This may not be the proper spot but just needed to chat.  First of all, let me say, they we picked up our 5er last Friday and towed the 115 miles to a park near our home to set it up.  All went great.  It towed beautifully and no strain on the truck.  We love it and can't wait to move in.  We put it in a park so we could play with in and learn how everything works and even spend a few nights in it while waiting on a contract for the S&B.  When our months rent runs out I guess we'll put it in storage.  That's going to be tough.

Now, today, my DH calls me at work and says "the hitch is cracked".  It is the same hitch that the first & former owner had and was installed by the dealer where we bought the unit - former owner had traded for a motor home.  It is a two year old Huskey Air Box and the head is cracked.  It seems as though we can't win.  Everything was going so good and we were "up" again and now this.  Does anyone know if they can be rewelded.  Or, do we have to buy a new head? Or has anyone ever heard of the heads cracking?

That's enough crying for now.  We just want to move in and hit the road with everything working properly when we leave.

Judy

I have found thats just part of RVing lifestyle.   Things will happen and you just have to grin and deal with it.   My hair use to be dark,  now its gray.   GBY....

Where is it cracked ?

I'm assuming by the head of the hitch you mean the part the trailers rests on, the big flat rounded piece with the slot for the kingpin to slide in.

My old RBW hitch the hole where the bolt slides through to hold that part on to the body of the hitch cracked. I had it welded and it cracked again. So far I've towed probably 5000 miles with it cracked and no problems other than a little wear on the bar that slides across to lock the kingpin in place.

I'm sure whatever is cracked can be welded and beefed up to prevent future cracks.

It actually maybe cheaper just to replace it. The welding shops around here have gotten very expensive.


-- Edited by The Bear II on Monday 24th of May 2010 04:10:54 PM

It definitely can be welded, and you should check on the cost before just replacing it. You might also try to go back to the dealer that sold it to you and see if they'll repair it free. Good luck, Fred

As a welder for many years, I can tell you that if you get a decent shop to do the work, the repair should be stronger than the original.

Hope that helps :) Hope you have a smooth ride from here out too!

Do not get discouraged. Here is our litany of STILL attempting to live our dreams. Not there yet! Was to retire and leave on 2/1/09. We had personal problems between us and it looked for a while we would not survive them. Did not retire and worked on US. Take off date set for 10/1/09. In Sept hubby toldit looked like skin cancer on scalp. AFTER pulling back retirement dates again, another biospy showed no cancer. ThankGod. Okay - take of date was to be 1/11/10. On 1/5 I was hospitalzed with cat scratch fever for 5 days. New date to take off set for 1/31. Snow storm 1/30. FINALLY left on 2/1/10. Spent one week on road. Called by hubby's family we were needed to help take care of his mother. Spent 4 weeks caring for his mother. Left for what was to be a 3 week project with NOMADS. On 2nd week, called back to Lousiana. Was told mother would not make it through the night and to come right homw. We got there 4 hours later, she was sitting up talking and watching tv (She is still alive). Spent next three weeks at his mothers then took off to Texas hill country. 10 days later, called back to Louisiana as she needs two people with her at all times. Others have outside jobs, we got the job of tending to her. Stayed one month. Had to leave as Len has a herniated disc and the constant lifting and moving her is taking its toll. He now sees his chiroprator twice a week for relief. We eft Lousiana two weeks ago today to go to SD to get drivers license. Five hours ion the road and we tangled with a diesel pump barrier and lost. Pulled back wall from side of our rig. Local shop sealed it up to travel back to NJ where we bought it and where we were heaed after SD. We took it to shop this Monday, picked up yesterday to live in until parts arrive. Then back to shop while fixed. We are HOPING to be on road by August 1. However, looks like on the road means going back to Lousiana to provide care to my mother-in-law. Someday, someday, someday. IF we can get through this, we can get through anything. So, don't get discouraged. We feel like everytime we turn around we are getting smacked in the head. We need to look at the big picture and hope our day will come. BTW, we are having problems with our fifthwheel hitch too and just might have to but a new one prior to taking off again.

Unfortunately I think it is part of this lifestyle....things will break. I would try to weld the hitch before writing it off. We own a motorhome so are not that experience with hitches but it seems like it just might be something you could get fixed. Good luck!!!

I'm sorry for everyone's problems. We still need to sell house. As for our hitch, we did take the advise of having it welded. DH took it off and after consideration took it to an ornamental iron shop (they even make steps) that a church friend of ours husband created, now deceased but son runs and our friend still works for him occassionally. Well, the Lord was with us, our friend was on site when DH got there. They did a very nice weld and then would not charge him. So DH left some money for their coffee fund. DH says they its a beautiful job and should hold. We did hook it up yesterday and pulled to the dump station and then back to campsite - held beautifully. So glad we didn't replace it immediately. Judy & Bob