Would you use an aluminum ball mount?
02-22-2007, 04:48 PM
#32
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Clearly that drop hitch is a bad design from an engineering viewpoint, regardless the material.
02-22-2007, 05:09 PM
#34
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wobbel . i weld alum every day asme code cert and i doun't want in for high stress or weight carrying that's stuped to put it there . alum no matter what grad or alloy will not hold what steel will .i promise you that.
02-23-2007, 07:15 AM
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I've run the Rapid Hitch adjustable(5 3/4) for about 3yrs now and towed every thing from a 34 P/Q Vyper to a 27 pc Formula to a 6x10 motorcycle trailer and have seen no problems/issues yet,,,looking at the engineering of a trailer coupler I'd think the coupler would fail before a billet aluminum ball mount would fail..
Just my personal opinion.
Just my personal opinion.
02-23-2007, 08:42 AM
#38
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The Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission (VESC) "V-5" Standard may be found here: http://vesc.org/vescregs.html
Additionally, you can look at the FCR for more information on hitch and coupler design requirements:
[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4, Parts 200 to 399]
[Revised as of October 1, 1997]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR393]
[Page 805-813]
TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PART 393--PARTS AND ACCESSORIES NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION--Table of Contents
Subpart F--Coupling Devices and Towing Methods
Sec. 393.70 Coupling devices and towing methods
The V-5 standard requires all hitches and couplers to be able to withstand a longitudinal load which is equal to the MTW X 3.0. (That's 30,000 # for a coupler rated for 10,000)
I say NO WAY!
After reading more about this, and examining those drop hitch designs, it gets even more scary.
BTW, beware of Ratings. They don't mean much. There was a bridge here in Clearwater that collapsed about 2 years ago that was rated, certified and approved....
Additionally, you can look at the FCR for more information on hitch and coupler design requirements:
[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4, Parts 200 to 399]
[Revised as of October 1, 1997]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR393]
[Page 805-813]
TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PART 393--PARTS AND ACCESSORIES NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION--Table of Contents
Subpart F--Coupling Devices and Towing Methods
Sec. 393.70 Coupling devices and towing methods
The V-5 standard requires all hitches and couplers to be able to withstand a longitudinal load which is equal to the MTW X 3.0. (That's 30,000 # for a coupler rated for 10,000)
I say NO WAY!
After reading more about this, and examining those drop hitch designs, it gets even more scary.
BTW, beware of Ratings. They don't mean much. There was a bridge here in Clearwater that collapsed about 2 years ago that was rated, certified and approved....
02-23-2007, 09:05 AM
#39
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The highest strength aluminum, 7075, (which that hitch isn't because of it's apparent fabrication method) possesses about 1/2 the strength of common alloys like 4130/4340.
Besuides all that, I wouldn't consider a ball hitch for anything over 10K#. Pintle is the only option for me. I don't need engineering data on that one- I can figure that one out the easy way- by looking at what every commercial application uses.
Besuides all that, I wouldn't consider a ball hitch for anything over 10K#. Pintle is the only option for me. I don't need engineering data on that one- I can figure that one out the easy way- by looking at what every commercial application uses.
02-23-2007, 09:52 AM
#40
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Speaking of pintle, do they make a hydraulic brake coupler with a pintle ring? That could replace the coupler common on most aluminum trailers? Just curious...
