Just doing some pre trip maintance on our van, new wheel bearins and seals, new springs, check brakes, new tow hitch.
Well have just removed the old tow hitch and even though the bolts look ok they were rusted to about 70% of their size where the tow hitch and mounting plate meet. So from just a visual inspection they appeared to be in good condition. The other thing I noticed is they were mild steel bolts not high tensile as I would expect.
Maybe a good thing to have the bolts replaced if you have brought a second hand van or the van is over 5 years old, may save some heart ache down the track. I am a mechanic of 35 years experience and from a quick visual I wouldnt have given it a second thought.
cheers
blaze

Very good point Blaze.  Something everyone on here who is towing or intends to tow should take particular note of.

Thanks for the headsup

I dont have a mechanical bone in my body. However I do pay to have the van inspected usually once per year. (like me its an older model, looks ok but has issues). However you do have to wonder if seemingly insignificant things like this (which have a potential for disaster) are checked....

As I point out Peter if someone had ask me to inspect a van I wouldnt have given these bolts a second look, will from now on cheers blaze

Thanks Blaze, good suggestion, I've taken it on board and will mention it when my rig gets its annual "service" and rego roadworthy. Jim

I regularly check for rust and deterioration. If it looks crook it gets replaced. The more I look, the more aware I become. While I started out looking at the obvious things like the chassis and A frame, axles and spring mountings and hangers, I crawl around under there and see all sorts of things I would never have expected to see under the aluminium box with staples and pop rivets. I'm aware of what's under there and what condition it's in. I fix what I can, and get help with the big jobs like wheel bearings.

Saw a Bushtracker on the side of the road in North NSW with its hitch on the ground, separated from the tow vehicle. Lotsa people there so we didnt stop, no idea what happened, but it looked heartbreaking!

Blaze how old was your hitch this may give us a time frame to think about checking bolts

Brought my van second hand over 12 months ago. The van is 1983-4 ish but not the original hitch though. There was no evidence of rust or such likes so I was surprised on the condition when removed. Talking to a mate today and he tows a tamdon trailer every day with his mowers etc on it, he was telling me he replaces his hitches every 3 years on all his trailers. cheers blaze