Thor receiver hitch quality

[macdaddy1111]

Before and after hitch receiver replacement!

Up weight from 8k to 12 lk

Check your Chinese parts!

 

[Lt Keefer]

What were you hauling on the factory hitch? Also, a 12" stinger reduces the capacity of the hitch by 25% and one over 12" by 50%.

 

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

Looks longer than 12" to me. But can't really tell for sure because of perspective.

 

[EA37TS]

Who was the hitch manufacturer?

 

[macdaddy1111]

Who was the hitch manufacturer?

"CHINA" Crap

It had no label or numbers on it.

 

[macdaddy1111]

What were you hauling on the factory hitch? Also, a 12" stinger reduces the capacity of the hitch by 25% and one over 12" by 50%.

2015 Cadillac suv. Well below weight. Also have installed roadmaster breaking system.

The original hitch was high so needed step down.

Major difference with new Kurt tow receiver than what was on there.

 

[macdaddy1111]

Looks longer than 12" to me. But can't really tell for sure because of perspective.

Using blue ox hitch

 

[EA37TS]

"CHINA" Crap

It had no label or numbers on it.

For a long time the hitches used by Thor were built by US LCI workers in Elkhart, Ind. That is what was installed on my Challenger.

No label, you don’t have a clue where it was manufactured.

 

[Grumpy Grampa]

Anti Radle

Good morning. One question I don’t see in the picture, the anti-rattle, are you using one?

 

[ducksface]

That's some home built, field welded, wherez that old sign post, it'll gitter rhat, potato harvester weren't runnin' but now it iz, crap design.

I'll check mine(though I'll never use it)
My front hitch is waaaayyyy beefed up...because I could.
I'll do the same to my rear hitch.

 

[macdaddy1111]

Good morning. One question I don’t see in the picture, the anti-rattle, are you using one?

Those 2?

 

[macdaddy1111]

For a long time the hitches used by Thor were built by US LCI workers in Elkhart, Ind. That is what was installed on my Challenger.

No label, you don’t have a clue where it was manufactured.

Nothing on it except weight capacity. Really crappy steel. Will dump it on my grouper hole when season opens!

 

[macdaddy1111]

That's some home built, field welded, wherez that old sign post, it'll gitter rhat, potato harvester weren't runnin' but now it iz, crap design.

I'll check mine(though I'll never use it)
My front hitch is waaaayyyy beefed up...because I could.
I'll do the same to my rear hitch.

I can pull a tank now!

 

[Beau388]

For a long time the hitches used by Thor were built by US LCI workers in Elkhart, Ind. That is what was installed on my Challenger.

No label, you don’t have a clue where it was manufactured.

As of 2019 Thor MC plant 750 visit, Morryde installs the LCI supplied receiver hitch on the Ford F-53 stripped chassis. LCI builds the hitches to Thor MC specifications in their Elkhart factory.

 

[Lt Keefer]

Thanks for the better picture. With that drop down extension, your 8,000# hitch was really a 4,000# hitch. So towing a caddy was putting you right at the weight limit of the hitch. It's not the fault of the manufacturer that it failed, it was over loaded.

A hitch inspection should be part of everyone's pre-trip inspection routine. It only takes a minute to check the bolts and side plates for defects.

 

[macdaddy1111]

Thanks for the better picture. With that drop down extension, your 8,000# hitch was really a 4,000# hitch. So towing a caddy was putting you right at the weight limit of the hitch. It's not the fault of the manufacturer that it failed, it was over loaded.

A hitch inspection should be part of everyone's pre-trip inspection routine. It only takes a minute to check the bolts and side plates for defects.

Ha

Thor shop got a kick out of your comment blaming me!

 

[Lt Keefer]

I didn't blame you, physics did.

 

[MCP-THOR]

Thanks for the better picture. With that drop down extension, your 8,000# hitch was really a 4,000# hitch. So towing a caddy was putting you right at the weight limit of the hitch. It's not the fault of the manufacturer that it failed, it was over loaded.

A hitch inspection should be part of everyone's pre-trip inspection routine. It only takes a minute to check the bolts and side plates for defects.

I'm confused (not unusual) or at least not well informed. Why would a 12" extension affect the towing capacity? I can certainly understand the effect on tongue weight limits due to the 12" (or more) lever arm pushing down. However, why would the horizontal pulling strength be adversely affected? The tongue weight for a tow bar for flat towing is basically the weight of the tow bar, or more accurately half the tow bar weight (half by the tower and half by the towed).

I'm always up for a little education. That's one of the reasons I read many of these threads, whether they relate to my own situation or not.

Thanks
Mike

 

[16ACE27]

I'm confused (not unusual) or at least not well informed. Why would a 12" extension affect the towing capacity? I can certainly understand the effect on tongue weight limits due to the 12" (or more) lever arm pushing down. However, why would the horizontal pulling strength be adversely affected? The tongue weight for a tow bar for flat towing is basically the weight of the tow bar, or more accurately half the tow bar weight (half by the tower and half by the towed).

I'm always up for a little education. That's one of the reasons I read many of these threads, whether they relate to my own situation or not.

Thanks
Mike

It's not the straight line pulling or pushing that is affected by a long stinger or drop/rise hitch, it's the increase in lateral forces on the hitch in turns and bumps/dips. A rise/drop hitch moves the center of force off-center from the receiver which translates into increased off-center forces on the hitch structure. The same goes for a long stinger - it is a lever on the hitch structure.

The easiest way to see how these forces are applied is to grossly imagine the drop/rise or stinger length to be 6 or 10 feet instead of a foot or two.

 

[MCP-THOR]

It's not the straight line pulling or pushing that is affected by a long stinger or drop/rise hitch, it's the increase in lateral forces on the hitch in turns and bumps/dips. A rise/drop hitch moves the center of force off-center from the receiver which translates into increased off-center forces on the hitch structure. The same goes for a long stinger - it is a lever on the hitch structure.

The easiest way to see how these forces are applied is to grossly imagine the drop/rise or stinger length to be 6 or 10 feet instead of a foot or two.

Thanks. Makes sense. I’m going to skip the math and physics needed to determine the reductions needed! It would be easier to go to harbor freight, get a welder, and beef everything up.