Home made trailer hitch...

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Anybody ever make their own hitch for car/truck???I'm thinking about doing one for my s10, will just be for my snowmobile trailer.maybe 3 inch square for frame....not sure.Was also kicking around taking a bigger C channel, making a "bumper" out of that, and incorporating a hitch into that then....Any ideas are appreciated....and yes...I am too cheap to just go and buy one!!!!! Miller blue star 2eLincoln 175
Reply:we've made em, but mostly only for extenuating circumstances. you can pick up a ready made one too, yaknow.
Reply:I know....I priced em....and they're anywhere from 130 to 200 bucks.....I'm cheap. Just seems like one could be made in less than an hour, and made to last too.Miller blue star 2eLincoln 175
Reply:I guess we all have our cheap areas.  I usually just get some ideas together, try it out and see what happens.For you I would probably say to study a lot of similar type hitches if you havn't already.
Reply:Yeah, been thinkin bout it......probably just gonna get a 6 inch Channel....weld to existing frame for bumper...reinforce where needed....and cut out a hole for receiver....put 3 inch square tube in....weld...reinforce....done!!!!Miller blue star 2eLincoln 175
Reply:$200 seems like alot of money, unless you consider it to be an insurance policy against someone naming you in a lawsuit as the manufacturer whose hitch just broke away sending your sled(s) though the windshield of the people behind you on the Interstate. I'm not trying to talk you out of building it, but I do have a little 1st hand experience with this kind of thing... (not pleasant).The best things in life all come on a stick!
Reply:I think you should probably listen to Rabidfish. He's got a point you can't really argue with
Reply:I have made many. And guys have come back to tell me about what a beating it takes without failing. To the people advising against it. I suggest you start looking at a lot of manufactured parts and realize that just because it has a brand name on it does not make it superior. A good example is trailers.Why would you advise against making a trailer hitch? What if he bought the hitch and built the trailer himself? The trailer would have to be made just as well or it would break. The tongue of a trailer is not where you want your less than best welds. It only makes sense to me that if you can build a trailer you can build a hitch to hold that trailer. Ok, enuff ranting. Just remember, Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance!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:only advise against someone trying to build on having never laid hands on or have done anything of the sort.Joker 11 you are right about the custom/homemade hitches being normally superior but I also feel that one should have some general knowledge of hitch design and/or experience in installing them before starting a project as such.of the many homemade hitches I have seen, some are just poorly designed scrap that I wouldn't trust my ex mother in law on.Building a hitch is a GOOD idea, but make sure and design it properly
Reply:Some stuff I've done for kicks and practice...I did not make the bumper on my truck, but I rebuilt it to add the reciever through the center. 6 inch channel is good stuff, but I'ld suggest using a standard 2" i.d. tube for the reciever so that it will accept over the counter ball mounts. They are sold in different lengths, ready to weld, they are called combo bars. http://www.google.com/products?hl=en...&um=1&ie=UTF-8The bar on the truck is store bought, however I made the one for my Jeep from scratch! 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:Originally Posted by FearcityINCYeah, been thinkin bout it......probably just gonna get a 6 inch Channel....weld to existing frame for bumper...reinforce where needed....and cut out a hole for receiver....put 3 inch square tube in....weld...reinforce....done!!!!
Reply:Here's how I done one for a customerDewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:The closest tube you can readily get for a functioning receiver is 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 3/16".  If you go with 1/4" wall it's too close a fit if you can even get a 2" shank to fit in it.  It's also a good idea to cut a short, 1/2 to 3/4" section of 3 x 3 x 1/4 tube and weld that around the end of the receiver to reinforce it a bit.Here's a link to the last homegrown bumper I built.  Overbuilt to a fault but it's not gonna come off or apart without taking the truck frame with it.
Reply:That picture with the truck.......what does that thing pull, the space shuttle?I wont be doing any welding on the frame....fully aware of flexing, was thinking about 1/4 inch plate to bolted to the frame, then everything else welded up......Thanks for the advise guys....good points!!!!!Miller blue star 2eLincoln 175
Reply:Nice post Dave!  Very well said, I especially like this little bit of prose... Originally Posted by dave powelsonI also learned 'how-not' to do hitches from all manner of jerry-rigged, busted, bent, whacked-out, home brew hitches--that came into my shop hoping for a $2 tack-job.)
