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11680
Joined
9/18/2007
Location
York, SC, USA
On the way to Phoenix our trailer hitch cracked and broke off on both sides so I need it welded and brace reinforced.
Something felt weird when we pulled into the New Mexico welcome center and 2 bolts were still in and letting the hitch move front to back.
Luckily my Chevy Colorado didnt take a ride!
We are at the entrance to the SX pits.
Damn, isn't that a brand new motorhome?
Good luck with the fix.
Wow, that could have been bad. Hope you find a welder.
2022 class A Newmar and hitch is rated for 5000 lb and truck is 4410 lb.
1st time my wife has has come along on a cross country excursion so at least she was able to chase follow to the stadium.
I've used muffler shops in a pinch before. They can usually get you in pretty quickly
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Strange but it is supposed to be a 6000 lb hitch from the factory
If it is shoddy material it's sketchy to weld it. If it's shoddy workmanship then a good weld should do it. Is there anything in the towed vehicle? That could push your weight on the hitch up to it's max weight rating. I myself would look for a new hitch and seek reimbursement. That welded hitch would make me sweat all the way home.
Tried looking for a new hitch and the Lippert part number appears to be a custom made application for Newmar so have not been able to find anything bolt on so no matter what it would have to be welded. No other that I have seen have had the top side bolts that saved the day.
Quick google search found this. Also consider a mobile welder that does truck frames. They should be able to autopsy the hitch.
https://www.lewishitches.com/?service=welding
@lumpy790 Call Phil up at Crank works in tempe Tell him Bob(808) his old employee told you to call him and ask for a wleder. They have a welder there but not sure that's something they'll do but Phil will know where to go. You can all talk to Ryan Clark while your there worked for him to he will have someone to im sure
Worked as a Regional Sales Manager for 6 years in the RV industry, contact your dealer ASAP and request the issue be sent to the Sales Rep for your product. Clearly a manufacture defect from Lippert, however all RV chassis are now Lippert made. They will most likely send you to the nearest dealer to handle it and get you back on the road
Just my 2cents. That bracket was bent on a press brake.
It stretches and puts a depression in steel at bend, consequently a stress point.
It will need to be welded top and bottom, plus some gussets to be safe.
https://cliffswelding.com
Reach out to Cliff's in Mesa. They do a lot of hitch installs, etc. Good, reputable shop that I've used several times.
Thanks for posting that what you are saying makes perfect sense and should weld it properly from both sides.
Since we are at the stadium and its going to be a nightmare getting a welder to come in its probably best to hold off till we are in Vegas. There is a Newmar dealer in vegas and since its not the correct hitch I should probably take it for them to see.
Try to call ahead and let service know what you have and see if they can get ahead of it.
Good luck.
My son lives in Benson AZ. RNC fabrication. He can weld anything. 760 490 2134
Update:
Its such a good thing that this was the 1st time my wife has gone cross country to a Pro race and trade show with me. If she wasn’t there to chase/follow getting to vegas I would have been stuck.
Before leaving I yelped and found a mobile welder that was based a couple miles from the RV park that we would be staying at and was able to make an appointment for him to come and weld the hitch on both sides the day after we arrived . He charged $400 to tack and then remove the hitch and weld both sides and reinstall. IMO $400 was very reasonable.
Glad you got that handled.......That could have been a scary ride. Be safe in your travels!
Honestly even the safety tow cables are attached to the hitch so there wouldn’t have been anything that would have stopped it.
Pit Row
I add gussets to that too if it was mine. Make it stronger then before by a long shot so you never have to revisit it.
$400 is pretty reasonable but I myself would still replace it. Whatever made it crack, shitty material, underrated for what you tow I'd be looking to upgrade.
I just welded my foot to the floor
Part # was not available for a replacement.
That's too bad. I'm a little paranoid about towing equipment. It would bother me every time I hooked up. I40 and I10 through Arizona has some nasty spots.
Nice welds.
Stopped at the Loves RV in Winona TX tonight.
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