Concerning Surprise Find 00 K3500 drw
 

Evening Everyone, Happy 4th!!

Putting 2017 Denali Dually wheels on my 00 k3500, so I decided since the truck just turned 110,000k I would replace upper and lower bail joints, all bushings, and shocks.

While under rear of truck while replacing the rear shocks I came across a 3/8 inch crack on the TOW RECEIVER!!! WTF!! Never expected to see one, let alone two, each one at the same spot, one right side, other left side.

I'm still shocked, how the hell did that happen. I just towed 16k 70 miles each way in the foothills. WOW!

Anybody ever experienced this type of failure on factory trucks?

Thanks for your help and inspect your equipment!!! Nick

Re: Concerning Surprise Find 00 K3500 drw
 

Couple pics!!

Re: Concerning Surprise Find 00 K3500 drw
 

#2

Re: Concerning Surprise Find 00 K3500 drw
 

If that is a gmt400 truck(88-98 style), the hitch is only rated for 10,000 pounds. That could contribute to the cracked hitch. The frame is supposed to be flat at the rear. The pics make it look bent.

It looks like overloading to me.

Quality hitches are cheap. I personally like curt manufacturing. But the frame will need straightened first.

Re: Concerning Surprise Find 00 K3500 drw
 

16,000 pounds!? You mean combined weight? (truck & trailer)

If you mean just the trailer and load, you need a goose neck. But that's none of my business.

Meanwhile, I'd have a welder weld up that existing hitch. A good welder can make that puppy bulletproof.

Ray

Re: Concerning Surprise Find 00 K3500 drw
 

Key word there is "good" welder.

I'd just go buy a new hitch and not even mess with it.

Gary

Re: Concerning Surprise Find 00 K3500 drw
 

That's not a crack, that is a break. That is a part failure.
Get a new hitch with better load capacity, and check everything else in your setup.
Consider the tongue load and the terrain you tow over.
Best guess from here is maxed tongue load and bumpy roads/offroad use.

Re: Concerning Surprise Find 00 K3500 drw
 

It was definitely over loaded.

The frame will need straightened before putting a new hitch on.

Some pics the op posted:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=923

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=924


I don't want you take this the wrong way, but towing that much weight is very unsafe. It's on thing if you are towing off road or down a farm lane, but you have to remember that you aren't the only thing on the road. Other drivers are at risk if something happens to your overloaded truck.


These trucks are rated at 10,000 for the rear hitch receiver, and 12,500 for a fifth wheel. You need a bigger truck(medium duty) with a fifth wheel hitch if you arte going to continue towing that much.

Re: Concerning Surprise Find 00 K3500 drw
 

Isn't the bolt pattern diffirent on 2007 up trucks? Not buy much they fit but the lugs don't center properly.

Re: Concerning Surprise Find 00 K3500 drw
 

We are in the 99-06 section. The truck in question is a 99( but it's the 88-98 style truck)

Re: Concerning Surprise Find 00 K3500 drw
 

I think I understand your post now. Your talking about wheels, not about the hitch?

The lug pattern changed in 2011 for 8 lug trucks. Adapters are needed.