Is our hitch/sway bars risky?

[Grumpaw]

Not saying don't use grade 8...nothing wrong with going to a higher rating, and of course, always replace with the same or better than original....never "less".
And, you are correct...I should have said if using the old hitch, to check what hardware was there, and to replace with equivalent or better.
The 2 bolt/nuts holding the head to the shank do look questionable, and, maybe due to camera angle, but look mis-matched.

Sponsored

 

[dtech]

sometimes grade 5 are purposely chosen as they have more flex - this comes from memory from over 40 yrs back . I have an E2 hitch and as someone mentioned if you follow their installation instructions - and they are good - it can be diy .

 

[dtech]

Oft times the quality of the bolt matters most, when I moved to PA I brought an 8 yr old Saab which became my wife's car and I bought a 1991 Taurus SHO, both were driven daily, after 4 yrs got outta PA back to CO, when doing work on the Taurus bolts would just snap off whilst on the Saab they kept their integrity. Still can't believe the poor quality of that SHO - excepting of course the yamaha engine.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

sometimes grade 5 are purposely chosen as they have more flex - this comes from memory from over 40 yrs back . I have an E2 hitch and as someone mentioned if you follow their installation instructions - and they are good - it can be diy .

I think this is a tidbit many fail to recognize when "upgrading" parts. Someone sat in a room and figured out the bolt to use based on math and physics.

A prime example of this is on Broncos when owners beef up the steering rack with heavy duty sleeves. There just might be a reason the steering rack has a narrow point that is prone to break under stress... Perhaps, just perhaps it is because if that breaks it won't destroy the rack. A bolt on part is easily replaced vs the entire rack because the gears shear off.

Everytime one thing is strengthened, another part because the weak link.

 

[Dgc333]

A tibit regarding grade 5 and grade 8 bolts. They are both made of carbon steel so the modulus of elasticity is essentially the same between the two grades. What this means is they will stretch the same amount below the yield strength. The grade 8 will ultimately stretch more before it takes a permanent set.

When it gets right down to it the biggest consideration between choosing Grade 5 or Grade 8 is cost. If you don't need the extra yield or tensile strength of a Grade 8 it will cost less to use a Grade 5.

 

[Kemo Sabe]

We're going to pick up a used travel trailer Thursday (2021 Grand Design, 5,780lbs dry) and the dealer said our sway bar/hitch is old. They want to sell us a new Equal-i-zer 4-point sway control hitch/bar system for $995 installed. We want to be safe. This is what we have, is it sufficient or risky? Came with our old 2018 trailer when we bought it, so no idea of history.

Try it. You might like it. Sandpaper and spray paint will do wonders. New bolts, of necessary!

 

[ctechbob]

I think this is a tidbit many fail to recognize when "upgrading" parts. Someone sat in a room and figured out the bolt to use based on math and physics.

A prime example of this is on Broncos when owners beef up the steering rack with heavy duty sleeves. There just might be a reason the steering rack has a narrow point that is prone to break under stress... Perhaps, just perhaps it is because if that breaks it won't destroy the rack. A bolt on part is easily replaced vs the entire rack because the gears shear off.

Everytime one thing is strengthened, another part because the weak link.

Except that after engineering, the part goes on to purchasing that will argue to the end of the earth until they get engineering to agree that the cheaper part will work just as well in 99% of applications, so that is what gets bought. Because fixing 1% is cheaper in the end to spending $XX more on 100% of the new pieces.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Except that after engineering, the part goes on to purchasing that will argue to the end of the earth until they get engineering to agree that the cheaper part will work just as well in 99% of applications, so that is what gets bought. Because fixing 1% is cheaper in the end to spending $XX more on 100% of the new pieces.

Fvcking penny pinchers.

Sponsored