Karin Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 (edited) RLTLEGG We love our 2021 Oliie II and are at the Mothership for our first 1 year maintenance appointment. Got a call from service informing us that our coupler is bent!!!? We upgraded to the larger coupler and ball because we like to overdo it with safety and tow with an F-250 . The coupler was back ordered and we have only had it on the Ollie for about 6 months. We have ZERO ideas as to why it would be bent. No impact; no accidents. Can just a bad highway pothole cause coupler bending???? Edited December 14, 2022 by Karin Grammer Hull#942; Last 2021 Legacy Elite II, Ford F-250 6.7 L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Mike and Carol Posted December 14, 2022 Moderators Share Posted December 14, 2022 Your Bulldog hitch is bent? Are you able to hitch without much effort? Have you noticed anything odd looking? We have the standard 2” Bulldog and have been over lots of bumpy roads and way-to-large potholes and everything is fine. This is the first time I’ve heard of a bent hitch. What does service think might have happened? 2 Texas Hill Country | 2016 Elite II #135 | 2020 Ram 2500 6.7L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karin Posted December 14, 2022 Author Share Posted December 14, 2022 (edited) Yes! We are shocked. We have noticed nothing peculiar. It is a Bulldog hitch and we upgraded to the new larger size for extra peace of mind. They say the coupler is bent. We are waiting to hear from service again. Service advisor suspected some sort of impact but we have had zero incidents or problems. Hooking up has been a breeze as well. 🤷♀️ Edited December 14, 2022 by Karin 1 4 1 Hull#942; Last 2021 Legacy Elite II, Ford F-250 6.7 L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph and Dud B Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 Who installed the larger hitch? 2 Stephanie and Dudley from CT. 2022 LE2, Hull #1150: Eggcelsior. Tow vehicle: 2016 GMC Sierra 6.0 gas dually 4x4. Our Oliver journey: Steph and Dud B's RV Screed Where we've been RVing since 1999: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karin Posted December 15, 2022 Author Share Posted December 15, 2022 (edited) My husband installed the upgraded hitch under Oliver’s instruction. The new one was installed with new bolts at 80 ft. lbs. Thoughts? Edited December 15, 2022 by Karin 1 1 Hull#942; Last 2021 Legacy Elite II, Ford F-250 6.7 L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Davies Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 These couplers are heavy duty forged steel and I see no way for one to bend without any other signs of damage. The big coupler is rated for 12’,500 pounds! You need more info from Service. What exactly is damaged? The hinged door or its pin? The only way that could happen is if you towed with the door open (not latched). Maybe the manufacturer should get involved. I am sure they would want to know about any faults. IMHO you would see the ball snap clean off before the coupler failed. Good luck. John Davies Spokane WA 6 1 SOLD 07/23 "Mouse": 2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karin Posted December 15, 2022 Author Share Posted December 15, 2022 Thank you John. Those are encouraging words to us because we thought the same thing. Service asked us if anything had happened because we removed our storage basket. We have removed the storage basket because it interfered with our truck’s backup-assist camera’s functioning. We are waiting to hear from the Oliver Service Department Manager after he looks more closely into the matter. 1 2 Hull#942; Last 2021 Legacy Elite II, Ford F-250 6.7 L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph and Dud B Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 Could the coupler have been damaged before you installed it? I've heard of hitches getting damaged in shipment, even big fifth wheel hitches. 1 2 Stephanie and Dudley from CT. 2022 LE2, Hull #1150: Eggcelsior. Tow vehicle: 2016 GMC Sierra 6.0 gas dually 4x4. Our Oliver journey: Steph and Dud B's RV Screed Where we've been RVing since 1999: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators SeaDawg Posted December 15, 2022 Moderators Share Posted December 15, 2022 Please do keep us posted. This is something I've never heard of, in fifteen years. 2 2008 Ram 1500 4 × 4 2008 Oliver Elite, Hull #12 Florida and Western North Carolina, or wherever the truck goes.... 400 watts solar. DC compressor fridge. No inverter. 2 x 105 ah agm batteries . Life is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karin Posted December 15, 2022 Author Share Posted December 15, 2022 Will do! Thank you! Hull#942; Last 2021 Legacy Elite II, Ford F-250 6.7 L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geronimo John Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 Please Please provide your tow vehicle and trailer info in your signature block. Thank you, PS: Hope OTT, Bulldog, Anderson can figure this one out. GJ 1 TV: 2019 F-150 SuperCrew Lariat, 3.5L EcoBoost, Max Tow, FX-4, Rear Locker OLLIE: 2018 OE2 Hull 342, Twin Bed. OLLIE DIY’s: Timken Bearings, BB LiFePO4's, Victron 712 Smart, 350 Amp Master Switch, Houghton 3400, Victron Orion DC - DC, 3000-Watt Renogy Inverter, P.D. 60-amp Converter, Frig Dual Exhaust Fans, Kitchen Drawer Straps. TV DIY’s: 2 5/16" Anderson System, Nitto recon’s, Firestone Rear Air Bags, Bilstein 5100’s, Mud Flaps & Weather Tech all, installed Ham Radio (WH6JPR). