NHTSA Complaint #724819 — 2000 FORD F-350

PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH FACTORY INSTALLED CLASS IV TRAILER HITCH RECEIVER. FOUND THAT STANDARD TRAILER SAFETY CHAINS WILL NOT FIT INTO SLOTS PROVIDED ON THE HITCH ASSEMBLY. LEARNED THAT MANY OTHER F350 OWNERS (MAY ALSO INCLUDE FORD F250 SUPER DUTY OWNERS) HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH THEY HAVE SOLVED THEMSELVES BUY EITHER MODIFYING THE HITCH (HITCH IS NOT TO BE CUT, WELDED OR MODIFIED PER MANUFACTURES INSTRUCTIONS) OR JURY RIGGED THE HITCH IN SOME FASHION IN ORDER TO ATTACH THE TRAILERS SAFETY CHAINS TO THE TRUCKS. I HAVE EVEN OBSERVED ONE F350 TOWING WITHOUT THE SAFETY CHAINS ATTACHED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MANY PURCHASE THESE VEHICLES TO TOW HEAVY (UP TO 10,000 LBS) TRAILERS AND RECREATION VEHICLES. IT IS ALSO UNLAWFUL IN MOST (IF NOT ALL) STATES TO IMPROPERLY OR NOT ATTACH THESE SAFETY CHAINS WHEN TOWING A TRAILER. I ALSO FEEL THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT.*AK