lowering my hitch

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i still have to add gussets and  braces back to the  frame..but now that i am started i will be obligated to finish...as soon as i can scrounge some  material[url=]
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Reply:try againfirst pass is  7018 stick  flat positionand the next photo is a 2 stringer cap also in flat position Attached Images
Reply:drilling  holes to mount on  bumper  and  then  temporarily installed to take measurements for bracing Attached Images
Reply:Nice job, what are you pulling with that tiny ball?Miller Syncrowave 200Hobart Handler 140Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38E-Z Tube BenderPlasma Cam DHC2
Reply:The weld looks great and the old time drill press is KIKAZZ!!!Cincinnati what?I love old machines.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:cincinnati bicfordif you like old machines i will have to send photos of  the shop....my  dad ran it for 40 years and i have inherited it...it has been idle a few years and i will begin this spring cleaning and painting Attached Images
Reply:Cool..The shop I'm in has been there 50 yrs..Lots of old yet in great shape machinery..There's nothing like real big stuff to play with.....zap1I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by QuciferNice job, what are you pulling with that tiny ball?
Reply:Sounds risky, but your welds look top notch. I just hope your bumper doesn't fall off. Miller Syncrowave 200Hobart Handler 140Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38E-Z Tube BenderPlasma Cam DHC2
Reply:Originally Posted by QuciferSounds risky, but your welds look top notch. I just hope your bumper doesn't fall off.
Reply:I was just gonna mention that.  It would not hurt to weld some plates down the sides of your bracket to help brace it, and keep it from bending or flexing.  nice beads btwI'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:so... your just gonna go ahead and tow that 5 ton dump trailer with a half ton truck and a bumper hitch?I like to party!
Reply:willy...if  you  scroll back to one of the photos of  the  hitch  and  read... you will read...."hitch temporarioly installed to take  measurements for  bracing"..oh and  i guess i forgot to also say  gussets to keep from  bending....i thought i would  do well to get the  bracing from the  frame  in  place  and  then add  gussest  to keep the  hitch  from  bending...i have  looked at a  factory  model hitch for  this  type  of  trailer..and it  bolts to the  bumper  with  what  looks  like  2 9/16 bolts..so i am  allready using  three 3/4  bolts...now  i know the  bumper  cant  take  the  trailer  itself and i can  assure  you i wont  be  pulling  that  trailer  on just  what you see now
Reply:Remember with a trailer like that if you put the body up with a load and for some reason the tailgate gets blocked (or forget to open it), (I'm asuming its a tailgate as opposed to a barn door style gate), you'll end up with a very high center of gravity. If you're on even a small slope you'll get a LOT of twist on the trailer frame and then posibly to the truck hitch. I've seen this in small trailers more times than I'd care to count and even on 6-wheel mack dumps and 10 wheelers. Tractor sized dump trailers are a real treat to see, as long as you're not driving or have to shovel the crap out.Probably not a big deal, but just keep this in mind when you use the trailer.Also I can't tell by the pict. but I assume that the trailer is 10,000 LB GVW. If it's a 12,000 or 14,000 GVW you probably need a class A CDL. You might not know this but I'll garuantee you that the a DOT cop WILL. The fines NOT pretty for running a class A vehicle without the proper paperwork.  Btw Class A is what you would need for a tractor trailer, they don't care if your truck is small and you only plan to lighly load it. If the vin tag on the trailer says more that 10,000 they'll want the CDL. We learned this the hard way!
