How safe would this be?
How safe would this be?
Okay so someone cut my trailer hitch a little to short by about 2-3" so I cant just drill holes and bolt it on and weld it back
How safe would it be to weld 3" angle iron to the side and drill 2 holes in it then use the existing mounting holes?
Angle iron is the red I made in the picture
Would I need 3 holes on each side instead of 2?
Got to get this done soon I need the trailer next weekend
How safe would it be to weld 3" angle iron to the side and drill 2 holes in it then use the existing mounting holes?
Angle iron is the red I made in the picture
Would I need 3 holes on each side instead of 2?
Got to get this done soon I need the trailer next weekend
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 4
From: Stevenson, WA
3/8" might do the trick - but I dunno - can 2 small plates of 3/8's take care of about 4 tons worth of suden jerking power if someone was to yank you out of a pit?
Seems have iffy to me.. but heck, enough steel and enough welding can do just about anything good :-D
As mentioned - it woudl probably be good to put some bolts in as well, good ol fashioned 3/4" bolts just in case anythign decides not to work well when pulling something =)
Seems have iffy to me.. but heck, enough steel and enough welding can do just about anything good :-D
As mentioned - it woudl probably be good to put some bolts in as well, good ol fashioned 3/4" bolts just in case anythign decides not to work well when pulling something =)
Well on Friday I went to my local salvage yard and finally got a hitch for the Ranger. I lucked out, A mid-late 90s ranger had the bed off of it and had a beautifully exposed Ford factory hitch. As everyone knows i have the P.A. 3 inch Body Lift on my truck and hitches that are made for factory set up trucks hang down very low. Well heres what i did...
Step One:
Mount the hitch you purchased or currently have. Measure from the bottom of the hitch to the ground. Make sure your on level ground and tire pressure is equal.
Step Two:
Cut the hitch off half way in between the botton bar and frame with a reciprocating saw with a FRESH blade.
Step Three:
Bend tabs out with a large hammer on the bottom piece with the hitch on it. Then make sure the hitch can go around the existing mounts left on the truck with no force. Leave the mounts tight on the truck and make sure bumper is PERFECTLY aligned with the bed..
Step Four:
Using welder's clamps, align hitch with the bumper, measure on level ground from the bottom of the hitch to the ground. Check to make sure you have equal distance on each side. Make sure to get all angles in alignment. Use Clamps to hold the hitch into place. Take your time doing this, try to get it straight as possible. I moved my hitch up exactly 3.5 inches. CLAMP IT TIGHT!
Step Five:
Using A Welder, tack weld the hitch into place.
Step 6:
After you have secured your hitch with small welds, un-bolt it and finish your welds up all the way around the top if necessary and add any other support you feel necessary. Then re-install.
Step 7:
Go back and check all bolts, brackets and welds then give that thing a fresh sanding and painting. Here is the end result:
Step One:
Mount the hitch you purchased or currently have. Measure from the bottom of the hitch to the ground. Make sure your on level ground and tire pressure is equal.
Step Two:
Cut the hitch off half way in between the botton bar and frame with a reciprocating saw with a FRESH blade.
Step Three:
Bend tabs out with a large hammer on the bottom piece with the hitch on it. Then make sure the hitch can go around the existing mounts left on the truck with no force. Leave the mounts tight on the truck and make sure bumper is PERFECTLY aligned with the bed..
Step Four:
Using welder's clamps, align hitch with the bumper, measure on level ground from the bottom of the hitch to the ground. Check to make sure you have equal distance on each side. Make sure to get all angles in alignment. Use Clamps to hold the hitch into place. Take your time doing this, try to get it straight as possible. I moved my hitch up exactly 3.5 inches. CLAMP IT TIGHT!
Step Five:
Using A Welder, tack weld the hitch into place.
Step 6:
After you have secured your hitch with small welds, un-bolt it and finish your welds up all the way around the top if necessary and add any other support you feel necessary. Then re-install.
Step 7:
Go back and check all bolts, brackets and welds then give that thing a fresh sanding and painting. Here is the end result:
Im having major issues with my exhaust it wont allow anything to go up where it need to go
The bracket part of the hitch wont line up with the original holes either unless I am just dumb and have them wrong which is a good possibility. I never saw how they were before it was pulled off.
The 2 upper ones line up but the bottom one will not match the original hole
The bracket part of the hitch wont line up with the original holes either unless I am just dumb and have them wrong which is a good possibility. I never saw how they were before it was pulled off.
The 2 upper ones line up but the bottom one will not match the original hole
hmmm. So the mounts that we took off and didn't mod wont line up now? That's weird. maybe we need to mod those bumper brackets more. they may be throwing your hitch off. hmmmm. make sure to put your hitch mounting tabs on the inside of your bumper brackets (closest to the frame). Otherwise it wont line up.
Here is what i did to mine.
hitch1.jpg?t=1252586609
DSC00965.jpg?t=1252586782
hitch2.jpg?t=1252586824
hitch1.jpg?t=1252586609
DSC00965.jpg?t=1252586782
hitch2.jpg?t=1252586824
Mykheal? is your hitch a factory hitch...If it is your makein alot harder than it needs to be or there's something im not understanding. I see that its already been cut and was cut too short. When i did mine we cut 2 3/4 outta the hitch and just rewelded it back together. It all bolted right back where it was supposed to go. I'll get some pics for ya tomm of the hitch, this is all i got for right now though....
before..
after...
before..
after...
