Creating a trailer hitch for a box truck with a liftgate to tow a compact car

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I have a 1999 Freightliner FL-70 box truck with a liftgate. I want to add a trailer hitch to it so that I can flat tow a 1999 Mazda Miata. Since it's a tiny car that's pretty low to the ground, I would need the hitch to go pretty low as to prevent pulling up on the Miata. I assume I would need to modify something or make something custom for this. Any suggestions?Here's a pic of the truck.
Reply:With that much body behind the axel it will scrape the ground very easy with a low hitch setup. If you use a tow bar that is hinged near the car you can use a hitch that is taller.
Reply:Something like this?Attachment 1285071
Reply:Your attachment does not work.
Reply:I drove a Miata for seven or eight years. As thegary said, they'll scrape if you don't tow them pretty carefully. I'd actually consult a tow truck driver for just how high you can lift one, because I'm not sure they work well with a standard towing dolly. You could probably use the front recovery hooks (if yours has them- they didn't put them in a lot of the NB Miatas for some reason), but a lot of people suggest against doing so for long tows.Currently working as a Paralegal, but still interested in hobby welding.Miller Bobcat 225ntOne- Character Fractions: ¼ ½ ¾ ⅛ ⅜ ⅝ ⅞
Reply:Oops! Here's the attachment again:As for the Miata, from everything I've been reading online, it seems like there are 2 groups of people: those who think it's a bad idea to tow the Miata with any of the wheels on the ground, and those who have actually flat towed the Miata (all 4 wheels on the ground) long distances with no problems. It seems like there's a consensus that using the standard towing dolly (2 wheels on the ground) is a bad idea.Then there are those who say you shouldn't use the tie down hooks for towing because that's not what they were made for and those who say that the tie down hooks are a great place to attach a draw bar. Overall, I get the impression that it's the "follow the manual" crowd vs. the "have done it for tens of thousands of miles without problems" crowd. I've yet to find data from people who have first or second hand experience flat towing that warns against doing it.Given all this info, I decided that my plan was to flat tow it using those recovery hooks (perhaps reinforced, just in case).
Reply:Yes that is the type of tow bar I was talking about. There are lists for vehicals that can be flat towed. Just put it in the search with the model year of the miata. A lot of stick shifts can be flat towed but autos are another story. So I would take note of that too. I would go by those who have towed them. Everyone has a opinion and most have no idea so they think it is not good. Some states require some sort of braking system in the towed car if you flat tow so you need to check the regs for the states you will travel through.  You will find that the flatter you can keep the tow bar the better it will tow but you will not be able to keep it flat behind that truck or the hitch will be scraping the ground all the time.Well after investigating the 99 miata on the internet, mazda does not recommend flat towing it. If it were mine and I only needed to tow it one time because I was moving I would just remove the driveshaft and flat tow it. If you are only going a couple hundred miles I would probably chance it with the driveshaft still hooked up.  There are many that have flat towed it with no problems so I guess it depends on what you are comfortable with.Last edited by thegary; 12-07-2015 at 12:05 AM.
Reply:Thanks for investigating, appreciate it!The Miata is a stick shift yes, and I'll look into the braking system requirements, thanks for bringing that up.In my research I read one tip in particular about the driveshaft that I thought was important. It was:I see a lot of Miatas being towed 4 down.  Many have successfully towed Miatas 4 down and stated that they've never experienced any problems.  That most likely is because they've never removed the driveshaft and inspected the yoke.  The driveshaft is a non-serviceable item and lists for over $800 bucks from Mazda.  The yoke turns inside a bronze bushing in the tailshaft housing of the transmission (manual).  No lube gets to this area unless the car is running and towing will eventually gall the bushing and ruin the yoke.  I found a way around this.  I put an elbow in the filler hole so I can overfill the transmission.  This keeps the yoke/bushing bathed in lube and so far, 10,000 + miles, the rear seal on the trans appears to be holding up well.  No leakage.
Reply:It's a Miata. Drop the lift gate, open the door, and drive the car into the box. Gate frame really isn't designed as a towing structure. It's there to support the deck extension and act as a bumper. It's not really designed to take loads pulling aft. Granted a Miata doesn't weigh much but you aren't pulling in most cases straight from the frame of the vehicle. You have a lot of corners to complicate the moment forces..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:I wonder if you could come up with an idea going off the design of the Super Hitch? I built one for a friend so he could tow his horse trailer, with his camper in the bed of the truck. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWIt's a Miata. Drop the lift gate, open the door, and drive the car into the box. Gate frame really isn't designed as a towing structure...you aren't pulling in most cases straight from the frame of the vehicle. You have a lot of corners to complicate the moment forces.
Reply:Rent a truck with a ramp instead of the gate. That will simplify things considerably. By the time you build something to work for what you want to do it will cost more than it is worth. They make moving trucks that are low profile that are not near as tall as the one you have pictured that has a storable ramp sestem for loading and comes with a towing ball already installed.  Do not try to reinvent the wheel here.Last edited by thegary; 12-07-2015 at 07:20 AM.
Reply:Oh I have no idea how much it would cost. Only times I’ve ever paid a welder to weld for me was on the job, and paid them by the hour.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by thegaryRent a truck with a ramp instead of the gate. That will simplify things considerably. By the time you build something to work for what you want to do it will cost more than it is worth. They make moving trucks that are low profile that are not near as tall as the one you have pictured that has a storable ramp sestem for loading and comes with a towing ball already installed.  Do not try to reinvent the wheel here.
Reply:Originally Posted by thegaryRent a truck with a ramp instead of the gate.
Reply:I assuemed you were a welder since this is a welder forum. Good luck finding a shop that is willing to take on the liability for a one shot deal at a reasonable cost. At best he will never see you again, at worst you will be his biggest nightmare.
Reply:Originally Posted by thegaryGood luck finding a shop that is willing to take on the liability for a one shot deal at a reasonable cost. At best he will never see you again, at worst you will be his biggest nightmare.
Reply:Super hitch would probably be preferable to an extra long draw bar based on where the pivot for the "trailer" is..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:thegary has a very good point! I pick and choose who I build things for. The buddy I built the super hitch for, everyday for years I put my life in his hands. He ran crane for me, so I know for a fact, if that hitch broke, he would say he bought it off Craigs list. Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWSuper hitch would probably be preferable to an extra long draw bar based on where the pivot for the "trailer" is.
Reply:Originally Posted by cqrmskOkay thanks! I will likely go with this.I didn't quite understand thegary's mentioning liability until you said this--thaaaat's what he meant by liability. I get it more now Thanks everyone for your input!