Researching trailer hitches, on SB and other sites, haven't found much. Must I have a hitch custom-made? Have some stock steel available from the industrial bumper that was attached to the truck when we bought it.
Will move the spare tire up to the outer bedside, (already have some of that work done) to allow space for a hitch. Have the curved chrome rear bumper installed, no apron. Contemplating adding a rear apron at some point, but only if it wouldn't interfere with a hitch.
Wouldn't be using the hitch to do a lot of towing, just an occasional parade float or to employ this:
Was hoping to find a hidden hitch of sorts, with the square connection device and a pin(?) necessary when the hitch is actually being used. (no ball visible or in the way.)
As usual, many thanks in advance for the terrific advice you all graciously share here!
I installed a hitch on my 59. Link is below. I contacted Curt hitch by E-mail on there site. They emailed me back very quickly and sent me specs. They hooked me up with a hitch. Try this first, They can make hitches as well.
GrandPas truck,Nice. What specs did you provide them with. Frame width? Frame channell depth? Width of mounting surface? Or? Sure looked fairly ez to mount.
It was actually a snapshot of a truck my grandfather used in his nursery business that inspired me to buy Mabel. Didn't find exactly the 1956 model in the photo, (had to be running and affordable!) so bought the 1950 instead. Close enough!
Check into a motor home hitch. They have ones that are adjustable side to side. You may have to do some cutting and welding, if you want it to look good. Curt has one that mounts to the side of the frame rails, whereas Rees and Hidden Hitch mount to the bottom. I think mounting to the sides would give you a little more up and down adjustment.
Check out tbrtengineering.com they have a hitch on the market now.
Beat me to it Jon.
1950 Chevy Advance Design 3100 in Scotland In the Stovebolt Gallery More pix on Flickr. I've definately got this truck thing in my blood ... my DNA sequence has torque settings "Of all the small nations of this earth,perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind" Winston Churchill.
I'm running a reciever hitch from tbrt engineering and I love it. When I'm not using the hitch I slide it into the reciever from the front, so it's hidden under the bed. I don't have a rear bumper but I do have my license plate on a spring loaded mount that hides the hitch and swings up when I need it.
Maybe something has changed, but I dont see that they offer a hitch that works with the stock bumper WITH provisions for the underbed spare tire carrier. Like this:
Now I see their drop hitch offering. Looks good! I do wonder how the underbed spare tire works with it. Since the whole tire pulls backward a considerable distance, you have to make sure to not just drop it down, but bring it out enough as well. I like their design.
While I also like their design, I enjoyed building my own out of junk laying around. Cost me $4.28. (I had to buy longer bumper bracket bolts.) My receiver is well hidden, and I made the hitch in such a way that it can be slid further into the receiver to be unseen. Carl
Last edited by 52Carl; 11/01/20142:58 AM.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
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