round tube hitch on GMC caution

[Montana_1953]

Am getting ready to pick up my 2003 335/RLBS with Hensley hitch.
After reading some items about big trailers with hensley hitch puting a twisting motion on the stock reciever on the round tube GM hitch at the trailerlife.com forum at
http://www.trailerlife.com/cforum/in...id/7350273.cfm
look at the pictures around page five to seven on this thread.
I decided to replace my factory hitch with a Reese class V that has 2 1/2 inch instead of two inch reciever.
Note the square tube gm hitch if fine.
I believe the round tube GM hitch if fine with a normal trialer
but apperantly the combination of the round tube hitch and the extra forces generated by the hensly keeping the trailer from swaying can "under certian conditions" cause hitch failure.

Just a heads up for anyone else towing a big trialer with the GMC round tube hitch.

[Bill Hill]

Wingdavid,
This is interesting. Before we got our Montana last December we towed a Wanderer 256RK (about 30' overall) with 2 different Chevy trucks using the Hensley hitch. Both trucks had the factory installed frame hitch. We never had a problem with the set-up, and in fact were very impressed with the Hensley hitch. However, the GVWR on the Wanderer was only 7000lbs, and I was usually towing at about 6300lbs, not as heavy as I suspect your rig is. Did you have to get a special drawbar from Hensley to accomodate the 2.5" receiver?

[Montana_1953]

I agree with your reply and even at rated capacity 99% will not have an issue. But for me, just knowing that even if a part of 1% had a issue was enough knowledge to say that I was willing to spend $300 on insurance if you will to get with a stronger hitch. New trailer is 8400 dry and I am planning on keeping it under 10,000 fully loaded so I would still have a good safety margin even with the factory hitch.
as for the size issue, etrailer had a Reese 2.5 to 2.0 adapter sleeve. so I can use my 2.0 size Hensley tow bar

[Bill Hill]

Wingdavid,
I'm certainly with you on going the extra with the stronger hitch. For a small investment you can have a lot of peace of mind. Good Luck and Happy Trailering!