There was a thread about tires not too long ago and one person told a story of an accident that involved a truck wearing the wrong rated tires- thus the insurance covering the damages (including liability) was voided.

That got the rat in my head to jump on its wheel, so I checked the ball and draw bar on my bumper hitch... ah-ha, not rated for my 10,000 GVW trailer.

Maybe I'll never get in a wreck.

But if I do, I'm covered.
I totally blew off the rating issue on the hitch and ball, until the thread brought it home to me WHY they need to be up to snuff.

Big Jimmy

 

It is sad that we live in a sue happy world, so better off safe than sorry. Goodluck,,Rick

 

I'd bet 90% of people out there have the standard 5000# drawbar you can get at any store... and are towing at least a 7k trailer with it...

 

Yes, and all is well until they have an accident, or cause one. Then that 5k draw bar and ball will cost them plenty.
Or like the landscaping crew I saw stopped on the side of the highway last summer. They had loaded a 7k flatbed trailer with about 6 ton of gravel. (3' side panels)
By the way the wheels had splayed I am surprised it even rolled at all. Looked like Godzilla had stomped it.

There were about 6 scruffy laborers all hanging around draped over various fender wells and tailgates looking like they'd swallowed some raw menhaden, or maybe a backward perch.

The truck pulling this thing was right out of a salvage yard, with tires to match.
Anyway, the trooper had the driver to the side giving him the major dress down for being a menace and 3 hrs later when I came back through the truck and trailer were still there, waiting, I assume, to be unloaded by hand into some other something.
I wonder what that cost in fines, and lost productivity.

I'm not always a big letter of the law guy, but my up to snuff draw bar and ball only cost $ 70.00.