After loaning out my dump trailer, yesterday I went to adjust the coupler height to match my new draw bar height. I got the socket on the first 5/8 UNC bolt and the nut came off in my hand, the second bolt I got less than half a turn and it too sheared. The bolts have obviously been over tightened but I also noticed that they were NOT grade 8 bolts like my flat deck has. The only 5/8 UNC grade 8 I had were 1/2 inch short so picked some up today. There is some slight rust on one of the shears so it's been like that for awhile.

 

Brand and model dump trailer ?

Bolts like that are flooding the market. Lowe's sells gr 2 while in gr 5 bins. Other companies are following that lead. Now, I only buy from quality suppliers at this point, as life altering experiences on the road are not in my wish list.

 

The trailer is less than a year old and is a 14ft 14,000lb low profile Sure Trac.

 

Personally, based upon that, I would be back at that trailer dealer complaining about it...

 

The dealer is about 1 hour each way, life is short and I'm getting old

 

Oh, I completely understand that

How about a nice email with pics? Never know until you try. An honorable manager would see to it that you're issue is addressed.

 

My son has the trailer again but the idea of the email with pics is a good one just to give them a heads up that cheap bolts are being used for the couplers. Thanks.

 

I had grade 8 bolts on my hitch in an F-350 and they kept shearing like that...too hard, went back to grade 5's and never lost one again.

What is the pattern on the heads of those?

 

Three hash marks, indicating a grade 5 bolt but are they really a grade 5 bolt? I emailed the pic yesterday and they asked me to call in so I have a call into the dealer today to discuss. If the dealer is installing the couplers and buying bolts from the local farm shop then they can solve the problem, if on the other hand the couplers are being installed at the factory then it's a much larger problem. I talked to my son and he says they never moved the coupler so I bought it that way.

 

One thing to watch is the advent of overseas fasteners. They may well have met all the tensile requirements in testing, but failed as they aged. That condition could occur from material inclusions, improper thread forming, or eve the plating process.

We run into this all the time, for our critical fasteners on our equipment we specify either HoloChrome or Allen branded US made bolts only.

That's about the only way you can be sure today without going to certified fasteners, which would rive the cost out of sight.

Just another benefit of living in a Global economy.......

 

Caterpiller grade 8 bolts used to be pretty reliable. Are they still?

 

We call em butter bolts, cuz when you pull them down the smear off.....

3 has marks should be grade 5, which are pretty darn tough if snugged down....

 

I would say they are. I use them, and their grade 5 bolts in a lot of various applications and haven't had a problem with them.

 

I used to use 5/8 hitch pins in the ones we sold years ago, they rattle a bit, but we never had any problems with them.

 

My son used pins on their tool trailers as they were constantly used by different trucks, but it doesn't matter anymore... the trailer was stolen about a month ago so I'm now looking for another dump/roll off trailer. Anyone have any input on a roll off dump trailer??