Homemade trailer hitch

[valleydweller1]

Hi all,

I have a 1981 Toyota 4x4 shortbed onto which I would like to install a 2" receiver hitch. I can't find anyone who makes one for a pickup that old, but I did find one of those little receivers that bolt on to the bumper. My plan is to take that bolt-on unit and build myself a hitch frame. Does anyone know of someone who's done that, or a place where I could find an example?

 

[pat32rf]

Most steel suppliers in our area sell the reciever hitch stock by the pound/foot. If you are going to build the hitch anyway you can buy the tube a lot cheaper than the bolt on hitch. Just be carefull to drill the hole for the pin accurately. I have short receivers welded/bolted to my back blade, hoe, draw bar,the front bumper etc /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
When in doubt, build it stout!

 

[AlanB]

I would look at how the standard ones are mounted, then I would go around to the used car lots and ask if they have any they have taken off.

Many used car dealerships buy cars/trucks at auction, then pull the hitches so that people do not realize that the vehicle has been towing stuff. I tend to know the folks I am asking and have been given several free, but I believe they are selling them for about $20. Get one close or a little bigger then cut and weld till you have what you would like.

 

[bobodu]

I built one for the wife's Cherokee.Got some surplus angle, tube and 1/4 and 1/2 inch plates.About $20 worth at the used steel place.
I started with the draw bar and "T" welded on the receiver tube.Added 1/4" triangular gussets and and wrapped the end of the tube with 3/8" flat stock heated up in the woodstove for easy bending.Clamp,bend and hammer...this'll keep the tube from splitting.Then,I made the frame brackets from 2" X 1/4" angle iron and added diagonal brackets going down to the draw bar out of 1/2" plates.1/2" round stock was bent into a "S" and welded to the underside of the receiver for the safety chains.The hitch is made out of 2" square tube with a 1/2" plate lapped welded on top.
Couple of suggestions from my experience...
This is NOT a project for the little Home Depot 120v MIGS.I ran 6011 and 7014 at 135 amps.
Cut everything LONG and fit it to the truck as you go.Steel moves when it gets hot and throws things off.
Drill the holes in the frame brackets and fit them up with Grade 8 bolts,nuts and washers.Money spent here is peace of mind later!!
Fitting the draw bar was the LAST thing I did.With the brackets and diagonals bolted in place,I carefully measured and then cut the bar.I used a long bar clamp to hold it in place,tacked it up good,then took it all down for the final welding.
Two coats of black Rustoleum finished her up.

I must have deleted all the pictures.... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[valleydweller1]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the ideas. I bought the bolt-on receiver at the scrap yard for scrap price (about $4.00), it was cheaper than buying the receiver tube alone. I'm envisioning building the receiver hitch within the bumper and welding the receiver plate to the hitch frame as well as bolting it to the bumper as if there was not frame. I don't have all the particulars worked out yet, but I plan to pull the bumper today and start my thinking.

Does anyone have any pics of what they've done?

 

[TheKid]

Putnam makes one to fit your truck Part # 25202. <font color="blue"> Here's </font> one place that has them but you might be able to find a lower price some where else.

 

[Jagmandave]

If nothing else, copy the pic of the one posted above and build it just like that!

 

[valleydweller1]

Kid,

Thanks for the link. You've found exactly what I was looking for; at least, that's what I was looking for until last night.

I pulled my bumper off yesterday and had a consultation with a friend of mine who does a moderate amount of fabrication at work. After pulling off the bumper and looking at the options, I decided that my truck would be best served by a whole new bumper made of 4x6 tubing. I'll probably start in a week or two, I'll let you all know how it goes.

 

[cleatus]

Receiver tube is 2 1/2 heavey wall tube. Have used a lot of this.

 

[valleydweller1]

Hi all,

Well, here it is. My new bumper. It's made from 1/8" wall 4x4 tubing, the step is filled in with 3/16" plate. The ends are capped with 1/4" plate. The receiver is some old bolt-on unit I picked up from the scrap yard (along with the rest of the steel). I used the original bumper brackets, they has a little "J"-bend (in cross section) for added strength from the factory, so I welded on a piece of 1" wide plate to make it a full channel for even more strength. It's passed the test, just the other day I towed a trailer weighing in around 1500-2000 lb. It works beautifully!