Hitch came loose while towing - bent frame

tbyrne · June 5, 2003

I pull a 24' enclosed car hauler with my 2002 8.1 Suburban. One day I noticed the hitch was alot lower than I'm used to seeing so I took a look under there after I dropped the trailer. I found that some of the bolts that hold the hitch to the frame were backing off (1 was almost half way out). I tightened the bolts and found that the bumper was pointing at a different angle so I brought it by a dealer to take care of. They tried to get it lined up but couldn't so I forgot about it off for awhile. After talking to a few other dealers that didn't want to touch it I called GM's customer service number and they set me up with a dealer to look at it today. The dealer said that the frame is bent and it's not covered under warranty so I should call my insurance company. They could straighten it but it would be better to replace it.

We discussed the issue for awhile and I explained to him that if the bolts didn't start to back out of the hitch while I was towing we wouldn't be having a conversation about the frame being bent. He said that I probably exceeded the truck's tongue weight which I really doubt. The trailer only weights about 9000 lbs loaded and I've pulled this with various 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks throughout the years with no problems. I'm courious to see what the tougue weight is so I'll check that this week. I should also be getting a call from GM tomorrow to get a case going to get this taken care of.

Has anyone else ever had this problem?

2002 8.1 Silverado HD - Comp Cam, TOGs headers, Volant induction, Direct Hits ignition, 6" lift

2002 8.1 Suburban -Intercooled Whipple supercharger, TOGs headers, Volant induction plus much more - 14.54 @ 92.43

Thanks,

Tom

Shaners · June 5, 2003

I better get under the truck and check mine then....

99silveradoz71 · June 5, 2003

Nice HD there, I didn't know you had that as well Tom.

JimWilson · June 5, 2003

Is it the factory hitch? If so, I can't see how they can possibly deny a warranty claim -- all the parts came from GM. BTW; in order to deny warranty they have to prove it was from your abuse, not the other way around.

But either way that sux, because a bent frame is no easy fix. Wonder if the truck is made from aluminum foil. Like a rock my @ss...

tbyrne · June 5, 2003

Shaners: I checked my other truck after this happened.

99silveradoz71: Thanks! It's getting a few upgrades now (PIAA airdam with 40 series driving lights, 18" American Eagle 102 wheels with 325/60/18 Nitto Terre Grapplers, ProComp skid plate, decals and pin stripes are coming off, polished driveshaft, leather seat covers to replace the factory cloth, ported throttlebody and Flex-a-lte fans). I'll post some details on installing the fans in an HD truck next week.

Jim: I was thinking the same thing and asked the service mgr to tell me how and why the frame got bent. He said that he wasn't there so he couldn't really say how but it looks like something must have happened to give it a sharp jolt and bend the frame. Probably a combination of the hitch coming loose and then hitting a hard bump or dip that stressed the frame. There isn't a light on the dash that shows when the hitch is falling off so the only way I would know something is going on back there while driving would be if I saw the trailer going in a different direction that I was. Someone from Chevrolet will be calling me today. Everyone there has been very good to deal with. It's just the dealer that hasn't been to helpful.

Tom

Professor · June 5, 2003

"It's just the dealer that hasn't been to helpful"

Tom

Is this the same dealer you have bought 2 2002 Chevrolets from?

I'd say the General Manager needs to talk to the Service Manager. Sounds like a judgment call to me. The service manager should at least be willing to go to bat for you.

Most of the problems I have heard about with the hitches is the hitch itself coming apart. Loose bolts are a factory assembly problem unless it was left loose by someone else (while installing the lift kit?) It should only be bent from the real axel back. I would not be afraid of straightening the frame at that location.

Go weigh your truck with and without the trailer at a truck stop. The axel weights will reveal the actual tongue weight.

Dihappy · June 5, 2003

Tom,

Check your owners manual. Im not sure about your truck, but 1500's recommend using a weight-distributing hitch when towing over 5000lbs. 1/2 ton tongue weight limits are 500lbs, and about 10% more(not sure) with a weight distributing hitch.

Your sub should be rated at 12,000lbs towing with the 8.1 but i dont know if there are any restrictions or guidlines on how to tow.

Hutch · June 6, 2003

Professor,

The welds around the hitch receiver have broken on my '02 2500HD. These are clean breaks, like the welding job was not performed correctly. Luckily everything else is in tact and nothing is bent.

I pull a 5,000 pound camping trailer with weight distribution and that's it! I went by the dealer yesterday and they said they've never seen this but they would replace the hitch under warranty next week.

