How many of you guys have done this?

[midpack 1,062]

This is a new one on me, neither the tractor or trailer had any problems at all. I didn't even think it was a very heavy load. I was just moving stones.

Modern metal maybe?

[midpack 1,062]

I had to take the tongue apart to get it out!

[rmaynard 16,633]

Modern metal meets man of steel (Wheel Horse). 

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,900]

 Nope, haven’t bent one of those yet. 
 How heavy was the load? 

[ebinmaine 74,934]

3 hours ago, Sparky said:

 Nope, haven’t bent one of those yet. 
 How heavy was the load? 

 

 

I've BENT   the trailer tongue down but never the hitch pin.

 

I think most of the trailers are only rated for 300 lb to 500 lb and that's assuming that 75 to 90% is on the axle and perfectly balanced on flat ground.

Edited October 1 by ebinmaine
STOOOOPIDD AUTOCORRECT

[lynnmor 8,141]

That large space between holes added to the problem, you only need enough space to prevent binding when the terrain causes a great angle between the tractor and the toad. 

[midpack 1,062]

The trailer was about 1/3 full. I didn't think it was all that much of a load

[Blue Chips 260]

2 hours ago, midpack said:

This is a new one on me, neither the tractor or trailer had any problems at all. I didn't even think it was a very heavy load. I was just moving stones.

 

 

As @lynnmor mentioned, a narrower gap in the tongue would have put less bending load on the pin, but you probably already know that. Did the stones happen to slide and hit the back gate of the trailer and cause a sudden jerk on the pin?

 

Here are some hefty ******s that we dug out when we excavated for the new garage foundation (spray can for scale). These, and several other stones of comparable size that we dug out are glacial 'erratics' that were resting on the bedrock (aka, ledge) that we poured the foundation on. Very common here in Maine.

 

BTW, no Wheel Horse was abused in the process of making this pile. 

 

Edited October 1 by Blue Chips

[Pullstart 68,399]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

I've been the trailer

I can see BBT hitching up to you, Fred and Barney laughing all the way to the Bedrock Bank!  

[ebinmaine 74,934]

21 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

I can see BBT hitching up to you, Fred and Barney laughing all the way to the Bedrock Bank!  

 

I do love autocorrect

[Lee1977 7,418]

That hitch pin was most likely hot rolled steel.  Cold rolled steel would not have bent like that even with the wide space of the trailer hitch.

[ebinmaine 74,934]

2 hours ago, Blue Chips said:

spray can for scale

 

Them boulders equal alotta cans!!

[EB-80/8inPA 1,921]

2 hours ago, Blue Chips said:

These, and several other stones of comparable size that we dug out are glacial 'erratics' that were resting on the bedrock (aka, ledge) that we poured the foundation on. Very common here in Maine.

They’re not the only erratic things to be found in Maine. 🤪

[Moonshine*Connoisseur 493]

This accurately and visually explains Torque vs. horsepower  

[Streetrodchev 1,001]

Did the bottom of the hitch pin hit a rock (or something that didn’t want to move) and cause it to bend?  It is a long pin and will hang low to snag on stuff. I see that much more likely than just a loaded trailer. 

Edited October 2 by Streetrodchev

[8ntruck 8,243]

I'd guess an impact loading got applied somehow.  Like @Streetrodchev says, maybe the trailer snagged on something.

[953 nut 62,566]

You would run out of traction long before bending a hitch pin.

[rmaynard 16,633]

That is not a hitch pin. It is all-thread. It's not tempered. It's too long. The longer it is, the easier it is to bend. I've had the same thing happen and my load was not heavy.

 

Just my 2 cents

Edited October 2 by rmaynard

[lynnmor 8,141]

2 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

That is not a hitch pin. It is all-thread. It's not tempered. It's too long. Th longer it is, the easier it is to bend. I've had the same thing happen and my load was not heavy.

It’s kind of hard to see but I think that you are right.

[953 nut 62,566]

5 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

That is not a hitch pin. It is all-thread

I don't see ant threads, must be a VERY FINE THREAD all-thread

[ineedanother 1,765]

Nothing to do with the weight IMO. There was simply no way for the connection to articulate on both planes. The front of the tractor went up and the hitch had no way to compensate for the angle between it and the wagon.

[peter lena 9,492]

@midpack  looks like a  simple LEVERAGE OVERLOAD to me , that pin was free to move and slide , when it  finally  found its , bind point , it was also at its weakest  thrust angle , making it  bend , actually you were lucky  , not to have a fracture in the  related transaxle set up , might  snoop around for any other tracking. was assigned to the rigger shop , amazing how much if your thought  is not on the issue , also having the correct  alternative to go to . my old fly fishing  buddy , was a rigger , could easily  think out any  movement  set up . still have  12,000  lb  lift straps , next time , snug up the  pin slide point , pete   

[rmaynard 16,633]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

I don't see ant threads, must be a VERY FINE THREAD all-thread

 

I guess we can ask @midpack

Is this threaded?

 

Edited October 2 by rmaynard

[midpack 1,062]

Nope, no threads. 

[midpack 1,062]

I'm going to use a shorter pin, I didn't feel the long one hit anything but I guess it could have. That makes more sense than the weight on the trailer. It took quite a bit of "hammer" to get the long one straightened out. Maybe I'll shorten it. As long as I can drill a new clip hole

Edited October 3 by midpack