Weekend trip cancelled. Rusted hitch. How to fix? - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-08-2012, 04:19 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Bryan L.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1991 Scamp 16 ft
Posts: 392
Weekend trip cancelled. Rusted hitch. How to fix?

We were all excited to go camping for the weekend but when I went to hook up, I looked down and said, "Uhoh." My second-grade son said, "That looks dangerous!" When a kid says that, it's time to stay home!

Where the hitch is welded to the frame member is totally rusted through. I can flex it with my hand and figure after I hit about three really big bumps, I would have had a trailer hanging on to the van by its chains. I'm just glad we noticed it when we did. So, how do I fix this? Just get another hitch and weld it on like the old one or is there a better solution? Thanks.

Bad phone pic. I can see daylight through some of the weld.
__________________
"The babbling that I brook." - Pink Floyd

1991 Scamp 16'
Bryan L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 04:50 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Name: Tom
Trailer: none
Minnesota
Posts: 250
Registry
I would get a new coupler, reweld on....old coupler could be comprimise where it has pulled away from frame
Hambone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 05:22 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Name: Ron
Trailer: 2008 13' Scamp
British Columbia
Posts: 325
The first step, whether you buy a new coupler or not, is to take a grinder with a cutting disc and separate the coupler from the frame. When the coupler is off the frame you'll be able to see if the coupler has been compromised too much to weld back on.

It really depends if that's a fatigue crack, separate from the weld or the weld it's self lacked sufficient penetration into the coupler.

Ron
Ron in BC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 05:42 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Trailer: Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
Posts: 1,861
Hitch Flex

Bryan
Good catch. How is the weld on the inside of the frame rail? Should be OK, but its not holding anything but the two frame rails together.
I have to replace a hitch on an older fifth wheel because of no lock so I have been studying the Scamp top welded hitch. Looks like they are using a 7K 2" angle frame hitch.
On your hitch I would cut the old one off and install a new hitch. The new hitch needs three cross supports added to prevent flexing of the unsupported sidewalls of the hitch. The supports should be the same thickness metal of the hitch and as tall as the sides. One across the back, middle and one under the front weld. The lack of support allows the hitch walls to flex and workharden the metal at the weld. Make sure the chains are attached to the frame and not the hitch.
The fifth wheel has some of the same support issues as yours. On the fifth wheel they use the same hitch but they cut the rear angle, bend the sides in and reweled the sides. I plan to weld cross supports on my 5th wheel to add strength to the hitch.
I am not a fan of top welding these hitches.
Eddie
Added info.
On the newer 5th wheel hitches Scamp used plate metal to replace the cut off sides. I still think the sides of these hitches need to be tied together to add strength.
Eddie Longest is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 06:14 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Bryan L.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1991 Scamp 16 ft
Posts: 392
Thanks for the responses. The rust-through is actually in the coupler plate and right at the edge of the bead. I can feel an edge on the underside of the coupler plate where it has weakened and rusted through almost all the way around. It was really held on by the last couple of inches of good metal toward the rear on each side. I'll hunt around for a new hitch and see about welding it on with some more support. Thank you for that suggestion. I only have a 120V Mig so I may have to hire this one out as that's some pretty thick metal. It's not the same as the old VW metal that I'm used to welding!
__________________
"The babbling that I brook." - Pink Floyd

1991 Scamp 16'
Bryan L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2012, 09:00 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Name: Bob Ruggles
Trailer: 2015 Escape
Michigan
Posts: 1,537
Is your avatar picture your tow vehicle?
rgrugg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 05:03 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Bryan L.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1991 Scamp 16 ft
Posts: 392
Ok, I finally cut this off today. After I cut a few inches off the back of each side, the coupler just fell to the floor. I am left with a sheet of metal on the bottom where the two frame rails come together that is welded on the inside of each rail and seems pretty stuck on there. Can I just weld a new plate to the bottom of this plate? Getting inside and grinding away the inner welds from underneath does not look fun at all. I would think that this is almost a stronger solution than what was there before as the weight of the frame would distributed on to that plate and then more evenly distributed to the coupler that I will weld on to the bottom. Thoughts, opinions? Thanks.

Rgrugg, that is not my tow vehicle! Just a fun hobby of mine!
__________________
"The babbling that I brook." - Pink Floyd

1991 Scamp 16'
Bryan L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 05:22 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Francesca Knowles's Avatar
 
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
Registry
It's a bit close up for me to tell for sure, but: in the pic you posted first, it looks as if the coupler is welded to the bottom of the tongue- is that right?

Some pics of what you're left with now that you've started cutting would be a great help...

Francesca
__________________
.................................
Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
Francesca Knowles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 06:48 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Bryan L.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1991 Scamp 16 ft
Posts: 392
Pictures? Of course!


This is the old one that I cut off.



The plate underneath that I am thinking about just leaving there.


