Would you guys tow considering this?

[ErockSteady]

Hey everyone,

I just noticed something on my '93 XLT that I just purchased. Apparently it's been in a minor accident--looks like it was rear-ended at one point. I had planned to do a little light towing (I know the A4LD isn't the greatest, but this will be minor towing). What I've noticed is that the hitch seems to have been separated from the frame just a bit. The bolts still seem strong and tight, but the metal of the hitch is bent away from the frame ever-so-slightly on one side.

Check out the pics if you don't mind:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erocksteady/8897428293/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erocksteady/8898047778/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erocksteady/8897428607/

Kinda hard to see from the pics, but the tweak is minor overall, I'd say. Again, everything *seems* good and tight and strong.

What do you think? Would you tow a 1,000 lbs aluminum trailer with some camping gear? Or is it a good idea to leave it well enough alone if a hitch has taken an impact?

 

[Anime]

If it's a Class III hitch with a 2" receiver, even if it's tweaked, it'll probably be fine to tow a 1000 lb trailer with. If the steel of the hitch is just bent but there are no cracks or any other damage, it's probably fine. You might even be able to remove it and have it straightened out, but steel things that are bent are stronger if you don't re-bend them back.

Of course, the safest thing to do would be get a brand new hitch, just to be completely safe.

You can always put a hitch ball on the bumper and tow up to 3500 lbs if you're worried at all about the under-bumper hitch.

 

[ErockSteady]

Thanks Anime, that's some good sense. I didn't think about the bumper option, although the bumper took the impact, so either way, both are probably tweaked a bit from what they once were. I'm fairly confident that everything will be okay. I'm more worried that the bolts took too much stress than the hitch itself...

 

[Albino 94LTD]

I don't see anything that would stop me from towing with that hitch, even a 2000# tent trailer

 

[Jason94sport]

Your fine. I've used far far far worse shape hitches to tow more then you.

 

[Anime]

I'm more worried that the bolts took too much stress than the hitch itself...

If you're worried about the bolts at all, you could always replace them with all-new Grade 8 hardware, available at just about any major big box home improvement store and a lot of other hardware stores or farm supply places.

 

[ErockSteady]

If you're worried about the bolts at all, you could always replace them with all-new Grade 8 hardware, available at just about any major big box home improvement store and a lot of other hardware stores or farm supply places.

That's a good idea, I was thinking the same.

Thanks for chiming in everyone! I appreciate it.