Receiver Hitch Extension - for bike rack on jeep

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I had one of my friends that has a Jeep.  His bike rack hits the tire on the back so he wanted me to make an extension for his receiver hitch.I figured this was a quick and easy for me to practice on.  Feel free to chime in with any comments about the welds.I checked the fit on the RV.  Have to drill the holes tomorrow at work.John - Chesapeake Attached Images
Reply:It's hard to tell from the picts but I see what looks like some issues with the toes on a few of the spots at the top. I can't tell if it's just cold or if it's undercut. Theres also a few hiccups here and there. I marked what I saw.If this was me, I'd drill the hole for the bike mount a smaller size than the standard reciever pin. That way there's no chance someone might get the idea to mount the ball for towing a car like the way you show in the picts. You could always add a bushing to the bike rack if needed.I have no idea what machine you used, so I can't comment on if it was really enough for the item for towing use. For just bikes it's plenty, but I'd want to be sure someone later didn't use it for something critical. Attached Images.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks for the input.  Good idea on using the smaller hole.  It's for his bike rack only but like you said you never know what someone will do down the road.It was actually undercut.  I have an Autoarc 255 and had it cranked up and was on the floor welding. I need to keep practicing.  I also need to work on the settings.  I was going thru the manual last night looking at that.It will get there.John
Reply:It looks to me that you are whipping or putting a bit of shape into your weld ie mig like tig.I know it seems to be unfashionable but a smooth steady weld will not give you the undercut you're getting.I think if you get the basics right then you can experiment with manipulating the handpiece.
Reply:Originally Posted by danielwIt looks to me that you are whipping or putting a bit of shape into your weld ie mig like tig.I know it seems to be unfashionable but a smooth steady weld will not give you the undercut you're getting.I think if you get the basics right then you can experiment with manipulating the handpiece.
Reply:LOL....  I'd say your welds are fine.I have at Least 10 'Store bought' Hitch Tubes of various Drops, extensions and sizes and the welds on those things are quite simply 'The Sh!ts".  I would doubt VERY much that your Hitch would come apart ANY time soon, even when pulling something much heavier.Miller Diversion 165120 amp Buzz BoxVictor Oxy/Ace Oxy/LPGSmith "Little" Oxy/LPGHypertherm Powermax 30Lot's of Misc. tools n' crap....
Reply:finished drilling the holes and painting. Attached Images
Reply:I think it will hold up a bike rack!  I usually add a collar to the tubes I make, just to guard against stretching the mouth open any wider under shock loads. I see a lot of the production welds, and I wonder if they are either done with dualshield or spray transfer. I have been wishing to get a bottle of spray-friendly gas for quite a while, to try out some spray mode welds. 3/16" and thicker should hold up to some heat I should think. Nice paint job too. City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Yeah, I thought about the collar but this is just for a couple of bikes.  I've been reading up on the spray welding.  Looks like it would put some serious heat in it.Here are a couple of pictures of the hitch on the Jeep.I got a couple of hockey tickets out of it so it's all good.John Attached Images