Hitch receiver issue - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Problem Solving | Owners helping each other
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-15-2014, 10:15 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Hitch receiver issue

The hole for the pin that secures my WDH to the Hidden Hitch receiver is becoming elongated on one side of the receiver.
Anybody else experienced this and have a solution to prevent it from getting worse?
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-15-2014, 11:14 PM   #2
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
The hole for the pin that secures my WDH to the Hidden Hitch receiver is becoming elongated on one side of the receiver.
Anybody else experienced this and have a solution to prevent it from getting worse?
This might be of interest:

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Class A Motorhomes: Receiver Hitch Pin Hole Repair
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-15-2014, 11:34 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Thanks. I'm thinking I'll wait until it's really a problem, and then add some weld as was suggested about six posts down in that link. It's taken six years for me to notice.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 12:04 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Carlsbad, California, California
Trailer: 2003 Scamp 16' SOLD , 2008 Airstream 19'
Posts: 107
That is odd it is only elongating on one side unless your pin is tapered or worn. Install a new pin and see if the drawbar will move in and out. You may have to weld up the hole on the sloppy side and ream it to fit the pin. I don't know what a hidden hitch is, but if access for reaming is limited you could just overlay the bad hole with a thick washer fit to the pin welded to the receiver. The washer need not be round, so you could use a short piece of 1 1/2" x 1/4" flat bar to make the washer. 3/8" thick would be better, but make sure you can still install the clip on the pin, due to the extra width of the receiver.
Russ
ruscal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 12:09 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Hidden Hitch is a brand.
The hole is elongated at the bottom on one side. Should have shot a pic today. I'll see if I can do that tomorrow without unhitching.
Can likely blame it on the washboard on the Skagit River Road.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 12:19 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2002 Escape 13'
Posts: 967
Quote:
Originally Posted by ruscal View Post
That is odd it is only elongating on one side unless your pin is tapered or worn. Install a new pin and see if the drawbar will move in and out. You may have to weld up the hole on the sloppy side and ream it to fit the pin. I don't know what a hidden hitch is, but if access for reaming is limited you could just overlay the bad hole with a thick washer fit to the pin welded to the receiver. The washer need not be round, so you could use a short piece of 1 1/2" x 1/4" flat bar to make the washer. 3/8" thick would be better, but make sure you can still install the clip on the pin, due to the extra width of the receiver.
Russ
With the hole elongated I suspect that the receiver is a softer material than required for the application. I'll bet you can buy another receiver tube, torch the old one off and weld a new one in it's place cheaper than having any machine work done.
hotfishtacos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 12:26 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
I'll try to shoot a pic and post tomorrow morning.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 01:04 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Ron in BC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,744
Quote:
Originally Posted by ruscal View Post
That is odd it is only elongating on one side unless your pin is tapered or worn. Install a new pin and see if the drawbar will move in and out. You may have to weld up the hole on the sloppy side and ream it to fit the pin. I don't know what a hidden hitch is, but if access for reaming is limited you could just overlay the bad hole with a thick washer fit to the pin welded to the receiver. The washer need not be round, so you could use a short piece of 1 1/2" x 1/4" flat bar to make the washer. 3/8" thick would be better, but make sure you can still install the clip on the pin, due to the extra width of the receiver.
Russ
Ditto what he said

I can appreciate the link showing a bushing machined and installed but I agree, a "washer" whether round or flat stock, welded on would be simple to do and probably last a long time.

Ron
Ron in BC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 02:21 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Carlsbad, California, California
Trailer: 2003 Scamp 16' SOLD , 2008 Airstream 19'
Posts: 107
Quote:
Originally Posted by hotfishtacos View Post
With the hole elongated I suspect that the receiver is a softer material than required for the application. I'll bet you can buy another receiver tube, torch the old one off and weld a new one in it's place cheaper than having any machine work done.
Steve,
Soft material very well could be at fault. It used to be that you could rely on mild steel to fabricate hitches. I have never had a problem with the pin wallowing the holes in any of my hitches that I can recall. We don't know where our materials come from any more.