Reply:I've made up quite a few hitches for customers.. Not one of them did I weld to the frame.  I try to cover as much space on the frame with plate to be bolted to.  Even with a shear and punch, I don't think it could be done in 1 hour.  I know the reciever tube that we sold was around 20 bucks a foot.. And U-haul used to carry the tube with a pin whole already drilled out and face doubler welded on for, um, uhh, Can't remember what customers have told me in the past.  But it wasn't that much.Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:BTW Tangeldiver....I didnt mean to sound like a jag bag.......I re read just now and it sounded a little sarcastic......I wasnt meaning that at all.....just looks BEEFY AS HELL!!!!!!!! A good thing!!Thanks everyone....I think i got a couple leads for a manufactured one on CRAIGSLIST!!!Miller blue star 2eLincoln 175
Reply:No worries! This thing came with the truck when I got it and it is bolted through long plates running forward along the frame channels. It had this 1/2" thick angle section on the back face for mounting a rigid hitch ball, no reciever. So I cut the horizontal section off where the ball was mounted and cut a square opening for the tube. I braced across the front end of the tube to the bumper mounting plates for rigidity. The bumper was the best part on the whole truck! I added some trailer chain rings and recovery rings and an electric connector, done! You'll do fine with yours, post pics for us! Edit:- My bumper/hitch is one assembly. That assembly is bolted to the truck frame. -: for clarification.Last edited by tanglediver; 12-27-2007 at 10:58 PM.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:Trailer hitches must be BOLTED to the frame..They can't be welded to the frame in any way shape or form!!! Check with your D.O.T....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:Hitch, Coupling Device or Connection, or Tow Dolly29003.  (a) Every hitch or coupling device used as a means of attaching the towed and towing vehicles shall be properly and securely mounted and be structurally adequate for the weight drawn. The mounting of the hitch or coupling device on the towing and towed vehicle shall include sufficient reinforcement or bracing of the frame to provide sufficient strength and rigidity to prevent undue distortion of the frame.(b) The drawbar, tongue, or other connection between the towing and towed vehicles shall be securely attached and structurally adequate for the weight drawn. (c) The raised end of any motor vehicle being transported by another motor vehicle using a tow dolly shall be secured to the tow dolly by two separate chains, cables, or equivalent devices adequate to prevent shifting or separation of the towed vehicle and the tow dolly.Amended Ch. 708, Stats. 1983. Effective January 1, 1984.  http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d13/vc29003.htmhttp://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vc_index_t.htmLast edited by tanglediver; 12-27-2007 at 11:19 PM.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:The guy that I built that bumper for told me he had a friend that was wanting one like it but he wanted to test it and see if it was strong enough  They tied a chain around the ball mount on the bumper I made and the other end was around the ball on the other guy's truck (I never said they were smart)  The guy doing the "testing" took off and snapped the 2" ball off his truck.  Nothing happened to the bumper.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Very interesting!John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:They tied a chain around the ball mount on the bumper I made and the other end was around the ball on the other guy's truck (I never said they were smart) The guy doing the "testing" took off and snapped the 2" ball off his truck. Nothing happened to the bumper.
Reply:40 smackers on Craigslist......done.....getting it tomorrow.......wish I could have a wicked c channel bumper though!!!!!!! although 4.3 litres of wicked v6 probably wouldnt be thanking me too much down the road.......even though its only got 70,400 miles on it....not bad for 15 years old though!!!Miller blue star 2eLincoln 175
Reply:D'OH!!Here's a Hershey's for your trouble Homer.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 BibleDannydang, was you testing bumpers too?DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Update....well, I got one for 20 bucks....drove all the way out to this guys house....bout 30 minutes away......and it isnt EXACTLY what I was looking forIt still bolts to the frame with 4, 1/2" Grade 8 bolts....but the receiver is only about 2 inches.......compared the the "larger" style....friend of mine says it should be more than enough to pull a 2 place sled trailer, with 2 on it.......HOPE HE'S RIGHT.....ANY OPINIONS... hitch has a sticker on it saying 2k pounds....soooooooooooo, guess I'll see in a week or two when I pull them 5 hours from wisconsin!!!Miller blue star 2eLincoln 175
Reply:This is a couple in progress pics of my stealth hitch that i made for my bike rack..
Reply:There should be 2 weight ratings on it.  The 2000# is the drawbar pulling capacity. There should be another  weight rating for the amount of vertical load or tongue weight probably somewhere 200-500#.   You want to stay within the hitches capacity there also.
Reply:Originally Posted by littlefuzzdang, was you testing bumpers too?