[sdbob]

I have a receiver on my 2500 GMC. I lost(misplaced) my pin,for my hitch. So I went to local trailer dealer and bought a new one. I asked him how hard a pin is, just curious. He asked the manufacturer before but never got an answer. I get concerned about Chinese steel. I have special key locking pins but use a pin with a just a little spring pin. Wonder if the pin is just 1018 steel or could it be case hardened?

[Sirrotica]

Bob, From E trailer: The typical shear strength of a 5/8" hitch pin is 90,000 LBS., or 45 tons. Even if it was inferior steel, and it was 40,000, or 20 tons, you'd be pretty safe. I've never seen many tow vehicles that can exert that much force on a trailer, it's pretty much a non issue. I've also never seen a hitch pin deform, or shear, probably not worth worrying about.

If you're still concerned, I'd buy a name brand pin, and it was likely still made in China............

[Mr Anonymous]

For the nerdy:

When the pin is holding the hitch together, is it one case of double shear, or two cases of single shear? Can see it both ways.

[61-63]

You can get US made hitch pins at McMaster-Carr

[sdbob]

Thanks guys for the info. I get concerned about things as I age. When I was young teenager,I'm not sure how I made it to my 20s,then 30s etc

[Bills Auto Works]

This is my 41st year of transporting with well over 4 million accident-free transport miles & I have NEVER bent or sheared a pin! I guess anything could happen, but there are many other things that go wrong more frequently while pulling the trailer.

The great thing about your concern is that should it ever happen, it would happen pulling away from a stop & the safety chains would keep the trailer attached to the truck, you would feel something right away & get out to check. No Harm, No Foul

For piece of mind, you could carry a spare.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...closed.614419/

[TAKerry]

I could almost see if the hitch was worn and the receiver was worn. That may cause some back n forth within the receiver itself and maybe could bend the pin. But if that is the case there is a lot more going on. I am with Bill. Although he has dreamt about pulling a trailer more miles than I ever will do so, I have pulled my share. The pin is about the last thing I would worry about. I bought one of those fancy chrome locking ones a few years ago when I was on vacation pulling my trailer. I was afraid someone would steal the hitch! Around home I just use a simple one from TSC. I have 2 trailers one is a pintle so I need to swap hitches on occasion.

[Trulyvintage]

Receiver hitches wear out.

The steel receiver hitch tube
and the solid steel stinger
that your trailer ball mounts
to are softer than the pin.

The OP should have his
receiver hitch and tow vehicle
completely inspected at an
established trailer repair shop
and/or an established welder.

My primary welder is in farm country
outside of Iowa City, Iowa.

All of my tow vehicles have been
fitted with custom designed and
reinforced receiver hitches by
Reg Yoder at Sharon City Welding.

One of several quality service providers
who keep me going down the road ….

Jim

[OG68]

You didn't mention what year your truck was, but some GM receivers were recalled for cracking. I believe the years were between 1999-2005.

After about 5000 miles of towing my travel trailer, I noticed the receiver tube was wearing out with the pin hole becoming elongated as mentioned by Truly Vintage above. Bought a new BW receiver for my 06 Silverado.

[turbo69bird]

Anyone familiar with the fatality (and it happens quite a bit) from trying to pull a stuck truck with a cable and hitch. The hitch breaks if I remember correctly not the pin, but it send the remaining oart of the hitch right through the windshield killing it occupant. So remember that if ever towing a car off the hitch with a cable or strap if they lock up the brakes or get stuck on something.

[Trulyvintage]

Off Topic But Noteworthy Comment

The takeaway here - receiver hitches
and associated equipment are a wear
item and require inspection & maintenance.


Jim

[Bills Auto Works]

Originally Posted by OG68

You didn't mention what year your truck was, but some GM receivers were recalled for cracking. I believe the years were between 1999-2005.

After about 5000 miles of towing my travel trailer, I noticed the receiver tube was wearing out with the pin hole becoming elongated as mentioned by Truly Vintage above. Bought a new BW receiver for my 06 Silverado.