The fit of the pin to holes is also an issue. If drilled to far oversize the slop will act like a hammer and peen the metal out of shape when the vehicle stops and starts causing the elongation. I use a 5/8" drill for a 5/8" pin. The pin usually won't go through both holes at first, so running the drill through both sides with the draw bar in place insures the pin will fit.

I don't know how weight distribution hitches affect hole wear, but it seems they would load the pin in one direction keeping it from pounding as much?
Russ
ruscal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 05:54 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
Try reversing the pin and check in 6 years to see if you now have a matched set.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 07:47 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
Try reversing the pin and check in 6 years to see if you now have a matched set.


Quote:
Originally Posted by hotfishtacos View Post
I'll bet you can buy another receiver tube, torch the old one off and weld a new one in it's place cheaper than having any machine work done.
Not betting, but my guess is that you can buy another hitch and bolt it on faster, more easily, more reliably, and less expensively than paying for that welding work. Of course, if you are an expert welder yourself you can save a hundred bucks and have an interesting project by doing this yourself, but the hitch will still need to be removed and replaced.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 08:06 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
currinh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Box Elder, South Dakota
Trailer: Bigfoot 25' 2018
Posts: 347
gbaglo:

I wonder if a "hitch imobilizer" would help the situation. They are to stop rattles but may help here. I've seen them installed but have no first hand experience.

Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
The hole for the pin that secures my WDH to the Hidden Hitch receiver is becoming elongated on one side of the receiver.
Anybody else experienced this and have a solution to prevent it from getting worse?
__________________
Hugh Currin
2018 Bigfoot 25'
2018 RAM 2500 Diesel
currinh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 08:39 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Kountrykamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Middle, Tennessee
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19' #2
Posts: 1,441
Or you could use one of these to remove any play in your hitch. I have used one for about 4 years. Makes everything nice and quiet.

Hitch tightener: no wobble, anti rattle stabilizer device for hitch accessories
__________________
Tom
Kountrykamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 08:42 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
Most anti-rattle devices would stop the holes from elongating further.

I have had the same issue on my last truck, a 2002 F-250, pulling a heavy construction dump trailer. The ball mount was solid steel and showed little wear, but the walls on the receiver after 12 years had elongated a bit, probably close to 3mm. I did put on lots of miles towing that trailer though, and it weighed a few times more than our light trailers.

The new trucks all use a heavier 2 1/2" receiver which is nice.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 10:13 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Embarrassing, but here is pic of receiver.
I did paint it with Tremclad a year ago.
Attached Thumbnails
hitch receiver.jpg  
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 10:19 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
It doesn't look like your elongation of the hole goes all the way through to the inside of the receiver, and could likely be cause by the curved end on the pin. Do you always put it in from the right side?
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 10:27 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17b
Posts: 1,868
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
Embarrassing, but here is pic of receiver.
I did paint it with Tremclad a year ago.
I see Tremclad and Krylon Spray Paint now comes in Faux Rust.
J Mac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 10:38 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett View Post
It doesn't look like your elongation of the hole goes all the way through to the inside of the receiver, and could likely be cause by the curved end on the pin. Do you always put it in from the right side?
I do, because the wire for the break away switch goes through the clip and around the pin and the switch is on that side. Never tried the other side.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 02:50 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Carlsbad, California, California
Trailer: 2003 Scamp 16' SOLD , 2008 Airstream 19'
Posts: 107
Jim's assessment appears to be what you are seeing. The elongation is merely rub from the ell bend in the pin when it rides in the 7 o'clock position. I doubt you are experiencing much clunking from it. If so, you could get one of those tightener dodads or drill and tap the receiver for some set screws to take up the play.
Russ
ruscal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2014, 03:10 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Like Russ, I think Jim's on to the cause. Good thinking, Jim
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
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




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:13 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.