Thread: tow hitch problem

Originally Posted by Fatso

What was the outcome ????? , be good to know .

Perhaps a settlement with a nondisclosure clause?

I posting this here instead of starting a new thread.

I have not used my trailer hitch for about 2 years. It has been sitting out in the weather.
Do I grease it?
If so, which part?

I will give the receiver on the car a good wash out to get all the dust & muck out.

Anything else before I fit the hitch tomorrow?

Thanks
Jonesfam

Originally Posted by jonesfam

I posting this here instead of starting a new thread.

I have not used my trailer hitch for about 2 years. It has been sitting out in the weather.
Do I grease it?
If so, which part?

I will give the receiver on the car a good wash out to get all the dust & muck out.

Anything else before I fit the hitch tomorrow?

Thanks
Jonesfam

I think you'll know if it's on properly, the challenge could be getting it off again if you don't clean, de-rust and dry lube everything...

I've just had mine checked by the stealer as it's a bit of a worry when towing. They say it's OK but I might just check a bit more myself as the casting which goes up into the car receiving part seems to be a bit proud at the top which would indicate to me that it might not sit properly inside allowing the locating bolt to fully engage.
Anyway, who the hell devised this weird bit of crap?
AlanH.

Originally Posted by ATH

I've just had mine checked by the stealer as it's a bit of a worry when towing. They say it's OK but I might just check a bit more myself as the casting which goes up into the car receiving part seems to be a bit proud at the top which would indicate to me that it might not sit properly inside allowing the locating bolt to fully engage.
Anyway, who the hell devised this weird bit of crap?
AlanH.

That casting you refer to is exactly what was the problem with mine. The hitch would not go fully up into the receiver, and the locking pin was only just catching on the edge of the hole that it should have been fully engaging into. I could tell this by sticking my finger in the back of this hole and feeling the position of the locking pin.

I "massaged" the top of this casting with an angle grinder. Didn't need much - probably not much more than the thickness of the paint on top of the casting. But this has allowed the hitch to travel fully up into the top of the receiver, and the locking pin now fully engages in it's intended position.

I still stick my finger in the back of the hole every time I fit the hitch to check that the locking pin has fully engaged though ..................... but have never had a problem with it since the "touch-up" with the angle grinder.

Originally Posted by jonesfam

I posting this here instead of starting a new thread.

I have not used my trailer hitch for about 2 years. It has been sitting out in the weather.
Do I grease it?
If so, which part?

I will give the receiver on the car a good wash out to get all the dust & muck out.

Anything else before I fit the hitch tomorrow?

Thanks
Jonesfam

It is pretty easy to dismantle, clean and lubricate. Just be careful as the spring on the pin can fly out and in to the unknown. It took a day or two and a workshop clean-up to find it.

I will be doing exactly the same Brian, sticking my finger in the hole after installing the thing.
Actually I do that now on the Deafener check that the hole is visible, pin in then push and pull the hitch just to make sure it is properly inside the receiver as I had one fall out a few years ago but luckily the crossed chains saved the incident from being worse than a bit of bad wear on the part which hit the road surface.
I was and still am deeply suss as to why that happened as I always take care with it and have since used a lockable pin.
I'm not sure the service bloke could understand what I was on about even when I pointed to the offending bit which is definitely not quite right. Told him about the anecdotal evidence on this site and his response was "I've never heard that before".
But don't they all get taught to say that by the caryards to deflect any possible criticism of what they're flogging?
You can clearly see where there's been a bit of fettling of rough bits off the casting but no attempt to reduce that small peak.
Anyway it's not a big job and it's good forums bring this sort of thing into the open so others are aware.
AlanH.

Even though the service manager at the stealers reckoned it was OK and I think he's basically right, I thought I'd do a complete check for my own peace of mind.
So I gently ground down the top of the hitch where the casting has this small peak I said about, and flattened it right off. Couple of minutes is all it took.
Then shoved it up hard and felt into the back of the locating hole and could feel the pin quite well.
BUT, when taking it out again and feeling into the hole I could feel a dag which I thought may have just stopped it going in a mm or two so out came a file and a gave it a bit of a fettle to remove it.
Then back in with the hitch and it felt as if it had definitely gone in a little further, not much, but every bit helps. (As the tart said to the vicar )
I'm quite happy all is well now and have no fears of it parting company with the D4 with the van hooked up.
Thx for your advices on this Brian.
AlanH.