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWRemember with a trailer like that if you put the body up with a load and for some reason the tailgate gets blocked (or forget to open it), (I'm asuming its a tailgate as opposed to a barn door style gate), you'll end up with a very high center of gravity. If you're on even a small slope you'll get a LOT of twist on the trailer frame and then posibly to the truck hitch. I've seen this in small trailers more times than I'd care to count and even on 6-wheel mack dumps and 10 wheelers. Tractor sized dump trailers are a real treat to see, as long as you're not driving or have to shovel the crap out.Probably not a big deal, but just keep this in mind when you use the trailer.Also I can't tell by the pict. but I assume that the trailer is 10,000 LB GVW. If it's a 12,000 or 14,000 GVW you probably need a class A CDL. You might not know this but I'll garuantee you that the a DOT cop WILL. The fines NOT pretty for running a class A vehicle without the proper paperwork.  Btw Class A is what you would need for a tractor trailer, they don't care if your truck is small and you only plan to lighly load it. If the vin tag on the trailer says more that 10,000 they'll want the CDL. We learned this the hard way!
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWProbably not a big deal, but just keep this in mind when you use the trailer.Also I can't tell by the pict. but I assume that the trailer is 10,000 LB GVW. If it's a 12,000 or 14,000 GVW you probably need a class A CDL. You might not know this but I'll garuantee you that the a DOT cop WILL. The fines NOT pretty for running a class A vehicle without the proper paperwork.  Btw Class A is what you would need for a tractor trailer, they don't care if your truck is small and you only plan to lighly load it. If the vin tag on the trailer says more that 10,000 they'll want the CDL. We learned this the hard way!
Reply:700R: Thats what most people think (including us originally ). I know in Pa. about 2 years ago they really started hammering guys with trailers on the roadside DOT inspections. Any trailer over 10,000 Lb required a CDL regardless of anything else, and it must be a class A, class B is only good if your trailer is under 10,000 Lb and your vehicle and trailer is over 26,000. I believe these regs are standard nationallly but I could be wrong. http://www.dot3.state.pa.us/pdotform...ets/fs-cdl.pdfI just checked the PA DOT website and the link above gives their take on it right at the begining "a combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds;". They don't specificaly say Just the trailer over 10,000 in this condensed version, but it is burried in all the legal speak in the regs. I know a lot of guys that haved been trying to dump their 5th wheel travel trailers because of these reg changes.The cops know that most people take the view that you posted 700R, and that makes you a wonderfull source of "free revenue" for them. Almost all the local townships in the philly  / SE Pa. area are hiring or training DOT inspecters for road side truck inspections. Truck fine are a HUGE boost in their budget and most average people think that the roads will be safer if you get rid of the trucks. Heck, I know a guy who had a brand new Kenworth triaxle of the show room floor for 4 days get wacked for no less than 7 B.S. "saftey" violations. Now if your truck won't pass when its this new what are you supposed to do once you actually start to use it?
Reply:Originally Posted by DSW700R: Thats what most people think (including us originally ). I know in Pa. about 2 years ago they really started hammering guys with trailers on the roadside DOT inspections. Any trailer over 10,000 Lb required a CDL regardless of anything else, and it must be a class A, class B is only good if your trailer is under 10,000 Lb and your vehicle and trailer is over 26,000. I believe these regs are standard nationallly but I could be wrong. http://www.dot3.state.pa.us/pdotform...ets/fs-cdl.pdfI just checked the PA DOT website and the link above gives their take on it right at the begining "a combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds;". They don't specificaly say Just the trailer over 10,000 in this condensed version, but it is burried in all the legal speak in the regs. I know a lot of guys that haved been trying to dump their 5th wheel travel trailers because of these reg changes.The cops know that most people take the view that you posted 700R, and that makes you a wonderfull source of "free revenue" for them. Almost all the local townships in the philly  / SE Pa. area are hiring or training DOT inspecters for road side truck inspections. Truck fine are a HUGE boost in their budget and most average people think that the roads will be safer if you get rid of the trucks. Heck, I know a guy who had a brand new Kenworth triaxle of the show room floor for 4 days get wacked for no less than 7 B.S. "saftey" violations. Now if your truck won't pass when its this new what are you supposed to do once you actually start to use it?
Reply:Originally Posted by 700RI hate to hear about your luck in PA...but what I said is true for VA.  http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/c.../cdl_class.aspEach state is different.
