Will this work better?

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OK here is my plan, the trailer hitch for my dad's motorbike showed up today and we went to install it, but I don't like what they want me to do. (drill out four taped holes in the fender so a longer bolt can pass through) As you can see in the pic they want me to put the bolt from the center out, then it bolts to the saddle bag bracket, but what i would like to do is get a longer bolt (longer then what came with the bike to hold the saddle bag on) have it go from the outside in (the way it came from Yamaha) have it thread into the fender bracket (the four they wanted me to drill out) and keep going through and thread into a nuts I want to weld to the side of the hitch. If you could see the hardware they sent to bolt this on you would be shocked, cheap lag bolts and other junk. Plus I am going to try to get the new bolts in grade 8's if i can.  It is in my head, but getting it to paper is the hard part.    Thanks for the help 07classic. Attached Images
Reply:Not a good idea.If the bolt threads into the first threaded hole and draws up tight in the fender bracket, how's it going to tighten up on the hitch that you welded the nut to.I agree with the quality of fasteners btw...Mike
Reply:I agree, sounds like you shouldn't weld the nut to the bracket. Have it pass though the bracket and then use a locknut. You said the fender has four tapered holes. Are these tapered to the inside of the fender, where they expect the bracket to go? Will the proturding taper keep the bracket spaced away from the fender? Is the bracket intended to be tight up against the inside of the fender?
Reply:Well I do not have a trailer hitch on either of my Harley's! But from what I have seen of the manufactured trailer hitches they are well designed for each Bike application as is the hardware selected to attach the trailer hitch. The carriage bolts are designed to pull into the metal as the  hitch is attached and tighten onto the bike. While the grade 8 bolts seem like a good idea I would not recommend it. The attaching bolt might eventually vibrate loose. Welding the hitch onto the bike "MIGHT" work but again is not recommended. The heat of the welding changes the temper to the material and unless you are sure you can get a safe road grade weld I wouldn't recommend it. Never mind if you weld you now also have added more work as to body work & painting of that fender. Use the original hitch and hardware its cheaper, less work and safer in the long run.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Originally Posted by specterWell I do not have a trailer hitch on either of my Harley's! But from what I have seen of the manufactured trailer hitches they are well designed for each Bike application as is the hardware selected to attach the trailer hitch. The carriage bolts are designed to pull into the metal as the  hitch is attached and tighten onto the bike. While the grade 8 bolts seem like a good idea I would not recommend it. The attaching bolt might eventually vibrate loose. Welding the hitch onto the bike "MIGHT" work but again is not recommended. The heat of the welding changes the temper to the material and unless you are sure you can get a safe road grade weld I wouldn't recommend it. Never mind if you weld you now also have added more work as to body work & painting of that fender. Use the original hitch and hardware its cheaper, less work and safer in the long run.
Reply:and if a prob. does happen --YOU HAVE NOT--- altered the factory specs
Reply:I wanna see a bale spike on the back of a HarleyJudgeing by some of the er....er......ladies I see on the back of some of 'em, they oughta be able to at least handle a 4x5 round bale"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Thanks guy's, after I read the first few, I seen the a mistake I was about to make.  As for the carriage bolts it came with, the holes they drilled in the side of the hitch are to small for the (square part) of the carriage bolt to sit in its spot. I don't what that piece is called.