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Old 09-17-2018, 04:41 PM   #1
FandHB
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Broken Auto Slide Hitch

Has anyone ever heard of the roller assembly bolt shearing on an auto slide hitch. Talking to some hitch repair shops and only one has ever seen this. We were towing our 3790 at 65 and hit a rough patch in the road. With no warning we slowed but it was more of a dip that we hit and we bounced over it shearing the roller bolt. Unfortunately sustained some damage to the hitch and pin box. Didn’t notice it immediately and the pin box looks like it may have been damaged by the heavy hauler not removing the auto slide plate adapter.

Pullrite is replacing the roller and I’m wondering how often this happens? I felt we were traveling at a safe speed and glad there is only minimal damage and no one got hurt.
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Old 09-17-2018, 04:49 PM   #2
Jamesb
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What model Pullrite do you have, and maybe what year you bought it? I’ll have to go look at mine. Good thing you let us know !!
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Old 09-17-2018, 04:59 PM   #3
FandHB
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See attached pic it’s the 2900. Still disturbed this could even happen. It’s rated well above our weight. We actually continued off the highway and drove several miles to our destination not knowing we had a problem. Thankfully we noticed it before we headed back out on the highway in the morning when the trailer slid on the hitch as we pulled away. I think the bolt and roller were caught up in the assembly and busted loose as we pulled out.

Hope this never happens to anyone, we can’t help but think about how much worse it could have been.
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Old 09-17-2018, 05:01 PM   #4
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And it’s only a year old.
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Old 09-17-2018, 08:17 PM   #5
rohrmann
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Our 2900 is almost six years old, and a couple years ago I discovered the roller bearing was extremely loose, and the nut kept coming loose. I contacted Pullrite and they sent me a new roller bearing, only had to pay postage. Prior to this, I kept having to adjust the tension so it wasn't slamming front to rear, and that is how I noticed the bearing wasn't right. Unfortunately, there is no way to grease the bearing, so they will fail eventually. When you do get the new roller bearing, the torque for the nut is 151 ft lbs. I also noticed from the photos, that it does not look like you have been lubing the square ways that the hitch moves on.
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Old 09-17-2018, 08:27 PM   #6
summer home
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can you post pictures of the broken bolt taken from the broken end.. Would like to see the cross section of the bolt...
I have spent the past 39 years in the fastener industry and perhaps can help address the cause/mode of failure....
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Old 09-17-2018, 09:02 PM   #7
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This is not common and is the first time I've heard of it. A Pullrite rep will be at the rally and available to check folks hitches. We'll definately ask about it.
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Old 09-18-2018, 09:02 AM   #8
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Pullrite is VERY good helping out. Also, your pin box doesn't look like you have the special plate on it required for the slider. At least mine is that way. It has a little V shaped plate/ridge the fits into the truck portion so when you turn it forces the slider to move back. I have towed over 100,000 miles with a pullrite and have had no problem wtih this roller coming off. My guess is it wasn't properly tighted from the factory and eventually fell off.
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Old 09-18-2018, 09:50 AM   #9
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That’s the part we had to take off to have it towed. It is a similar plate with a square of metal welded to it to do exactly as described. I think it was a combination of wear, lubricant and the force of the impact hitting that bump. Thankfully just time and money.
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Old 09-18-2018, 10:17 AM   #10
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Have never seen that before and I will say I think you were fortunate to have not been involved in an accident as a result. I had a smaller PR hitch and FW and never any problem like that. Have never seen a MR pin box take any damage, either.

Last year towing in NY state on some really lousy roads I was afraid something was going to break but I guess I was lucky. If you haven't already, I suggest you send photos and a good explanation to both MR and PR, not as a threat, but for their consideration of a possible design change. OTOH, this just may be a freak event, still......
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Old 09-26-2018, 02:29 PM   #11
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Is that is a weld that I see where they tried to seal weld the bolt to the nut.
If so it looks like it was only welded half way and the weld has porosity in it.
Bad weld and heat stress from the welding. Wrong material Should at least be carbon steel A193-B7 stud bolt with HH nut a194-2h.
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