Trailer hitch

[bluefury361]

I've had several requests about the trailer hitch I made to fit Jazebelle and tow our pop up camper to Carlisle. So I thought i'd post the info here.

I was able to do it without drilling any holes in the car and the method can be used on just about any car with a little modification.

I first made a cardboard template of the area on the rear of the frame rails where the bumper brackets attach, (two 1/2" bolts per side). I had two 3/8" iron brackets cut with a water jet and then welded a 90 degree 3/8" iron bracket to it. I knotched the rear frame mount hole and drilled the forward hole. By doing this I can remove the forward bracket bolt and loosen the rear .... enough to slip the hitch bracket behind the bolt and pivot it up to reinstall the forward bolt.

I located a new class III hitch in a pawn shop for 50 bucks ..... still had it's original packaging and hardware, that was designed for a toyota land cruiser. Any hitch will work as long as it will fit between the fabricated brackets.
I cut the original frame mounts off the hitch and welded a 3/8" iron "L" bracket in its place.

I then used 1/2" grade 8 bolts & nuts, (three per side), to attach the hitch to the frame brackets. A simple electrical connector with a disconnect was spliced into the cars rear light harness.

You may be able to get away with using 1/4" steel plate for your brackets but I overbuilt a little.
The trip to Carlisle and back went without a hitch..... (Hee hee ... get it...?) Nothing moved, came loose, or needed adjusting.

Once home I just reversed the install procedure to remove the hitch with no indication it was ever there. About 10 minutes.

Some pictures .......

 

[Zymurgy]

Thanks Will, you know I was one of those people. Great engineering, I love that you can just put it on when you need it. One of these day I will make one for sure. If I use it to pull one of my work trailer, could I write off the work I has performed on the Goldie???

 

[1978 NYB]

Dang!!!!

Will.....is that a Class X hitch? LOL!

 

[Zymurgy]

Dang!!!!

Will.....is that a Class X hitch? LOL!

Too funny, I was thinking I would have to brake out the old stick welder, the MIG won't weld that 1/2 inch stuff.

 

[bluefury361]

Dang!!!!

Will.....is that a Class X hitch? LOL!

Probably overkill using the 3/8" steel. But the hitch will handle a lot more then the car is capable of hauling.

I was thinking I would have to brake out the old stick welder, the MIG won't weld that 1/2 inch stuff.

A friend welded it up for me using a MIG.

 

[1978 NYB]

You won't have to ever worry about that hitch failing. Good job!

 

[Samplingman]

Took a double take when I saw it on the Carlise photo thread, very cool!

 

[bluefury361]

It tucks in pretty good. Theres 13" of ground clearance and I have various different receivers to keep trailers level.

 

[Samplingman]

What exactly is a "water jet" that was used to cut the steel?

 

[Wollfen]

What exactly is a "water jet" that was used to cut the steel?

They have machines now that look like a laser cutter but in fact squirt out a fine jet of water so powerful that it will cut through anything, its amazing to see but it leaves a clean no spatter cut and is highly accurate too.

 

[bluefury361]

They have machines now that look like a laser cutter but in fact squirt out a fine jet of water so powerful that it will cut through anything, its amazing to see but it leaves a clean no spatter cut and is highly accurate too.

That was the single most expensive part of the hitch. Cost $75.00 to have them cut, but that included the 3/8" steel plate.

 

[Big_John]

I have a friend that owns a Waterjet shop. He does a little of everything. He cut a 3" thick granite surface plate in half for me once. His machines use 50K psi jet of water with sand mixed in as an abrasive.

Here's a short video.

 

[bajajoaquin]

Nicely done.

My hitch is welded in place from a former owner. It hangs down a fair bit, and will whack stuff pretty good from time to time. I wish mine was removable, because I will probably use my car to go dirt bike riding, which will require a hitch carrier. But it hardly seems worth it to deal with the receiver all the time for a couple-time-a-year use.

 

[bluefury361]

Bumped this thread for Carl

 

[FarCanal]

I've had several requests about the trailer hitch I made to fit Jazebelle and tow our pop up camper to Carlisle. So I thought i'd post the info here.

I was able to do it without drilling any holes in the car and the method can be used on just about any car with a little modification.

I first made a cardboard template of the area on the rear of the frame rails where the bumper brackets attach, (two 1/2" bolts per side). I had two 3/8" iron brackets cut with a water jet and then welded a 90 degree 3/8" iron bracket to it. I knotched the rear frame mount hole and drilled the forward hole. By doing this I can remove the forward bracket bolt and loosen the rear .... enough to slip the hitch bracket behind the bolt and pivot it up to reinstall the forward bolt.

I located a new class III hitch in a pawn shop for 50 bucks ..... still had it's original packaging and hardware, that was designed for a toyota land cruiser. Any hitch will work as long as it will fit between the fabricated brackets.
I cut the original frame mounts off the hitch and welded a 3/8" iron "L" bracket in its place.

I then used 1/2" grade 8 bolts & nuts, (three per side), to attach the hitch to the frame brackets. A simple electrical connector with a disconnect was spliced into the cars rear light harness.

You may be able to get away with using 1/4" steel plate for your brackets but I overbuilt a little.
The trip to Carlisle and back went without a hitch..... (Hee hee ... get it...?) Nothing moved, came loose, or needed adjusting.

Once home I just reversed the install procedure to remove the hitch with no indication it was ever there. About 10 minutes.

Some pictures .......


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Okay
So where is that Bar Now ???
Dying to get one !!!
You could've made a nice little side business, from the units required, I see. Put it this way _ I'll pay you to whip one up for me !!! SERIOUSLY !!! Cheers, Big Jim - DownUnder

 

[bluefury361]

Okay
So where is that Bar Now ???
Dying to get one !!!
You could've made a nice little side business, from the units required, I see. Put it this way _ I'll pay you to whip one up for me !!! SERIOUSLY !!! Cheers, Big Jim - DownUnder

It's currently doing service on my 69 Fury suburban, towing our 19' vintage camper.
Between being built and installed on my 69 300 to tow the pop up camper and it's current duty, I've towed over 20K miles with it with a problem.

I'd need to have your car, or one like it to fab up a working hitch.

 

[FarCanal]

View attachment 89860 View attachment 89861
It's currently doing service on my 69 Fury suburban, towing our 19' vintage camper.
Between being built and installed on my 69 300 to tow the pop up camper and it's current duty, I've towed over 20K miles with it with a problem.

I'd need to have your car, or one like it to fab up a working hitch.

Howdy
I drive a 1976 Chrysler New Yorker Door Coupe 440V8 - so good luck finding one to "use as a template" = DAMMIT !!!
Thanks for your time & interest
Cheers - Big Jim - DownUnder