
Phil & Judy Horton
Coach 470 and a twenty foot car trailer
Currently at Newell