Reply:it looks like (if i am reading this  right) i will be  legal to tow  my  GVW 4600 KG (canadian weight) wagon with  my half ton pickup with  a  regular  "G" license in ontario canadayes?..no?...maybe so?Class of Licence Types of Vehicles Allowed May Also Drive Vehicle in Class A Any tractor-trailer or combination of motor vehicle and towed vehicles where the towed vehicles exceed a total gross weight of 4,600 kilograms D and G B Any school purposes bus with designed seating capacity for more than 24 passengers C, D, E, F and G C Any regular bus with designed seating capacity for more than 24 passengers D, F and G D Any truck or motor vehicle combination exceeding 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg G E School purposes bus - maximum of 24 passenger capacity F and G F Regular bus maximum of 24 passenger capacity and ambulances G G Any car, van or small truck or combination of vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg.   G1 Level 1 of graduated licensing.Holders may drive Class G vehicles when accompanied by a fully licensed driver with at least four years of driving experience. Additional conditions apply.   G2 Level 2 of graduated licensing.Holders may drive Class G vehicles without accompanying driver but are subject to certain conditions. Effective September 1, 2005:The number of young passengers that teen G2 drivers can carry will be limited from midnight to 5 a.m. Initially, G2 drivers 19 or under can carry only one passenger aged 19 or under. After the first six months, and until the G2 driver earns a full G licence or turns 20, they can carry only three passengers aged 19 or under.
Reply:You may want to buy a 2.5" ID x 1/4" wall seamless hitch tube and weld it under your new ball plate and tie it into the frame further forward with a crossmember for towing that much weight, as well as tying it into the frame at the rear.   The hitch tube will allow you to use a slide-in ball-mount, which come in many different heights for leveling the trailer.   You can get an adjustable height ball mount too, those are great if you tow more than one trailer with the same truck.   I would look very carefully at how that bumper is mounted to the frame, since all the downward weight on the hitch is being supported by the bumper.   It is best, when towing alot of weight, to mount a reciever hitch straight to the frame and leave the bumper out of the equation entirely.   Most bumpers are only rated for 3500 lbs gross trailer weight and 350 lbs max tongue weight, a few up to 5000/500 lbs, seldom any more than that.   It looks like you're fixing on towing double that amount.Be careful out there.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33You may want to buy a 2.5" ID x 1/4" wall seamless hitch tube and weld it under your new ball plate and tie it into the frame further forward with a crossmember for towing that much weight, as well as tying it into the frame at the rear.   The hitch tube will allow you to use a slide-in ball-mount, which come in many different heights for leveling the trailer.   You can get an adjustable height ball mount too, those are great if you tow more than one trailer with the same truck.   I would look very carefully at how that bumper is mounted to the frame, since all the downward weight on the hitch is being supported by the bumper.   It is best, when towing alot of weight, to mount a reciever hitch straight to the frame and leave the bumper out of the equation entirely.   Most bumpers are only rated for 3500 lbs gross trailer weight and 350 lbs max tongue weight, a few up to 5000/500 lbs, seldom any more than that.   It looks like you're fixing on towing double that amount.Be careful out there.
Reply:In PA if your trailer is over 10,000# you technically need a CDL class A.I checked my drivers manual to confirm it.I see lots of guys in diesel pickups pulling skid loaders who have to be overweight.The cops are really going after trailer violations lately. Locally they ramped up enforcement after a tree service driver hung over and on pills lost his 5000# chipper and killed a dad and two of his three kids, one only a baby. It happened 1/8 mile from my shop.
Reply:Originally Posted by daddyIn PA if your trailer is over 10,000# you technically need a CDL class A....
Reply:denrep, You sure are quick on the trigger to snap a shot like that. WOW!I'll see if I can get my wife(lawyer) to look up the statue. It will be awhile though, cause I'm leaving for Texas and won't be back till next week.Daddy,No big deal on the PA law, I just don't like to hear about people being fined if it's not in the book. If you have to eat it and pay for it, you should be able to read the menu too! If the law changed, they should have issued notices with trailer registrations.Glad you like the picture, I have a few other good ones. By keeping a small fast camera on the ready, I've caught a lot of peculiar things on film; especially with the old no-waiting, film cameras. The trouble is, what do you do with 50,000 disorganized unlabeled film photographs? I know - post 'em to Welding Web!Last edited by denrep; 02-20-2008 at 11:46 AM.
