Originally Posted by 07redsled

grade 12 aircraft grade bolts for me custom mounts 3/4 bolts 1/2 heavy plate

Originally Posted by Uncle Bubba

If you look at every hitch on the market they all come from the factory with grade 5 hardware, all the way from the cheapest to the most expensive. I figure after all the money brands like B&W, Rigid and Putnam put into research they're must be a reason.

Originally Posted by Uncle Bubba

If you look at every hitch on the market they all come from the factory with grade 5 hardware, all the way from the cheapest to the most expensive. I figure after all the money brands like B&W, Rigid and Putnam put into research they're must be a reason.

I don't pretend to have any scientific knowledge of this stuff myself, but I was always told that Stainless or grade 8 and harder are only for use in static applications that need to be held tight. For anything with movement or vibration it was grade 5.

Just think back to the stories about the oak and willow trees. Oak trees are completely rigid and so oak boards are incredibly strong and long lasting. But in high winds the oak will snap and fall down while in the same winds the willow trees just keep bouncing back.

Now to go one step further, I've had customer bring me trucks with hitches hangin because of grade 8 failures. The bolts don't shear off like you would expect, they actually snap off an break, shatter like a tall glass. You have a top and bottom of the bolt but the broken section is jagged and broken.

Originally Posted by Bosshogg

Just found a goose plate at the junkyard in a rolled 99 2500 gasser. I know, I really wasnt expecting to see it there either being a gas truck and all...