ouch!!!! I just installed a Putnam classV 16K hitch on my truck. This scares me. I'll check mine to see if it the new style ( I bought it new on e-bay). Maybe I'll put the stock Ford class III back on... Just kidding. Mike

Man Tank you are one lucky SOB. Looks like your frame is bent also at the mounting points. May want to take a look at that. With flexing metal like that it will rust prematurely so that could be old or new damage. Next time buy a Ford and you will not have to deal with suck silly under rated crap Oh ya I bet the hitch says MADE IN CHINA on it

Wow. Lucky you caught that in time.
Looks like a classic fatigue failure from stress corrosion cracking.

This summer I was towing our ski boat with a 3/4 ton gmc and hit a bump and then heard the dreaded dragging sound. Completely sheared one side and held by about 1" of metal on the other. Luckily I was on a side road traveling about 15 mph and I was only towing 3500# and not 7000#.

When you go to the Putnam Hitch; make sure you use the square backer plates that come with the hitch. Only problem is the Putnam hitch ships with Grade-5 bolts. You want to upgrade them to Grade-8.

I was turning a corner towing an 863 Bobcat and planer when my 10k lb solid shank ball mount snapped clean off right across the bend just foreward of the ball. I think my azz sucked up half the leather on the seat when it happened.

What after market hitch do you guys think works best for a 3500 dually? Mine is an 07 with the tube steel.

(new) Putnam XDR

or

Reese Titan - V

Anything over 10K# is too much for a ball mount and a bolt-on frame hitch. I've seen way too many of them break or come off in one way or another. When I pulled with a pickup, I had the hitch made to my specs. It was 1/2" plate, continuously-welded to the side of the frame. I have never, nor would I tow with a ball over 10K. Pintles may clunk but I've never seen a broken one.

I'm curious.. if thats a class 5 hitch, how are there only 3 mounting bolts per side?

All of the class v hitches I have seen have had 5, sometimes 4 per side, and look a hell of a lot beefier than that.

Good thing you caught it in time!

EDIT: I took another look at the pictures, I do see the 5 bolts.