Reply:desert rider..i took your  advice  and  went  with  the  store  bought  3 way hitch....i used  3 inch tube and  shimmed the  3 way tubei have  added some  photos..sorry they  are  not  nice and  clean  but  i made  the  maiden  voyage before  getting  hold of  the  cameraif  anyone  sees  that i should  add  something  please  postthanks Attached Images
Reply:a couple more  pics Attached Images
Reply:What is the weight limit on that three way hitch? Last I looked they were not very high.In Arizona I have to have a health card on me and I have to have DOT stickers on my truck, have a daily vehicle inspection (self inspected) and kept on record, drivers daily log BUT I do not have a CDL. I drive a Ford F350 SuperDuty V10, and I can tow our cable reel trailers across state lines but can never exceed 26,000lbs GCVWR. I am pretty glad I don't deal with the CDL laws. Who can remember all that stuff?Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Originally Posted by Joker11What is the weight limit on that three way hitch? Last I looked they were not very high.
Reply:Billie, your hitch looks like it should do the job as well as any reciever hitch I have seen in that weight range.  I have the Curt Magnum 12,000 lb reciever hitch on my F350 and it appears yours is built probly stronger than that, though mine does extend further forward into the frame than yours.   Glad you got it all done and got to towing with it.  MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Billie,Well, that's cool. I looked at them at my RV store and they were only rated like 6,000lbs. Now I guess I need to start looking for one like yours. It would mean carrying only one ball/ballmount instead of two. I carry 2 inch and 2-5/16" now. Thanks.If you don't mind can you tell me what brand it is or where you got it?Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:joker..it  was   a  sale item  at  princess auto
Reply:desert rider...the ones  in the  weight  range i looked  at  had only  one  cross member..i elected  to go with  two  but  i didnt want to interfear with  my  spare tire  so  i just  put it up  close  to itand  i dont think i will ever  load my trailer to the  limit (although you never  really know) i have  loaded it  twice so far  with  wood and the  tires dont look like the  have any weight on them. Attached Images
Reply:It doesn't look like you could stack firewood high enough on that trailer to overload it. Wood isn't all that dense. Of course a scale would tell the tale though.
Reply:Originally Posted by daddyIt doesn't look like you could stack firewood high enough on that trailer to overload it. Wood isn't all that dense. Of course a scale would tell the tale though.
Reply:Don't let wood fool you.  It will weigh more than you think it will.  Especially if it is "green".  I don't think you can overload that trailer with just wood, but i'd bet it will weigh more than you think if it is stacked tight.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I think it was Venus
Reply:I think the new hitch is top notch. I see you truck is a 1/2 ton GM. I have had a few like it and found out the hard way about towing with them. The bumper or the hitch is not worth a dang if they are used by themselves. I had to fix mine and two others. If the two are not fastened together they will fail.The after market hitch picture is not made to bolt to the bumper and will cause you a headache later on. The easy part is done now you got wood to cut. Be good yallJody
Reply:Pull that across a CAT scale and you'll know what it weighs for about $8. Most big truck stops will have one.
Reply:You'd be surprised how quickly the weight can add up.   The last few times I've taken loads to the dump, my loads have weighed in from 3,000 to 5,000 lbs and I would have guesstimated only maybe 2/3rds of the weight the scale showed.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:i may  get  around  to  weighing empty and full next  weekend, and  will post the  results dessert....if  the dump aint  to busy when i go i am going to see if  i can  put  just  the  tounge  jack on the  scale and  see what  that weight is  also...i guess  just  screw  the  jack down till the  wagon sits  about  level or a  little  lower on the  tounge???