Trailer hitch and mustang tank?

[1971ford]

Just got the highboy chassic back from sandblasting and was about to cut the bottom frame rail lip out to fit the mustang tank i just bought in between the rear of the frame but realized that how am i going to mount a trailer hitch.

Half the purpose of the truck is to tow 6,000 pounds so i have to have a good hitch.

Can you not run a hitch and a mustang tank?

Only thing i can think of is if i make my own hitch (built well with appropriate material... i work at a welding shop, my boss is a great welder and very knowledgable) that bolts to the side of the frame rails because the hitches i found on google mount to the bottom frame rail lip where i was going to cut out..

Need to solve this fast, any ideas?

[1971ford]

This is the bumper that was on the 4x4. It weighs a good one million pounds.

Looking at the reese/u-haul hitch stuff that you'd buy for $200 at a store, it's pretty damn simple stuff. A few tubes and plate. Easiest thing ever to whip up at the welding shop.

What do you guys think about this. What if i clean this bumper hitch up? I don't know who welded it so i don't really trust the welds and design, so what if I rebuilt this bumper hitch with new plate, gussets, welds, etc.?

Seems like it would be just as strong as a store bought hitch. Able to tow 6,000 pounds safely? thoughts? Only drawback would be that it wouldn't be "approved" so if anything went wrong insurance could look at the hitch?
Another option is buying a store bought hitch and cutting the frame mounts off and re-routing them to the outside of the frame instead of on the bottom.

[hazelnut]

This is on a 78 4x4 with a rear tank, was on the truck when i got it and dont know the load rateing.

[cep62]

Try this one
http://www.hiddenhitch.com/content/prod ... 057&part=0
or this one

http://www.hiddenhitch.com/content/prod ... 050&part=0

You might be able to adapt one of these, Hidden Hitch makes good products and they would have a rating sticker ,just in case.

[Doug Comer]

Most bolt on hithes bolt to the bottom frame rail. Why not bend the tabs up and bolt to the side of frame? Or weld the nuts to a strip of 1/2 X 2 inch and slide them into the frame rail before putting the bumper back on. I WOULD NOT trust that old bumper for towing 6000 pounds.
Doug

[1971ford]

I drug the chassis down to the welding shop and got my boss's opinion. I am going to carry on my way with mounting the mustang tank like normal then we are going to fabricate a new 4 point heavy duty tow hitch that attaches to the outside of the frame rails. I'll probably hack all the hitch stuff off the current bumper and mount it off of the hitch we are going to make.
It should be pretty sweet...

[Happy_Camper]

Hi Ryan,

Sounds like you guys will have a pretty cool hitch setup
Are you cutting into the C channel of the frame rail? If so you may want to box that section in with 3/16" plate stitch welded, and run the plate at least 6" forward and rearward of the notch.
This will help support the heavy hitch weight without the frame bending.
Just something to consider.

[1971ford]

Hi Ryan,

Sounds like you guys will have a pretty cool hitch setup
Are you cutting into the C channel of the frame rail? If so you may want to box that section in with 3/16" plate stitch welded, and run the plate at least 6" forward and rearward of the notch.
This will help support the heavy hitch weight without the frame bending.
Just something to consider.

Yep, I'm going to take my time building the hitch/bumper/mustang combo setup. After i lay down the por-15 on my sandblasted chassis i am going to coat the rear half with paint so i can have hte por-15 exposed to sun (no bed) so i can run with no bed for a while as i build the whole hitch/bumper/gas tank deal.
I am cutting just a hair over 1" out of each lower lip of the C-channel (frame) to clear the tank. Lip from outside to outside is 3". I won't be removing much, I don't think it would make any difference in strength when hitch is mounted to outside of frame. I'll ask my boss and I'm sure we'll do something to make up for any loss in strength if he feels we should. Maybe plate the frame, who knows.
Tomorrow i should be able to get most of the tank installation done. Then start mapping out a hitch design that wraps around the tank, under my step bumper (after i cut off the old hitch stuff) and mounts to the outside of the frame.

[rjewkes]

Ryan, i think they have ones that are built to allow some cars/trucks to keep the under car spare mount. also Tractor supply and most farm supply stores around here sell the tubing and the reciever part seperately so an experienced(and perhaps even a begginer) Weilder can produce what they need.