The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 2 to bumper/step/hitch

Since the 48 2 ton is not going to be licensed as an antique, I was forced to deal with the requirement for rear under rider protection. Don't want any minivans going under the bed when they rear end it.
Hate the look of the inverted channel iron goal post hanging off the end of the bed, not to mention having the bed take the force of a hit, and having a grain truck lift dictated it couldn't be too long.
The client also wanted a trailer hitch, really tough with a bed 3 feet beyond the frame.
So I designed a step bumper/hitch (does make it a lot easier to get onto the bed).
All fabricated of 1/4" steel bent to shape and fully boxed. The legs match the frame rail size and profile and the step bumper has radiused edges and the corners match the bed corners. The angle of the legs match the angle of the bed in the up position.
Now to take it off and send it for powder coat.

http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/jsdesign2/library/
Sorry, phone camera doesn't do sun/shadow very well.

That is a nice clean looking solution.

I've not heard of the requirement for a rear bumper thing on an old truck that didn't have one. Where did that requirement come from? How much else do you have to change beyond stock? For example turn signals weren't stock and as far as I know not required even today if you're willing to hang your arm out the window.

What do you figure the hitch is good for trailer wise, how much total weight and or tongue weight? I'm guessing it's fine for little lawnmower trailer or the like but not good for a full size car trailer?

Grigg

That's a nice solution to the problem at hand, Jim. I'll have to look in to the legal requirements where I am, though I'll register as an antique/classic if I can. Even so, they don't always grandfather in all requirements.

That does look good! I put a superhitch from Torklift on mine which will tow my big trailer no problem but, it does nothing to keep someone from going under the rear end.

The client brought up the concern. He has a number of trucks for his business. I checked with a couple of state inspection stations, got answers from Yes you do, I don't know have to call the RMV and "I've never seen a truck that old".
Since he was really wanting the trailer hitch I had to engineer something . Can't locate a hitch almost 3 feet under the bed unless you have some Very long trailer tongues.

My calculations say it will meet the 500 lb tongue/5000 tow weight.
Won't need the car trailer since you can just load it on the bed.

I was thinking of adding an X brace but suspected that I was going overboard on fully boxed 1/4" steel.

Jim, check out Torklift superhitch and supertruss extensions. They put the hitch on the frame and put an extension on it, still rated for a 10,000# trailer. Although it does not address the step or the under rider protection like yours does. I like the looks of that!

Good stuff. I will keep it in mind .