Trailer Hitch

[HuD 91gt]

Hello friends,

I'm getting a trailer hitch fabricated by a local fellow as nothing is really available these days.

I was curious if anyone had any pictures of different designs?

I'll post some pictures later of one I have in mind, but I'm at the airport on my phone right now and picture are tough.

The design used the diff mount as well as the bumper mounts. I send the fabricator the pictures and told him I would like something that would be fairly easy to remove.

The hitch will be towing the small harbor freight trailer. It's heaviest load ever will be an L28, other then that it will be used solely as an auto x rig.

Anyone have any design photos in their archives?

Edited May 19, 2015 by HuD 91gt

[Marty Rogan]

HA!  That's the back of my car.  

 

The diff plate was made to mount up to the existing holes in the cross-member.  The part that is not shown, connects just in front of the ball.  That bar mounts behind the bumper and uses the existing bumper mounting holes.  I added a couple of pictures, but it is hard to see the cross piece.  There is a gentle bend to it to follow the curve of the rear of the car.

 

I used to haul my track tires and a large tool box on a Harbour Freight trailer.  It worked really well.

 

I sold the hitch to a member on this forum years ago.  If he is still around, maybe he would sell it to you.  He seemed to only need it for a move that he was making at the time.

 

Good luck with it.

 

Marty

[rossiz]

ok, i'm loving this! when i first saw the thread title i was scratching my head wondering why on earth anyone would do such a thing. kinda like pulling a trailer w/a bike...

but pulling your race supplies to the track is an awesome idea

 

the bumpers are so ridiculously flimsy i'd want to stay away from 'em, and the mounts are not much tougher. on the '78 with the frame-mounted bumper shocks you've got some stouter mounting points. maybe you can use that same area of the frame? my wife's hyundai has a hitch with a cradle that mounts underneath on either side of the tank (similar locations) and it works well. this might avoid having to go back to the diff mount...

[Marty Rogan]

This design does not mount to the bumper.  It mount BEHIND the bumper.  It only uses the bumper bolts to secure the bar, which is plenty strong.  If anything, it adds protection to the body that the bumper sadly does not provide.

[HuD 91gt]

Marty,  thanks so much for the extra pictures. I have a fabricator lined up who would really appreciate them I'm sure!  

 

I've heard the 5mph bumper on the 280z is very strong, but was kind of curious about the mounts on the 240z.  I've had a bad situation pulling a trailer where the supposedly 2000lbs hitch on my 3 series BMW, mounted to the unibody spare tire well started to rip out at the rated load.  

 

From what i've seen, your design is the best, and easily modified to uninstall a portion of it for when not pulling the auto x trailer.  I picked up my trailer yesterday, now I just need the hitch

 

Do you remember who you sold it too? I wouldn't mind trying to buy it.  Cheers!

[Marty Rogan]

I don't remember who I sold it too.  I bought it from John Coffey, who originally made it.  Maybe John has a drawing of it?  Would not hurt to ask, I guess.

[jwtaylor]

This what I added to my car for towing.  Way overbuilt and very heavy.  I had planed to add a lint to the differential mount but never have.  More than likley I will just remove it as I have another vehicle to tow with now.

[HuD 91gt]

Just picked up Crush from Mobilehitch.ca.   Pretty happy with their work, and customer service.  Shane was very easy to work with.  Despite a little miscommunication about pickup times, which left me without the car for a few days i'm really happy with the work.

 

Completely custom.  Main objectives were to be sturdy enough to tow the little 4'x4' trailer, and be as concealed as possible.  I'm happy with the outcome.

 

 

The "receiver" portion bolts on and off so I can keep it as clean as possible when not in use. 

And lastly, they tied into the bumper mounts, and also tied into a bit of the unibody frame. They only did this one one side as to not have to drop the tank.  If it flex's we will drop the tank and do it on the other side as well, but I think it will be ok.

 

I also refurbished an old trailer I found on craigslist.   Should look decent behind Crush.

 

 

Edited July 5, 2015 by HuD 91gt

[Burl]

I have one I will sell you from 1972 that came on the car!

Edited July 7, 2015 by Burl

[HuD 91gt]

Bah, too late! Just had the one above custom made and it wasn't cheap! Thanks though