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karin Posted December 15, 2022 Author Share Posted December 15, 2022 (edited) John, I can’t figure out how to add the tow vehicle information, hull # and model?! I don’t see an option in my account settings… Hull#942; Last 2021 Legacy Elite II, Ford F-250 6.7 L Edited December 15, 2022 by Karin Hull#942; Last 2021 Legacy Elite II, Ford F-250 6.7 L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators topgun2 Posted December 15, 2022 Moderators Share Posted December 15, 2022 2 hours ago, Karin said: John, I can’t figure out how to add the tow vehicle information, hull # and model?! I don’t see an option in my account settings… Left click on your avatar left click on "account Settings" find "Signature" on left side of screen left click on "Signature" Enter the info and left click on save Bill 1 2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist" Near Asheville, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator+ ScubaRx Posted December 15, 2022 Moderator+ Share Posted December 15, 2022 3 hours ago, Karin said: John, I can’t figure out how to add the tow vehicle information, hull # and model?! I don’t see an option in my account settings… Hull#942; Last 2021 Legacy Elite II, Ford F-250 6.7 L I added this info to your Signature. It's under where you Edit your profile. Feel free to change it to whatever you desire. 1 Steve, Tali and our dog Rocky plus our beloved Storm, Lucy, Maggie and Reacher (all waiting at the Rainbow Bridge) 2008 Legacy Elite I - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #026 | 2014 Legacy Elite II - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #050 | 2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD SRW Diesel 4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katjo Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 That is shocking the coupler is bent with you not knowing/feeling how! Can’t even imagine that bending. I agree with John, you need more info from Oliver. Please keep us updated. 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 2021 Oliver Elite ll Hull #732 Michigan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karin Posted December 16, 2022 Author Share Posted December 16, 2022 So we left the Oliver Service Center about two hours ago and Mike in service was puzzled as he has only seen 2 other bent couplers. (One had been severely torqued/twisted on an uneven surface while parking at a campsite and the other was with a jackknifed/rolled accident). Our damage remains a mystery (no other signs of stress). Since the part was only about 6 months old, Oliver did a warranty exchange on the coupler and charged us for the labor to install a new one. Thanks for the group comments and support! 2 Hull#942; Last 2021 Legacy Elite II, Ford F-250 6.7 L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNY SD UP Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 When backing up or turning, did you happen to "jack-knife"? Your situation is different than ours in that we have the storage basket attached. I do not know what that would look like when just the hitch is involved. I did jack-knife on our last outing putting a dimple on one side of the TV rear bumper. It was followed by "Pounding on the window" and the mouthing of "You hurt my truck". By the end of the trip, I had a matching one on the other side of the bumper... Regards, B-out 1 1 Maggie & Bryan | Arnegard, ND | 2020 LE II "Twins" Hull #665 | 2021 RAM 2500 6.4L HEMI Gasser 4dr 6.5' bed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karin Posted December 16, 2022 Author Share Posted December 16, 2022 So we left the Oliver Service Center about two hours ago and Mike in service was puzzled as he has only seen 2 other bent couplers. (One had been severely torqued/twisted on an uneven surface while parking at a campsite and the other was with a jackknifed/rolled accident). Our damage remains a mystery (no other signs of stress). Since the part was only about 6 months old, Oliver did a warranty exchange on the coupler and charged us for the labor to install a new one. Thanks for the group comments and support! SNY SD UP, I’m sorry to hear about your truck bumper! Our close friends also turned the basket into their new truck bumper with a sharp turn. We removed ours because it interferes with the camera backup assist feature on the Ford F-250. This backup assist feature also provides protection to prevent jackknifing by providing a “red zone” on our truck screen and it screams at you, if you dare get too close to jackknifing …. 4 Hull#942; Last 2021 Legacy Elite II, Ford F-250 6.7 L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators mossemi Posted December 16, 2022 Moderators Share Posted December 16, 2022 10 hours ago, Karin said: This backup assist feature also provides protection to prevent jackknifing by providing a “red zone” on our truck screen and it screams at you, if you dare get too close to jackknifing …. I certainly don’t like being screamed at, but the backup assist seems like a useful feature. Mossey 3 Mike and Krunch Lutz, FL 2017 LEII #193 “the dog house” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivernerd Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 19 hours ago, SNY SD UP said: I did jack-knife on our last outing putting a dimple on one side of the TV rear bumper. It was followed by "Pounding on the window" and the mouthing of "You hurt my truck". By the end of the trip, I had a matching one on the other side of the bumper.. That is precisely why we did not order the front basket with our new Elite II. When I had a similar experience with my raft trailer 20+ years ago, I added a 3-foot straight section of steel to extend that trailer's A-frame tongue, then put a different coupler on it. Now when I have to jack knife that trailer, no bumper damage. Since I could not realistically add length to the Oliver tongue, we opted to forego the basket--and carry the stuff that could have been in the basket in the back of our Tundra tow vehicle. 3 Hull #1291 Central Idaho 2022 Elite II Tow Vehicle: 2019 Tundra Double Cab 4x4, 5.7L with tow package Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boudicca908 Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 On 12/14/2022 at 6:33 PM, Karin said: They say the coupler is bent. Any chance a photo could be added to this thread? 2 Oliver Elite II Twin (delivered 3/28/2022) Tow Vehicle: Chevy Silverado 2500HD diesel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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