Hitch Mounted Vice for Truck

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Finally got some time to do some projects for myself.  Got tired of clamping the vice down to whatever's available to use it so I welded a 12" long, 2" i.d. x 1/4" wall sq receiver tube to the side plate of the truck's rear hitch and made a mount for the vice.Here is the receiver tube welded to the left side plate of the trailer hitch.  Comes out just below the bumper.  Used .035 E71T-GS McKay Speedshield GS self shield fluxcore wire in the Millermatic 175.Here is the vice mount.  24" long 2x2x1/4 sq tube and 1/4x8x8 triangle plate, 5/8" hitch pin holes and 9/16" vice mounting holes.  Welded with same machine and wire.Last edited by DesertRider33; 06-19-2010 at 12:37 AM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Here is the vice on the mount.  I built it so the mount slides in and out with 2 positions for the hitch pin.  In the retracted position with the vice turned to the side, it doesn't protrude very far from the bumper.  In the extended position with the vice turned to face the rear, it extends to just beyond the tailgate when the tailgate is down.  It's an old vice and didn't strip the vice and paint it.  Leave that for another day.  I should find some kind of canvas bag to put over it so it doesn't rust and drip rusty water on the driveway...MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Very nice! Another 80 lbs... One of these days that poor Ford is gonna say "Uncle" Good Luck
Reply:Ah yes, more stuff to carry around!  But ya gotta have it. Nice beads 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:Don't you just hate it when during your late drive home you here something go "bump" in the night, and you look in your rear view mirror just in time to see a shower of sparks from some damn fool doing a wheel-stand with his little car, and then in the morning you notice...  But back to the vise... I wonder if the vise should have a simple teather or pin lock which is plainly visible when standing at the rear bumper?Good Luck
Reply:Nice looking welds. Paint that thing flaming fluorescent triple bright blink in the daylight orange!!!!   The 1st time you come around the corner at a hunnert miles an hour with your mind wrapped around something else ------------------------------------ bam, YEOW !!! "The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:I'm trying to get the company to buy me a vise so that I can mount it as you have,on myso called "service truck".I was just going to to put it in the receiver for the pintle hitch.Looks like I would have to put a drop in so that tailgate could be opened and not hit vise.I'd like to be able to switch between the vise and the hitch fairly easily ,but not so easily that someone steals the vise.Sandy makes a good point.I already bash my shins on the pintle hitch.Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite
Reply:The first couple of times you use it you will smile and say, "Why didn't I do that sooner." Nice work (and nice welds).
Reply:Yup, Great idea, just remember to retract it when you are done or your shins are gonna take a heck of a beatin.   Bet ya wont forget after a time or two if you do happen to "forget".  Good lookin beads and plate work though.BobI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:I made one for my Land rover...real handy and it serves two purpose's.The other day while stopped at a stoplight a car bumped into me,lol.I didn't even get out of my Rover cause I knew that vise was back there...barely bent the handle.
Reply:Thanks guys.  Yeah the truck is pretty heavy and seems to only get heavier.  Some day I will replace it with a bigger one, but for now, I use what I got.In the retracted position, the jack sticks out less than the hitch, which I do occasionally hit my shins on.  I may paint it some bright color, haven't decided anything on paint just yet.Denrep, not sure about the tether/pin suggestion.  Can't quite figure out what was being asked.  I do have a locking hitch pin that keeps it in place and prevents someone from yanking it at will.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I painted my hitch fluorescent green it glowed in the dark, and all my workers hit it anyhoo Ha HA only took me about 15-20 times ....anyway that looks good on the truck good job.Lincoln 225 Tombstone,Miller Big 20,Hobart 180,150' Argon,A/D hobart hood 22 Ton Log splitter,79 F350 dump eats 4.75 TONS and still turns cutters,grinders,And a  Hypertherm POWERMAX 30
Reply:Good job...Love those mud flaps......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:DesertRider33 - Excuse me for being the odd-man out, but your vise is mounted backwards; I have seen this dozens of times over the decades.  Your third and fourth to the last photos illustrate the three bolt bosses.  The three bolt holes are 90 degrees from one another.  The fourth corner is a radius meant to mount on a corner point.  This corner point [eg. table] is cut to the same radius as the swivel base, edge to edge.  This allows you to clamp a very long piece in vertical plane, clear the mount, and still swivel.  If you will study the vise you will see that the rear jaw projects just enough forward of the swivel base to allow this.    Opus
Reply:Originally Posted by OPUS FERRODesertRider33 - Excuse me for being the odd-man out, but your vise is mounted backwards; I have seen this dozens of times over the decades.  Your third and fourth to the last photos illustrate the three bolt bosses.  The three bolt holes are 90 degrees from one another.  The fourth corner is a radius meant to mount on a corner point.  This corner point [eg. table] is cut to the same radius as the swivel base, edge to edge.  This allows you to clamp a very long piece in vertical plane, clear the mount, and still swivel.  If you will study the vise you will see that the rear jaw projects just enough forward of the swivel base to allow this.    Opus
Reply:nice work. I had a smaller vice on a stub just to stick in the receiver when i really needed it. always just left it lay in the back of the truck........to easy-----too much temptation..... it grew legs and walked off.  And to top it all off, the cops in our state are writing tickets for hitches left in receivers and balls blocking liscense plates. Yes bankrupt illinois, where our past governors make our liscense plates. I guess the cops are trying to make enuf off of ticket revenue so their paychecks dont bounce.
Reply:Looks like its mounted pretty low.    But a handy add on to the truck none the less.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by VISOK VisecoverWe suggest our VISOK weather-proof cover for your truck mounted vises.  Reduce replacement cost due to rust.  Find us at: www.visecover.com the only weather-proof cover for truck mounted vises.
Reply:Spammer reported.
Reply:hmm I dont see all the flamers yet crying about liability cause you didnt properly label the vice side of the hitch is NOT for towing a trailer..LOL......nice set up...Of all the things I lost I miss my mind the most...I know just enough about everything to be dangerous......You cant cure stupid..only kill it...
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallSpammer reported.
Reply:Good idea but what about the truck computer when welding something in the vise ?
Reply:Just don't clamp the work lead to the front bumper.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Old post?But still good advice.
Reply:Originally Posted by Old SkoolGood idea but what about the truck computer when welding something in the vise ?