NHTSA Complaint #10521289 — 2006 HAUL-MASTER UTILITY TRAILER #42708

I PURCHASED THIS TRAILER FROM HARBOR FREIGHT IN APRIL OF 2006, AND HAVE USED IT ONLY OCCASIONALLY UP TO NOW. YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AS I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE IT TO A STORE TO BRING HOME SOME ITEMS---THE TRAILER BOUNCED LOOSE OF THE HITCHBALL ON MY CAR. LUCKILLY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5-10 MPH, AND THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER FELL DOWN AND WAS CAPTURED BY THE SAFETY CHAINS. AFTER A QUICK VISUAL CHECK, I RETURNED HOME ( ONLY ABOUT 2 BLOCKS) . WHEN I EXAMINED THE HITCH MORE CLOSELY, I DISCOVERED THAT THE RIVIT THAT ACTS AS A FULCRUM ON THE PART OF THE HITCH THAT GRABS THE BOTTOM OF THE HITCH BALL, HAD BROKEN OFF, COMPLETELY ON ONE SIDE. THIS CAUSED THE PART OF THE HITCH,WHICH CATCHES THE LOWER PART OF THE HITCH BALL TO SWING LOOSE AND ALLOW THE TRAILER TO UNCOUPLE.