 |
|
08-15-2018, 12:03 AM
|
#1
|
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Illinois
Posts: 55
THOR #5321
|
Towing Hitch Broke off!!!
I have a Thor Challenger 2015 with 20,000 miles and probably 15,000 of it towing my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. Saturday driving through Montana towing the Malibu the trailer hitch receiver that was attached to the Motorhome broke off. The bolts were still attached the metal about one inch from them just sheared off. Nothing else was damaged.
Anyone else ever hear of this? I never have. If and when I get a new one I’ll sure check it periodically for stress marks. Stuck in Montana till Thor send out a new one.
__________________
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 12:40 AM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Aria 3901
State: Idaho
Posts: 696
THOR #9660
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Double R
I have a Thor Challenger 2015 with 20,000 miles and probably 15,000 of it towing my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. Saturday driving through Montana towing the Malibu the trailer hitch receiver that was attached to the Motorhome broke off. The bolts were still attached the metal about one inch from them just sheared off. Nothing else was damaged.
Anyone else ever hear of this? I never have. If and when I get a new one I’ll sure check it periodically for stress marks. Stuck in Montana till Thor send out a new one.
|
Check this thread out-
http://www.thorforums.com/forums/f4/...itch-4031.html
Mike
__________________
Vicki and Mike, Aria 3901- The Wined Up Bus, towing 16 Jeep JKUR. 
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 12:40 AM
|
#3
|
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 23U
State: California
Posts: 51
THOR #9748
|
Sound like the bolts were over tightened.
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 06:25 AM
|
#4
|
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2018 Challenger 37 YT
State: Kentucky
Posts: 98
THOR #8995
|
Hitch Failures
Please checkout my post at the above link on hitch failures.
__________________
Enjoy the winding road ahead and forget sweating the small stuff. That road is already too short and will end way to soon......
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 11:51 AM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1
State: Florida
Posts: 613
THOR #4366
|
Have you thought about up grading the hitch to a 10k# maybe from u-haul rather then another 8k# from Thor that may fail?
__________________
2016 Axis 24.1 E-450 6 spd tranny
300 watts portable solar.
200 watts solar on the roof.
Wrangler JK dinghy
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 12:04 PM
|
#6
|
|
I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
|
I agree: look at this as a chance to upgrade to a more substantial (and safer!) chunk of hardware. 
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 12:08 PM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
|
You mention bolts...are some of these bolted to the frame? Mine is welded between the original truck frame ends. Don't see any bolts anywhere.
__________________
Now an SOB
Traded Thor for Melbourne Prestige 24NP
2018 THOR Chateau 35SF
Two Labs, Bugsie & Blondie
Blondie passed in 2020 at 5 to Leukemia
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 12:15 PM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Georgia
Posts: 2,585
THOR #4735
|
are you saying that the WHOLE HITCH structure broke off from under the coach Chassis?
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 02:33 PM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Quantum RS26
State: Indiana
Posts: 288
THOR #10823
|
Pictures of the hitch would be helpful in understanding the failure mode.
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 02:53 PM
|
#10
|
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Illinois
Posts: 55
THOR #5321
|
 Attachment 1Attachment 1
Attached is a photo of it. Left side sheared off bolts still attached to frame. Right side stayed attached and bent down a gouged into road.I would love to up grade but I’m stuck in a small town in Montana 2000 miles from home. I’ll take what I can get to get out of here
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 02:57 PM
|
#11
|
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Illinois
Posts: 55
THOR #5321
|
Not good with pictures I’ll try again  Attachment 1
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 03:15 PM
|
#12
|
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
|
It looks like the area where the fabricator "bent" the mounting plate (with the holes) just ripped along the bend. Lots of rust in that joint as if this has been a slow process of failure. There was another post here just a few days ago where the failure was in this same area. This is a serious failure and something Thor needs to get involved with...possibly a recall.
__________________
Now an SOB
Traded Thor for Melbourne Prestige 24NP
2018 THOR Chateau 35SF
Two Labs, Bugsie & Blondie
Blondie passed in 2020 at 5 to Leukemia
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 04:03 PM
|
#13
|
|
I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
|
I wouldn't think that a three year-old hitch should ever fail like that....
Unless you're pulling something that is simply WAY beyond it's maximum capacities. 
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 04:24 PM
|
#14
|
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Quantum RS26
State: Indiana
Posts: 288
THOR #10823
|
That is pretty concerning that both failures happened at a bend. Seems at first glance to be a design fault, too sharp of bend/thin material or needs gussets.
I usually don't jump on the recall bandwagon, but if these were both 8000lb rated hitches and weren't overloaded/abused, I think Thor should get involved pretty quick. Before somebody launches a 3000 pound unguided missile at highway speed!
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 05:59 PM
|
#15
|
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2015 ACE 29.3
State: Pennsylvania
Posts: 243
THOR #4359
|
These hitches to me should be made so that they bolt both on the bottom and side of the chassis rails.
This would solve the shearing of both the hitch and the chassis frame at the bends
__________________
Tom and Jen
2015 ACE 29.3
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 06:11 PM
|
#16
|
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
|
A normal bend has an arc...this looks like a "cutting machine" did this and was set to not go all the way through the metal but weaken it up enough to allow for the bend. Something is seriously wrong here. A good hitch will still be there when the vehicle has rusted apart. I would get Thor involved immediately.
__________________
Now an SOB
Traded Thor for Melbourne Prestige 24NP
2018 THOR Chateau 35SF
Two Labs, Bugsie & Blondie
Blondie passed in 2020 at 5 to Leukemia
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 06:48 PM
|
#17
|
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Quantum RS26
State: Indiana
Posts: 288
THOR #10823
|
My thought too. That "bend" is so sharp it created a stress riser and failed at that point. Don't know who the supplier is on that hitch but Thor needs to be on them right now. Next question, how many of Thor's brands use that hitch?
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 07:06 PM
|
#18
|
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Georgia
Posts: 2,585
THOR #4735
|
I would also think that the chassis manufacturer attaches the hitches at their factory, not Thor, itself.
__________________
the Turners...
two Campers, two Electric cars
former diesel pusher traveler
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 09:24 PM
|
#19
|
|
I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
|
Whoever did it: they should have some explaining to do... 
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 10:03 PM
|
#20
|
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2018 Challenger 37 YT
State: Kentucky
Posts: 98
THOR #8995
|
Hitch failure
__________________
Enjoy the winding road ahead and forget sweating the small stuff. That road is already too short and will end way to soon......
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