So how many people are having a problem with this?

Hutch

Professor · June 6, 2003

Hutch,

I have only seen one myself, but have heard of a few on thedieselpage. The one I saw had been pulling a 7500lb trailer. Like yours the welds broke loose due to a lack of penetration. Luckily he noticed it before total failure.

A friend in the accessory business has replaced a couple on some early HDs. Who knows if they had been overloaded.

I don’t see my truck ever having more than 7k on the end of it so I haven’t been overly concerned. I do take a close look at the welds after I unhook. If I was pulling near max capacity, I’d look into a different one. Maybe a Reese Titan IV or V

JimWilson · June 6, 2003

99silveradoz71: Thanks! It's getting a few upgrades now (PIAA airdam with 40 series driving lights, 18" American Eagle 102 wheels with 325/60/18 Nitto Terre Grapplers,

Tom;

I'd think twice about the 40 series PIAA's. I have the 40 round clear fog and I think they have a terrible light pattern -- very bright spot directly in front of the truck, and then some light to the sides, but not much else. And that's with Extreme White bulbs too. The 40's are PIAA's bottom of the line stuff, so you might want to look for something a bit better.

BTW; the service manager can give sarcastic remarks all he wants ("I wasn't there so I don't know how it happened") but in a court of law -- if it ever got that far -- those type of statements would be scoffed at, and they'd lose. I don't know what you got back from GM but anything they say that you did they have to be able to prove in order to get away with that nonsense.

But as far as the Nitto's go... excellent choice!

tbyrne · June 6, 2003

I spoke with a rep from GM today and they aren't going to cover it. They said that there are two ways that the frame could have been bent -

1 - the vehicle was hit

and

2 - the tongue weight was to high

I know #1 didn't happen and I really doubt the tongue weight was exceeded. This trailer really isn't that heavy so I'm going to goto the local scale on Monday and find out what the tongue weight is.

I usually never have any warranty work done but the one time I do it ends up being a problem that turns into a battle.

After thinking about this for awhile I don't think I will want the frame replaced. To many parts to come off and then hope it all goes back together with no squeeks or rattles. Either way I'll probably have it straightened and reinforced. I like the truck to much to get rid of it so that isn't an option.

Jim: I'm not to worry about the light from the 40 series. I run Stage I HIDs on the low beams so they light up the road and end up blinding some people because the truck sits pretty high. I was going to convert the PIAAs over to HID but that would be way to bright for other people on the road.

k1500chevy97 · June 6, 2003

Now im glad that the punks who stole my whole reciever last year took it instead of just loosening a few bolts and leaving it on

BDBWTE · June 6, 2003

Man thats so much bulls**t that it's pissing me off. They have, as in they don't have a f@King choice honor the warranty.. You must be a pretty layed back person I would have told that stupid motherf@ker off and possibly gone to jail in the process unfortunately I've inherited my dad's temper and lack thereof. Yep they wouldn't have a choice I would of blow the f@*king motor up in the parking lot thrown the keys at the stupid MF and told him to wait for my payment in one hand and s**t in the other and see which one fills up first. I've not had this problem because I took my receiver off to build a stronger one for my Dad's dmax and when I put the hitch one I put in on with 8 Case 316 Stainless bolts I'm not going to d!ck with rusted bolts.. Yep I would jump down Chevy's throat with both feet on this one.

tbyrne · June 7, 2003

I was probably on the phone with the GM guy for about 30 minutes and we both ended up repeating ourselves alot. I asked what happened to the slogan "like a rock" and told him that I should have to go over to a Ford or Dodge truck to only pull 9000lb. I'm going to play ball with them though. Monday morning I will connect the trailer to the truck with the bent frame and tow it down to the local scale to get the exact tongue weight. I am 99.9% sure that it won't be over the limit. After that I will be taking a trip to the dealer with the slip in hand and see if he has any other reasons that he wants to give me.

It's just a matter of principle now. After I prove that the truck has been pulling what it should be I'll probably end up telling them that I don't want GM to fix it. If I have to be the one to shoot down both of their reasons for the frame bending I'll feel better going somewhere that will be able to fix it right.

I also think GM sends out a customer survey...

JimWilson · June 7, 2003

You have to handle it the way you're most comfortable with, but if it were me... I'd get that weight station slip, call GM and ask them how they're going to prove -- in court -- that I was negligent. If they can't I'd be in a lawyers office in a heartbeat. That's total bullsh#t.