ksd
Medina, MN
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Joined: 10/22/2003
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As y'all know, I recently bought a 2006 Suburban 2500. I've read some things here on RV.net about the factory-installed receiver hitches being weak. I looked at mine, at the sticker on it says it is rated for a 1,500 pound tongue load in weight distributing mode.
Do I really need to replace it with something aftermarket? Is there something I should be looking at and inspecting periodically to determine whether it has problems?
We haven't bought a trailer yet, but are generally looking at trailers around 29-30 feet (nominal) with one slide. Dry weights are typically in the range of 5,000 to 6,500 pounds.
Thanks,
Karl
2008 Salem LA 312QBBS
2006 Suburban 2500 LT 8.1/4.10
Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive
BrakeSmart Controller
ProPride 3P hitch
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Rollincool
Always Rollin
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Joined: 08/10/2007
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I never had to replace ANY of the factory hitches on any of the Chevy trucks I've owned. And I've pulled some big weight with them.
2008 Chevy Silverado 4x4 3500 RC/LB 6.0 
2007 Chevy GS Conquest Super C 6340DK
2007 Chevy HHR Toad 2LT 2.4 
1990 Chevy G20 Cargo Van 305 
1967 Chevy Camaro Pro Street 468/650hp BBC 
My 70's Show - Tom Kent Radio Network - KLTH - K•HiTS 106.7
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Capt Skup
Southern Maryland/Nantucket
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Joined: 05/14/2004
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I was driving home on the Washington beltway about a year ago. A Chevy 2500/3500 truck passed me on the left side pulling a long box trailer, probably 28-30 feet. As the truck went by I happened to look over in time to see the bumper/hitch area. Holy Mackeral! The hitch was in the process of coming apart. The circular tube section was tearing apart for the welded section that bolts up to the bumper, at least that is what it looked like. The trailer's tongue was maybe 3-4 inches off of the pavement. I had to gun my little Toyota commuter to catch up with the driver and warn him. Thankfully he was able to get the rig over to the break down lane in time. I would replace it if I was going to be towing a lot. Tick Tick Tick
Capt Skup
AD-1(AW)USN Ret.
Wonderful Wife, 3 beautiful Daughters
"Never get in a battle of wits with an unarmed man"
2008 F-450 Lariat 4x4
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BenK
SF BayArea
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Joined: 04/18/2002
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Capt Skup wrote: I was driving home on the Washington beltway about a year ago. A Chevy 2500/3500 truck passed me on the left side pulling a long box trailer, probably 28-30 feet. As the truck went by I happened to look over in time to see the bumper/hitch area. Holy Mackeral! The hitch was in the process of coming apart. The circular tube section was tearing apart for the welded section that bolts up to the bumper, at least that is what it looked like. The trailer's tongue was maybe 3-4 inches off of the pavement. I had to gun my little Toyota commuter to catch up with the driver and warn him. Thankfully he was able to get the rig over to the break down lane in time. I would replace it if I was going to be towing a lot. Tick Tick Tick
this what you saw?
Another forum member had this happen to his.
I'm a huge GM full sized truck fan, but not blindly so. This receiver
is one that I'm a fan of...
this post has several hot links to past threads on this topic.
Replacing Hitch Receiver on Truck
This has been reported and an investigation has happened, but there
isn't enough 'evidence' nor the numbers to do anything about it.
This is the way of things, as the numbers of people who tow at the
extreme limits are very small in comparison to the rest.
-Ben Picture of my rig
1996 GMC SLT Suburban 3/4 ton K3500/7.4L/4:1/+150Kmiles orig owner...
1980 Chevy Silverado C10/long bed/"BUILT" 5.7L/3:73/1 ton helper springs/+329Kmiles, bought it from dad...
1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
Praise Dyno Brake equiped and all have "nose bleed" braking!
Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
51 cylinders in household, what's yours?...
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Capt Skup
Southern Maryland/Nantucket
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Joined: 05/14/2004
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Like I said earlier. "Holy Mackeral!" Not as bad as the first picture but much worse than the second. If the guy had not stopped quick, I could see it completely seperating from the truck, safety chains would be worthless. Has GM redesigned this inferior part?
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Rollincool
Always Rollin
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Joined: 08/10/2007
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BenK wrote:this what you saw? (pic omitted)
Another forum member had this happen to his. (pic omitted)
I'm a huge GM full sized truck fan, but not blindly so. This receiver
is one that I'm a fan of...
This has been reported and an investigation has happened, but there
isn't enough 'evidence' nor the numbers to do anything about it.
This is the way of things, as the numbers of people who tow at the
extreme limits are very small in comparison to the rest.
I can tell you one thing, that Texas truck pick has some serious leverage with that receiver upside down. The problem I see with a lot of weight dist hitch set-ups is people tend to install the wrong weight bars and tighted the living bleep out of the chains.
What would you expect with that kind of inertia against the truck/hitch/trailer combo? There has to be a weak link when it's over loaded with the incorrect set-up.
I'm no investigator, but by looking at those pictures, I can see that there was a very heavy load that couldn't flex on that hitch.
Like I said in my previous post. I never had any hitch fail like those pics and have hauled tons.
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clarkely
Harleysville, Pa
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Joined: 05/08/2008
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be glad you got an "06.
I just bought a 2500 Suburban....only to discover that the receiver is only rated for 1000 lbs............
My 2004 1500 suburban had a 1500lb rated receiver....
WHat gives with that thought process.
I'd Rather be camping!
Sydney Outback 310BHS
2008 2500 Suburban(Diablo Programmer)ATX Black Chrome Wheels
AirLift WirelessAIR with Firestone RideRite Bags, Pressure Pro System, Tekonsha P3
ProPride 3P, Power Jack
1 Wife, 4 kids & a Dog...Bigger is Better!!
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Steveque
Central California
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Joined: 08/11/2004
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I replaced the receiver on my '03 Tahoe. All I can tell you is to get down on your back and look at the welds on your receiver. It seems the machine missed welding one piece of my receiver to the other in several places.
I replaced mine with the Putnan receiver. Before I installed it I looked at the welds. They may not be stronger but they did seem to catch enough of both parts throughout the weld area.
I took my OEM to my Chevy dealer. The Service Manager was extremely surprised with the poor weld. He inspected his truck and promptly replaced his receiver. Both receivers were handed off to the Regional Service Manager. I doubt anything will happen but my wife and I sure feel safer when we tow.
Steve Quesenberry
Central California
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BenK
SF BayArea
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Joined: 04/18/2002
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Picture is of a fellow forum members receiver cross tube that has
a crack. Just a few miles towing a PUP.
Thread on cracked cross tube towing a PUP
Page with this picture and other comments
Each individual deal with the info posted on public forums as you
wish. Not a large number with problems like this and why NHTSA's
investigation didn't result in anything.
If I owned one of these...I'd change it out for a traditional design
that costs around $150 bucks plus about 1 hours labor.
Poor clarkely....think he now gets it that the new Suburban's receiver
is welded in and can't easily be changed out. Then there is the
question on how strong the TV frame rail is if he should then have
a custom receiver made.
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BenK
SF BayArea
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Joined: 04/18/2002
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PS....that busted receiver with parts still attached to the draw bar isn't
upside down...originally...it has pulled the metal out and flipped it while
doing so.
I took several hundred pictures of that drawbar end for the original poster, but
now find that he's taken his web site on this down for some reason.
I've got them somewhere on the other computer if someone wants to see
some of them.
Capt Skup just happened to see some one else just a hairs breath from suffering
the same thing, saved that guys @ss and posted here, for which I'm tankful for
as he may have saved a few by doing that...
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