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Ovalling hitch pin hole

2.4K views 17 replies 6 participants last post by  jmatteis  
#1 ·
Have a 2019 PR, that we have towed our TT with a handful of times. This last trip was my first time on the highway, not county roads, and I noticed a slight lurch sometimes in stop and go traffic, wasn't sure if it was the trailler brakes delayed, etc. Got home and taking the hitch off, noticed that the passenger side hole of the hitch is slightly (very slightly) ovalled, no mushrooming yet, as I have seen in pictures. Wondering if that would be causing that slight lurch, as well, how I can avoid it getting worse.
Went to dealer quickly, didn't have the truck with me, just to ask the question, they said to bring it in and have a look, and if it got worse, the hitch could be replaced.

Also, not sure if it's related or not, but how much play should there be when the truck is in park? When I am hooking up the truck to the trailer, I feel like I can push is ahead quite a bit if I need to get the ball right under the receiver. Not sure if this would cause that lurch or not when driving? I know there should be a few inches of push play, but for the size of this truck, it feels like I can push it more than that. Are there any tranny issues with the 2019's that anyone is aware of?
 
#2 ·
This is the thread I had skimmed before about the ovaling I mentioned in the other thread about our class IV hitches. Read it this time and now I have another thing to buy for the truck. 😋 Drove around for the last decade on the last truck being jarred around, yep it's still attached, hey it's still there, oops sorry napkins are in the glove box probably don't want to drink anything near stop signs...😆

My P4X has different suspension and such, I can wiggle it back and forth almost 2", seems normal to me.

If you really want to reduce towing wear you can get a torsion hitch or this shocker thing. Supposedly the GenY will save you 3MPG, I want one but it's pricey so I'm being good till a loan is paid off, if I see a good sale though I won't be able to resist. 😋
I see they make a lower towing capacity (7k) one for the Frontier too..
 
#8 ·
I've read those threads as well, I have one of the anti vibratuon/movement plates I use with the bike carrier, I didn't think it'd be strong for a WDH. I used to have an eaz lift chain style hitch rated for 800 lbs tongue weight and 8000 lbs tow. Upgraded to equalizer 1000/10000 lb hitch and that when I started to notice the ovaling but nothing has changed with my TT. It's factory weight is 3800 dry weight and 582 tongue weight, the way I have it loaded I know its much heavier but still no where near max tongue weight or tow weight capacity. The hitch itself is much heavier than the old eaz lift system, and when I put the hitch pin in the actual hitch assembly, there's some play there, not much as its solid steel and that's the way it came from the factory. I just worry about how mad it's going to get and what it will affect long term.
 
#3 ·
Man, you find the craziest tow accessories, ha ha ha. I have never heard of anything like that till the other day and now there is two things to think about.
 
#4 · (Edited)
:ROFLMAO: My last setup is a mess, multiple draw bars with different balls, a mix of things I bought & inherited, mostly rusty. I've got an old dishwasher utensil tray with towing balls and small drawbars/etc in the garage from years of just buying the parts at the hardware store or whatever, then I learned more about the tow ratings so I upgraded my balls and such.

I did NOT want to repeat that & my old setup is for a mid-size so it's all class III 8k lbs rated stuff. I wanted a new setup for the new truck, plus I don't care to switch the bar back and forth, my luck I'd go rent a Bobcat on a trailer and after the half hour drive realize I left it in the other truck... I knew I wanted a triball bar (I have a small 4x7 TSC trailer that needs the smaller ball) & got lucky when I went looking for it I decided to search for a non-chrome style and stumbled across that Tactical Reese one with the hook to start off with. But I subscribe to TFL on YouTube and they posted good 101 towing video a month ago, just a week before I got my truck so it was great timing for me & I almost didn't watch it thinking "I know how to tow". At 7 & 14 mins they go over some GenY products (TFL Sponsor) & I didn't know about it until then. Edit: Then for that post I searched generally for Torsion hitches but GenY has the patent, a Google ad showed me that thing, I like the look of the GenY better personally but they both have lots of high user ratings. Bet it looks good on a red truck? 😈 /Edit.

