Since 2002 I have read umteen posts about welded joints on the hitch breaking, sooo I have kept an eye the hitch and saw one fractured weld joint yesterday afternoon, soooo I remover the hitch today, only to find 4 welded joints broken, each fractured at least 1 1/2" in length, so if your towing a lot!!!!

drive safe

where are the fractures you found ? First time I ever heard of that.

I've heard that over the years, but hardly tow with the receiver hitch, 99% I tow with the fifth wheel one.

Sounds like it is time for one of these

Curt 15602
http://sitepro12.sitepro.com/masterlibrary/15602/images/15602_300x225_a.jpg

18000 / 1800 both WC and WD

I have to change the number of fractured joints to 8 (EIGHT) out of 10 total welds, the fractures were 1/32" wide and about 1" to 1/2" long.

All joints have been cleaned and welded with extra bracing,

These fractures have been reported since 2002 in a number of duramax forums.

drive safe

Glad you paid attention, that could have been serious... I am gonna go check mine tomorrow...

Do I have to pull the hitch off to see them, or can I assess mine while its on the truck?

The first cracks showed up the first year. GM wouldn't help ,blamed me for tow with it. Just clean up the hitch each year and weld it up. This fall will need a new hitch, metal is done. Also the paint came off first year. Check the paint , if it's cracking at weld ,then check for cracks.

Sounds like it is time for one of these

Curt 15602
http://sitepro12.sitepro.com/masterlibrary/15602/images/15602_300x225_a.jpg

18000 / 1800 both WC and WD

X2

You can't polish a turd if I did any real amount of towing I would upgrade the hitch.

Myth busters proved you can indeed polish a turd

Myth busters proved you can indeed polish a turd
HAHA!! Yeah, I saw that one...

Thanks for the heads up on the welds. Ive noticed my hitch is rusted pretty bad. Bent it sledpulling a couple years ago. Have to give it credit...it didnt break. Thanks for the Curt hitch info, too.

I would agree, I went with a Class V Curt hitch. Mine is rated at 12k, not sure about WD though. I normally pull around 5 to 6k, but for all of the stock hitches falling apart and mine being rated at 7500 pounds where I can load my trailer to 10k. No way that piece of junk was staying on. Next will be the hitch on my dad's 03 1/2 ton.
Just not worth it to me.
I will also add this. Yes you should have a truck that you can do whatever with. (within reason) But at the same time you have to realize to keep cost down, some things aren't what they could be. Why they went cheap on a hitch is beyond me. But things like poly bushings, cost more, they can squeak. Transfer pump, and extra filter, cost more, ect...
Trucks are great 100% stock, but you can do better. Like I said, the hitch as far as I am concerned is a piece of junk, and needs to go in the trash. That is where mine went, as I do not want to sell or give someone else something that I know is junk.

Myth busters proved you can indeed polish a turd


Ya I saw that one, but its still a turd and it has a turd from something that only eats meat.