have had to replace the WDH due to bent bar and excessive wear. Most common reason for the this is not removing bars when backing up and/or chains not hanging vertical but on slight angle.
I am guilty of both so have paid the price. Could not get the chains hanging absolutely vertical as the cross member/brace on the drawbar was 1/2 an inch to far back toward the van body. So the chain receivers were not directly in-line with the chain attachments on the bars.
Tow bar specialist said the chain receiver could be cut/grinded to fit and tack welded to the drawbar as well as using the usual attaching bolt.
Fortunately the new hitch has longer bars which solved the problem without any modifications.
PeterD said
03:17 PM Dec 10, 2013
There was a query on another forum regarding chains not hanging after he changed his hitch. There was a good article there giving a good answer - read this
blaze said
03:37 PM Dec 10, 2013
metal to metal is always going to wear. The small amount of reversing as aposed to the large amount of forward movement tells me that its the forward movement that wears them out and in the scheme of things if they are 1/2 an inch off verticle I cant see that making a difference. My way of thinging is that its normal wear and tear and the reasons given are a myth to void any claims against manufacturing. My thoughts only.
cheers
blaze
Bunkerbob said
04:40 PM Dec 10, 2013
Tend to agree blaze. My WDH is worn at the big end and it appears that the area to fit it is about 12mm to wide and does not accommodate the end well. This WDH is over 5 years old so not to bad but we do use a small amount of grease, cleaned and replaced probably very 2nd or 3rd hook up so the wear is metal compression rather than metal wear.
have had to replace the WDH due to bent bar and excessive wear. Most common reason for the this is not removing bars when backing up and/or chains not hanging vertical but on slight angle.
I am guilty of both so have paid the price. Could not get the chains hanging absolutely vertical as the cross member/brace on the drawbar was 1/2 an inch to far back toward the van body. So the chain receivers were not directly in-line with the chain attachments on the bars.
Tow bar specialist said the chain receiver could be cut/grinded to fit and tack welded to the drawbar as well as using the usual attaching bolt.
Fortunately the new hitch has longer bars which solved the problem without any modifications.
There was a query on another forum regarding chains not hanging after he changed his hitch. There was a good article there giving a good answer - read this
cheers
blaze