I was also aware of this recall, as both my trucks fit into this year range ('02 & '03). I also did notice the hole elongation on one of mine after about 300,000 miles of towing. Pretty simple fix (at least for me) I MIG welded a 3/16ths steel plate on both sides....Could NOT do anything thicker, because then the pin hole would have been covered up.

I also have a couple of those locking chrome pins & had a thought in the back of my mind that maybe they were not as strong as the normal ones, but my minor concern was calmed by another million or so miles on each one!

As for wear pieces....BOTH of the tongues on my trailers have over 1.5 million miles on each with little wear! Reason being, I lube my balls (insert joke here) before I leave the shop EVERY time! I was actually thinking of replacing them both along with the balls just for Sh1ts & Giggles this year. With my anal maintenance schedule, my trailers never leave the building with anything wrong. Fact is...I want to get my customers cars delivered on time & want to get back home to work on mine as quickly as humanly possible!!!!!

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...closed.614419/

[BILL BOWMAN1]

Originally Posted by turbo69bird

Anyone familiar with the fatality (and it happens quite a bit) from trying to pull a stuck truck with a cable and hitch. The hitch breaks if I remember correctly not the pin, but it send the remaining oart of the hitch right through the windshield killing it occupant. So remember that if ever towing a car off the hitch with a cable or strap if they lock up the brakes or get stuck on something.

I believe that was a guy pulling a school bus out of a snow bank. Horrible but something to keep in mind.

[BILL BOWMAN1]

I’ve never given the pin much thought, but the stress and loads that ball goes through always does.

[sdbob]

I carry 2 balls with hitches. I also a 12klb load equalizer hitch. 2 extra locking pins. When I was younger I got 'stuck' more than once driving. So I carry extra parts. As a side note when I drove the SD to Norwalk,show on Saturday raced on Sunday,( my friends would laugh) I had spare driveshaft and flange, extra distributor, points condenser, spare alternator, fuel pump, water pump,hoses. I had to use spare alternator once. Kept original and rebuilt it. 'Be prepared'.

[Bills Auto Works]

Originally Posted by sdbob

I carry 2 balls with hitches. I also a 12klb load equalizer hitch. 2 extra locking pins. When I was younger I got 'stuck' more than once driving. So I carry extra parts. As a side note when I drove the SD to Norwalk,show on Saturday raced on Sunday,( my friends would laugh) I had spare driveshaft and flange, extra distributor, points condenser, spare alternator, fuel pump, water pump,hoses. I had to use spare alternator once. Kept original and rebuilt it. 'Be prepared'.

Bob & Anyone else coming to Norwalk...I will be there again for the 4th straight year & my shop is 13 miles from the track. If ANYBODY has an issue, my fully functioning restoration shop is available for welding, work on the lift or God Forbid you blow it up, I can transport it home for you! You have to find your own ride though...NO room for passengers! LOL

God Bless
Bill
(216)832-8697
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...closed.614419/

[sdbob]

Thanks Bill for the offer. Good to know.

[433lemans]

I added this to my receiver and it takes most of the up/down slack out, thus I have to think it takes some of the stresses off of the pin? It takes some re-tightening as it conforms to the shape of the receiver. There is a little side movement that can be shimmed. I use this on longer hauls pulling my travel trailer.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by 433lemans

I added this to my receiver and it takes most of the up/down slack out, thus I have to think it takes some of the stresses off of the pin? It takes some re-tightening as it conforms to the shape of the receiver. There is a little side movement that can be shimmed. I use this on longer hauls pulling my travel trailer.

That looks like a nice option to stop the bumping noise when you're going over uneven ground. I like to tow a fifth wheel trailer much more because it eliminates listening to that noise that almost all bumper pull hitches have.

I've even tried wrapping duct tape around the male portion to stop that noise, but it soon wears the tape down, and it comes back.

[OG68]

Bought this at E-Trailer IIRC. Similar to what's shown above.
Clamps to the stinger and receiver and eliminates that back and forth action of the WD hitch inside the receiver. Stopped the wear around the retaining pin hole too.