ntsqd
technerd
It is true the G8 is more brittle than G5 and will fail much more suddenly. It is also true that a G5 will fail by stretching rather than breaking, but at a loading that a G8 won't even be concerned by.
The shape of both the frame rail and the hitch are not rigid enough to assume total clamp load distribution across the whole contact surface. Not going to happen. Look at how close cylinder head bolts are to each other and then consider how much more rigid a cylinder head is compared to the frame rail or the trailer hitch.
Consider the frictional area to be the sum of the areas of a washer at each bolt. That is the conservative (safest) approach. From a clamp load perspective the full length spacer is a waste of time. There are other valid reasons for making them, but clamp load distribution is not one of them.
The shape of both the frame rail and the hitch are not rigid enough to assume total clamp load distribution across the whole contact surface. Not going to happen. Look at how close cylinder head bolts are to each other and then consider how much more rigid a cylinder head is compared to the frame rail or the trailer hitch.
Consider the frictional area to be the sum of the areas of a washer at each bolt. That is the conservative (safest) approach. From a clamp load perspective the full length spacer is a waste of time. There are other valid reasons for making them, but clamp load distribution is not one of them.
