Need 5/8"x3" Grade 8 carriage bolts for 5th wheel hitch??? - Diesel Forum

awayne · 03-02-2007, 10:54 PM

Can anyone help me in finding a 5/8"x3" grade 8 carriage bolt for my 30k reese low-pro 5th wheel hitch? My local trailer place got the hitch for me but the bolts do not come with it from Reese.

FleetMan · 03-03-2007, 01:19 AM

Look under "Fasteners" in your local Yellow Pages.

PerryB · 03-03-2007, 02:38 AM

I'm going to ask a dumb question, but can you get carriage bolts in grade 8? I've never seen them past grade 5, which is what I've always used in hitch installations -- certainly 8's are stronger, I'm not argueing that point but I've naver seen such an animal.

Albin · 03-03-2007, 08:47 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I'm going to ask a dumb question, but can you get carriage bolts in grade 8? I've never seen them past grade 5, which is what I've always used in hitch installations -- certainly 8's are stronger, I'm not argueing that point but I've naver seen such an animal.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm betting there's no such thing as a Grade 8 carriage bolt.

As for ordering, page 2959: http://www.mcmaster.com/

Good luck.

Al

RatherBNtheWoods · 03-03-2007, 09:54 AM

I've never seen a grade 8 carriage bolt. Which, being said, is next to meaningless for I haven't seen ALL bolts that are made. The instructions do say
"6. Bolt the base assembly in place with the four grade 5 or higher 5/8” carriage bolts, locking nuts, and flat washers. The nuts and washers should be below the 1/2” plate. (5/8” carriagebolts, locking nuts, flat washers are not supplied)"
so I would go with the grade 5's. I'm not even sure the grades 8's are much stronger than the 5's. Hardness grades(3,5,8) are not equivalent or indicative of tensile strength. They are harder, but??
It's like Maple wood is harder than Oak, but it's not as strong.

firesoutmatt · 03-03-2007, 10:29 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Can anyone help me in finding a 5/8"x3" grade 8 carriage bolt for my 30k reese low-pro 5th wheel hitch? My local trailer place got the hitch for me but the bolts do not come with it from Reese.

[/ QUOTE ]

Call Resse and tell them your hitch didn't come with a hardware kit.
They will send you one .

The rail kits come with all the hardware to install. Your local trailer place is not being truthfull.

KVOM · 03-03-2007, 10:40 AM

In my experience Ace Hardware stores are excellent for finding bolts of all sorts.

Birken Vogt · 03-03-2007, 11:25 AM

I have never seen a grade 8 carriage bolt either but a regular bolt with a flat washer should work in the same place, however I have always used grade 5 hardware to attach trailer hitches, it is either what came with it or what was specified. If you do need grade 8 bolts the place I get them is at the local auto parts, they have them in all sizes up to humongous in the back room. The hardware store is only good for grade 5 and only relatively small sizes.

Birken

fulltimer50 · 03-03-2007, 12:01 PM

I have gotten hardened bolts from NAPA.

Albin · 03-03-2007, 01:17 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I've never seen a grade 8 carriage bolt. Which, being said, is next to meaningless for I haven't seen ALL bolts that are made. The instructions do say
"6. Bolt the base assembly in place with the four grade 5 or higher 5/8” carriage bolts, locking nuts, and flat washers. The nuts and washers should be below the 1/2” plate. (5/8” carriagebolts, locking nuts, flat washers are not supplied)"
so I would go with the grade 5's. I'm not even sure the grades 8's are much stronger than the 5's. Hardness grades(3,5,8) are not equivalent or indicative of tensile strength. They are harder, but??
It's like Maple wood is harder than Oak, but it's not as strong.

[/ QUOTE ]

Feel free to educate yourself:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...lts_signed.pdf

Take particular note of Table 1 and the discussion on the bottom of page 8 on selecting bolt grade.

Thanks,

Al

**SteveRacer** · 03-03-2007, 03:25 PM

Next we'll be hearing how Grade 8 is no good for hitches because they're "brittle" and they don't flex enough.

Or how hitch companies purposely use Grade 5 so that they break away in an emergency and the trailer doesn't drag the truck with it over a cliff...

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

Anyhow, unless there is some clearance issue, or the fastners really do locate on a square hole, I would just get button-head socket capscrews. They are available in several grades. In reality unless you need that head shape regular Grade 8 bolts will do.

Carriage bolts are for wooden carriages! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

-steve

PerryB · 03-04-2007, 12:44 AM

They DO actually locate in a square hole, and the carriage head is nice because you can install them by yourself. I've installed several 5th hitches and they all came with grade 5 hardware. I've never doubted the integrity of the installation. P.S. -- FWIW -- our local John Deere store carries #5 carriage bolts (I don't know who actually makes them) that have a very nice anodized gold finish. I use them whenever appearance is a consideration, also they don't tarnish like regular cad-plated hardware does.