I want to make owners of GMC trucks aware of a potential problem with hitch platforms supplied on tow packages of GM trucks built from 2000 - 2004. This would include pickup trucks, Suburban, Yukon's etc.
I was involved in a roll-over accident in 2001. (to learn more click here) The vehicle was a 2001 GMC Yukon. There is no positive cause for this accident but the hitch platform certainly would be one of the potential weak links. Other possibilities exist including a worn coupler. My current truck is a 2003 Yukon. It was supplied with the same design OEM platform as the vehicle in the accident. This design also appears on many GM trucks. In November 2004 while on a trip with our trailer we had a failure in this platform. The problem was corrected by the dealer installing a new platform on the vehicle under the factory warranty. There were several cracked welds. This distorted the box into an upward angle and also bent it to the left. There is no question about this failure. The design of this platform rely on these welds more than more traditional designs. Traditional designs typically weld the receiver box to flat plate. The plate is then welded to the bottom of rectangular tubing used as the cross brace on the platform. The rectangular cross brace passes through the side supports. This method distributes weight more evenly and the welds are not integral to weight. The GM design has the hitch box welded to a flat c channel. This channel passes under a round cross brace and welded to the back of this round brace. Tongue weight provides downward forces that rely on the weld. I am urging owners of these vehicles to inspect their OEM platform design to understand the potential problem. At the same time careful inspection of the welds should be made. If others find cracks in these welds or have already experienced failure we should accumulate this information and report it to GM and National Highway Safety. This spring I will replace this receiver with a traditional platform design from Reese or other well known hitch manufacturer. Let's all be safe out there and watch out for each other.