Next I need to figure out what pin to buy.. lol seems simple but I'll eventually end up with like $700 hanging on the pin so I like the GenY twist & secure pin & might get some anyway but I've no idea what my pins are rated for, they haven't bent yet but I want to KNOW the one I'm using on the Titan is IV rated. Some of the locking ones are a joke. I think I'm going to end up with a Cat4 Top Link Pin with a large enough hole to put a padlock into... but I haven't had to time to figure out if those exist & fit into our standard pin holes... Anybody know this already?
Looking into those I came across Magnetic Lawn Mower Hitch Pins so you can put those on your Christmas wish list now. I just emailed the company to confirm that the colors are irrelevant and just user preference vs any rating differences (all the same price so doubt it.). I'll let you know what they say.
 
#7 ·
I know some people with those magnetic pins. They are good around the yard, that's for sure. I have a regular pin for my yard trailer and the same type for all the ball hitches I have but I know I will need one with a lock, soon, also
 
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#9 ·
My main concern is not the slight lurch etc, which I didn't feel on yesterday's tow, but more so the damage to the receiver on my truck. It looks like the oval got a little bigger but honestly that could be my own mind playing tricks on me.
Or if I've chosen the wrong wdh. Everyone says equalizer is the best, and I got it for a steal.
Are there different strength hitch pins or are they pretty much standard?
 
#16 ·
Seems this has become the 2nd Gen Titan Towing Thread so bonus info: looks like the 2016+ ones (if so equipped) have the Trailer Light Check function (Nissan YouTube Instructions).
Are there different strength hitch pins or are they pretty much standard?
I looked at too many websites for this answer, as I was already wondering this for myself as mentioned earlier.
The short & simpler answer I found is that so long as you are using a proper 5/8ths pin for your Class 3&4 needs you will be fine. eTrailer wrote up a really good answer to this question posted by someone who already took on this quest, thank you Mark H & eTrailer.

Now I understand why these are listed as Grade 8 pins rather than listed by towing class. Further a bolt manufacturing company answered the sheer strength question to include the difference in the threaded and unthreaded area, all well exceeding 10k lbs.

So it seem hitch pins options are many:
  1. The standard ones with the normal retention pins like this cushion grip Harbor Freight ~$4.
  2. A 5/8"x~4" Grade 8 Bolt and a lock nut, need tools to steal it but harder for you to get off too ~$4.
  3. Or get the $32 version of the Grade 8 bolt. It does look nicer.
  4. GenY offers one with a different take on the retention pin for $11, they list this with a 21,000 lb rating.
  5. Many different key locking pins with varying levels of security from terrible to pro approved for $83...I'm pretty tempted get the Bolt 7023583 as it's codeable to the truck key but it looks like it's picked in ~30 seconds also. Still though you have to be a semi-skilled lock picking person who is also a thief and happen across my vehicle... at ~$34 it's currently in my cart because it would be nice to not have another key...🤔
@busemans I stumbled across more crazy tow accessories; what if your $99 draw bar tells you your tongue weight? I'm actually pretty tempted to return my tactical tri-ball & get this with a Convert-A-Ball system...
 
#11 ·
I found a wdh in the parking lot at Texas a+m two years ago. It's missing the chains though. I need to go look at the tag on it again so I can maybe get some chains for it

That sucker is heavy though. It's probably toooo much for my stuff since the only trucks that had previously been in the parking lot were one tons pulling construction equipment and that got left for months by the dumpster.
 
#13 ·
I should reply as well, 800 lb bars would be fine for most likely unfortunately, equalizer skips from600 to 1000. My factory tongue weight is 582, then filled propane, battery plus all the junk I’ve thrown in the front through storage, I’m probable close to 800 tongue weight anyhow, my campers GVWR is 7600, I’m not near it, but probably around 5500 lbs. according to the equalizer site, the 1000/10000 setup is the right size for my trailer. The class IV hitch on our trucks should also be plenty for what I’m towing as well.
 
#14 ·
The hole ovaling out tells me the metal isn't properly treated to be the correct hardness. Wonder if Nissan got a bad batch of steel? I know the hitch isn't a "hardened" part, but the base alloy should have a level of hardness not to wallow out during normal use. Since you're in a 2019, I'd be on the dealership to rectify this with a new hitch.
 
owns 2011 Nissan Titan Pro4X Crew Cab
#15 ·
I’ve spoken to them, sounds like they’ll make it right. I was interested in having someone weld another thicker plate on the outside on both sides to beef it up anyhow and also to spread the stress of the pin over something thicker 1/4”. It’s tight there, not a simple 5/8” washer, but would have to be specially cut.
 
#17 ·
The weighing one is cool but I wonder how accurate.

I know a few people with those convertible ball systems. They like how convenient and easy to use they are and say they work great