GenY and Roadmaster Hitch Pin Weight Capacity Comparisons

Updated 05/11/2021 | Published 05/08/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Roadmaster Nighthawk All-Terrain Tow Bar w/ LED Lights - Non-Binding - RV Mount - 8,000 lbs

(793)

$1545.00

Gen-Y Hitch Pin and Clip for 2-1/2" and 3" Hitches - 5/8" Diameter x 4" Span

(140)

$15.97

Replacement Shank for Gen-Y Adjustable Ball Mount - 2" Hitch - 7-1/2" Drop/Rise - 10K

(11)

$223.97

Roadmaster Hitch Lock for 2" Hitches - 4" Span - Qty 2

(138)

$72.83

Roadmaster Hitch Pin and Clip for 2" or 2-1/2" Hitch - 5/8" Diameter x 4" Span

(15)

$17.24

Question:

What is the actual strength of a hitch pin? The reason I ask is because we were towing our Wrangler behind our Motorhome as follows: A GenY 304 hitch attached to our motorhome secured with a Roadmaster locking hitch pin. Then a Roadmaster Nighthawk towbar connected to the GenY with one of the GenY supplied hitch pins supplied for that purpose. Unfortunately for us, the Roadmaster hitch pin either sheared or the locking mechanism failed and it worked loose. The result was the GenY and towbar separating from the Motorhome, bouncing off of the road and back onto the hood of the Wrangler embedding itself. When I tried stopping as slowwwwly as I could on a fairly level road, I could not stop slow enough to prevent the Wrangler from hitting the Motorhome causing more damage to the Jeep and to the Motorhome. The breakaway didnt pull out since I had the MH end attached to the GenY which stayed attached to the Jeep. The Jeep is in for repairs now and we are waiting to get home to NY to have the MH repaired. Roadmaster was great in sending me a replacement towbar which got damaged one arm wouldnt retract, as well as a new locking hitch pin, and safety cables even though I couldnt prove their hitch pin failed because I never went back to look for it. Stupid, I know. Although we realize it was a fluke accident, we are bit fearful of another pin breaking, though this time Im going to use the GenY hitch pins for both points of attachment and not the Roadmaster pin. Why not design hitch receivers that require TWO pins to attach so that one backs up the other? But back to my original question, how strong or weak are these pins and what are best practices?

asked by: Ray

Helpful Expert Reply:

Roadmaster hitch pins like # RM-316 and # RM-910034 are both rated for 10,000lbs. The GenY hitch pins like the # 325-GH-099 are rated for 32,000lbs. If you were using the # RM-316 the only way the lock would fall off is if it wasn't properly seated on the hitch pin when installed. If you were using the # RM-910034 the hitch pin clip could've came off. The GenY hitch pin clips wrap down for a bit of extra protection from coming off unlike the Roadmaster hitch pin clips. When -installing your # 325-GH-304 and # RM-676 and you're placing the pins in try to rattle the locking mechanisms to ensure that they're on tightly and inspect all parts for rust or corrosion as this could cause a part like the hitch pin clip to fail.