The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1/2 ton AD trailer hitch, bolt in!

Yeah, its just fine to weld it up instead of bending as long as you understand the welding process for thicker metal. 3 passes, grinding each piece to the proper angle, etc. Its how I would do it now. Problem is the same tho.. measure across the C-Channel and 20 others do it on their trucks and you will have about 10 different measurements. Hard to manufacture mass quantities that actually work that way unless you sold shims to go with them then made them short on purpose.

I even made this hitch for my current project about 7 years ago. Today, it doesn't fit. It fit just fine 7 years ago. It went right into the C-channel. Now? Its too long and I have to figure out what to do. I think a few pieces of wood, a hydraulic jack and a little pressure and it will go right in, but I feel sorry for anyone manufacturing these for 'AD Trucks'. More than half of their customers are going to be mad about the fit.

This is of course fixable, like anything else by designing the hitch with telescoping members, or by including different sized shims, etc. Fun stuff. Wish I had more time!

The idea of using the C Channel and the bumper bolts on the back of the frame is an excellent way to ensure you have the very best strength and stability. Like Carl says though, you wont be pulling very much with a 1/2 ton. Nonetheless, I want this capability on all my vehicles just because. But I wont sacrifice bumper placement nor the underbed spare tire carrier to do it.