I don't even know if I could get my welder in there for this part of it if I put in a new plate after removing this one.
__________________
"The babbling that I brook." - Pink Floyd

1991 Scamp 16'
Bryan L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 06:57 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
Bryan, my 1988 Scamp has the coupler (from the manufactuer) in the exact same position. Hitch heigh is right at 21" right now, if it was on the end or above the frame... it would add hitch height. Not something I'd want... from the pictures those welds look good. Are they?
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 07:11 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Bryan L.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1991 Scamp 16 ft
Posts: 392
The welds for the piece that is left are great. I'm just wondering if I can just leave that there and weld the new plate right to the bottom of the piece that is still there from the old one. It would only add 1/8 - 1/4 inch to the hitch height at the most. I'm no engineer but I would think that me grinding and cutting away that piece might do more harm than good.
__________________
"The babbling that I brook." - Pink Floyd

1991 Scamp 16'
Bryan L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 07:24 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Francesca Knowles's Avatar
 
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
Registry
Well, I got nothin'- I didn't even know there was such a thing as a coupler attached to the bottom of a tongue. The several trailers I've owned have had the type that goes over the top...

I'll be most interested to watch how you solve the problem, Bryan!

Francesca
__________________
.................................
Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
Francesca Knowles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 07:31 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Trailer: Casita
Posts: 651
Registry
A good welding/machine shop should be able to rebuild that for you. I'd take it to a professional.
Gene Masse is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 07:32 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Bryan L.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1991 Scamp 16 ft
Posts: 392
I'm having trouble just finding a coupler that is as small as the one that was on it. All the ones I find are about a foot wide at the rear and I need one that is about six inches wide at the rear. Francesca, I'll be interested in how this turns out too!
__________________
"The babbling that I brook." - Pink Floyd

1991 Scamp 16'
Bryan L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 07:47 PM   #15
Moderator
 
Frederick L. Simson's Avatar
 
Trailer: Fiber Stream 1978 / Honda Odyssey LX 2003
Posts: 8,222
Registry
Send a message via AIM to Frederick L. Simson
Quote:
Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles View Post
I didn't even know there was such a thing as a coupler attached to the bottom of a tongue.
I agree with Francesca. That beveled end of your tongue sloping down looks unique! Usually the tongue's frame rails just come straight together and the coupler is welded to the top and to the sides increasing strength. By welding yours to the bottom, the hitch height was changed at the expense of the strength that would have been in the vertical welds on the coupler.
__________________
Frederick - The Scaleman
Frederick L. Simson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 07:48 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
Frederick, not on my 1988 Scamp! As I mentioned in a previous post, it came from the factory that way.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 08:07 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Carol H's Avatar
 
Trailer: 92 16 ft Scamp
Posts: 11,756
Registry
Bryan mines the same - I am assuming yours had the 1 7/8" coupler on it? If so give Scamp a call as they have changed them to 2" couplers and have upgraded a number of peoples older trailers as well for them. They should be able to tell you how to go about doing it and what to use to do it.

I too would like to see how you get it done! As its on my list of things to do one day in the not to distant future.
Carol H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 08:20 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
There's a big group (994 members) very active on Facebook: The Boler and a similar group on Facebook, I own a Boler Bolerama is just about dead because of Facebook...
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 10:00 PM   #19
Member
 
Name: Mike
Trailer: Trillium
New Hampshire
Posts: 99
Registry
Puch Maxi?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryan L. View Post
Ok, I finally cut this off today. After I cut a few inches off the back of each side, the coupler just fell to the floor. I am left with a sheet of metal on the bottom where the two frame rails come together that is welded on the inside of each rail and seems pretty stuck on there. Can I just weld a new plate to the bottom of this plate? Getting inside and grinding away the inner welds from underneath does not look fun at all. I would think that this is almost a stronger solution than what was there before as the weight of the frame would distributed on to that plate and then more evenly distributed to the coupler that I will weld on to the bottom. Thoughts, opinions? Thanks.

Rgrugg, that is not my tow vehicle! Just a fun hobby of mine!
Sorry to go off topic, but is that a Puch Maxi in your avatar pic? I'm a bit of a moped enthusiast, a horder if you ask my wife! Do you take it camping?

-Mike
msinger919 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2013, 10:07 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,413
I think I would start with a piece of 1/4" wall square tubing, either 2", or 2 1/2", with a coupler to fit, and adapt that to the tongue, reinforced with plate, or gussets. The square tube could be cut into the end of the tongue and extended back as far as possible and reinforced as necessary. One of those things I would have to see to make a plan. One time I replaced a similar coupler with one that was wider and had to machine a couple steel wedges to make it fit.
mary and bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
nice little weekend trip in michigan john warren Camping, Campout Reports 9 05-14-2012 06:38 AM
weekend trip to LCRA Matagorda Texas Phil Underwood Camping, Campout Reports 2 07-21-2009 09:00 PM
fathers day weekend camping trip Phil Underwood Camping, Campout Reports 2 06-27-2009 09:41 AM
Rusted Screws amado_aguilar Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 3 07-20-2008 08:12 AM
Ad cancelled, relisted Graham Redman Classified Archives 3 01-16-2006 10:25 AM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:12 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.