Hitch for back of Trailer

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Hey All, I am wanting to make a hitch for the back of my trailer for mounting bikes.  Curt makes a bolt on unit for about $400, I got enough material kicking around that it would be a nice project.Anyways the only problem is that the trailer rests on 2 - 2" x 5" I beams.  The Curt hitch uses a bent plate to connect to the I Beam - but my brake only goes down to 12 ga steel, maybe 10. So I cannot bend up a nice plate like theirs.Here is what the Curt hitch looks like:  http://www.etrailer.com/Specialty-Tr...urt/13703.html Do you think I could just use flat steel to hold the hitch cross member, then weld this to  1" x 4" square tubing.  This tubing would then nestle in the I beam and be held on with bolts.  I'd weld the hitch onto the box, but just bolt the box through the I Beam.thanks!Mike
Reply:Wow!  I can't believe they get that much for one of those.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Why use thier design anyway?  Forget the bent plate, go with something like angle. You could use maybe 3/16" or 1/4" angle and weld on a 3/16" or 1/4" square plate to immulate that hanger. You could even weld in a few small gussetts to strengthen it if you wished. That's an easy build without have to brake any plate.Last edited by goinssr; 02-01-2011 at 09:36 PM.StephenMillermatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200Miller 30A SpoolgunHypertherm Powermax 30Etc., etc., etc.............Cancer Sucks!
Reply:I ended up taking a piece of 4 by 4 by 1/4 angle, kind of wrapping it around the rear bumper, and then welding it in place at each end.    I had to grind the inside of the angle to get it up snug with the bumper.   The hitch was welded to the angle on the bench.   Came out looking very nice, the angle is almost invisible, you just see the hitch below the bumper.A couple of comments:  If you are like me, you don't weld overhead much, so that was kind of a mess.  The trailer frame was 1/8 inch thick, so I could not use 1/8 inch rods without burning through.  (Yeah, a good welder could have done it, and maybe I could have done it if it was not overhead.)  So I like the idea of welding the whole thing on the bench, being able to flip it around to get the welds in position, and then bolting the hitch in place.The 4 by 4 angle does not have much torsional rigidity, so if you step on the ball of the hitch you can notice the flex.  Maybe I should have welded the bottom edge of the angle to the bumper, (4 by 4 tube) would have been stiffer. If I had much weight on the hitch I would worry about it, but the rear trailer weighs maybe 400 pounds, just a small aluminum boat.  And I don't use the hitch much anyway.  I had originally planned to add a piece of tubing behind the bumper to stiffen it up, but changed my mind.   If I started hauling heavier loads I would probably add the tubing.But you are talking about hanging bikes on it.   Motorbikes or regular bikes?  I have hung a couple of regulard bikes off my hitch without problems, but the bikes probably weigh less than 50 pounds each.At the price they want for it, copy their basic design, make it a little heavier, and call it good.   If you don't have a brake, just weld it up in parts.  If you overdesign it you don't need to worry much about the quality of your welds, unless you have a 110V MIG.RichardLast edited by raferguson; 02-02-2011 at 05:26 PM.Sculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:Sounds like a winner and saved yourself a LOT of $$$!StephenMillermatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200Miller 30A SpoolgunHypertherm Powermax 30Etc., etc., etc.............Cancer Sucks!