Interesting frame hitches - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

monte0185 · 11-30-2013, 11:01 PM

I pulled my bed off today and what I thought was going to be fairly easy to cut off and put in a hidden hitch turned out to be a bit more than I think I want to bother with. I really don't think its going anywhere but what do yall think? Anyone else got anymore interesting hitches to share??

TheBlueBomber · 12-01-2013, 12:51 AM

The real question is... what do you need 3 hitches for??

monte0185 · 12-01-2013, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueBomber

The real question is... what do you need 3 hitches for??

You tell me and well both know. The only thing I can think of would be for chains to hook to or for some kind of weight transfer system. Other than that your guess is as good as mine.

83GMCK2500 · 12-01-2013, 01:31 AM

I've seen some extended truss style supports for hitch extensions that have to reach under the overhang of a slide-in camper. Looks kinda like a homebrew one of those.

draimondi · 12-01-2013, 02:47 AM

Definitely looks like a home-brew setup there. I can see it being useful if someone wanted to pull a trailer and maybe have a hitch mounted bike carrier or something of the sort. Could also be useful when backing a trailer up in a really tight spot (better turning radius) I've had a few vehicles that had a front mounted hitch receiver that i'd use to push my boat into precarious spots a tad easier.

NASTY-LSX · 12-01-2013, 02:48 AM

wow, first time to see one like that.

monte0185 · 12-01-2013, 09:39 AM

The middle one is welded to everything. The two side ones I could easily cut off but if im gonna leave one part might as well leave it all. Lol. Itll work fine for my 18ft and im gonna put a gooseneck in for the camper the wife wants so no worries there. Just curious if anyone else has a home brew monstrosity like this one?

83GMCK2500 · 12-01-2013, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monte0185

The middle one is welded to everything. The two side ones I could easily cut off but if im gonna leave one part might as well leave it all. Lol. Itll work fine for my 18ft and im gonna put a gooseneck in for the camper the wife wants so no worries there. Just curious if anyone else has a home brew monstrosity like this one?

My Dad and I have more class than that.

I did work in a wrecking yard for a couple years, I have seen some seriously strange things. Little aluminum jon boat upside down and epoxied to the top of a 4x4 conversion van to raise roof for a camper? Yep...

tucsonjwt · 12-02-2013, 06:26 AM

One issue with conventional receiver type hitches is that they usually interfere with the under bed tire carrier and spare tire. This is why most trucks don't have a spare mounted under the bed. I resolved that issue by moving the left bolt holding the carrier forward about 1.5", which allowed the spare tire to move closer to the differential and away from the receiver portion of the hitch.
That front bolt is very close to the exhaust pipe but I have not had any problems with it. It is a tight fit but it does work. Putting the spare tire in the bed is not a good option in the desert sun and heat, and it collects dirt and any debris I am hauling with my dump conversion.

rpmgroup · 05-16-2018, 05:28 PM

I build a couple of those back in the day. You are right about the camper, the two outside ones are used for the step bumper. We would weld 3 ft. extensions to the bumper and with out the camper the bumper could be pushed in and pinned or pulled out and used to step in the camper. An extension for the center receiver was used to tow a small trailer. (we would build them for their 3 bike motorcycle trailer and see them show up pulling a 23 ft day cruiser)

11-30-2013, 11:01 PM	#1
monte0185 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Brighton, TN Posts: 1,267	Interesting frame hitches I pulled my bed off today and what I thought was going to be fairly easy to cut off and put in a hidden hitch turned out to be a bit more than I think I want to bother with. I really don't think its going anywhere but what do yall think? Anyone else got anymore interesting hitches to share?? Attached Images __________________ A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together.

12-01-2013, 12:51 AM	#2
TheBlueBomber Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 816	Re: Interesting frame hitches The real question is... what do you need 3 hitches for?? __________________ Austin 1996 Chevrolet K1500 Silverado 1979 Chevrolet K10 Scottsdale - Carolina K10 - My 4.8L Twin turbo build - Project Short Stroke - Instagram - TheBlueBomber1996

12-01-2013, 01:31 AM	#4
83GMCK2500 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Beaverton, OR from WA State Posts: 1,515	Re: Interesting frame hitches I've seen some extended truss style supports for hitch extensions that have to reach under the overhang of a slide-in camper. Looks kinda like a homebrew one of those. __________________ Devin 1983 GMC High Sierra 2500, 4x4, RC/LB, 400 S.B., SM-465, NP-208, Corporate 10 bolt & 9.5" 14 bolt 1996 GMC Sierra SLE 3500 DRW, 4x4, EC/LB, Vortec 454, NV-4500, BW-4401, AAM 925 & AAM 1050 1997 GMC Sierra SLT 1500 4x4, Z71/F44, EC/SB, Vortec 350 My Introduction with my '83s History New Daily, the '96

12-01-2013, 02:47 AM	#5
draimondi Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Oregon Posts: 41	Re: Interesting frame hitches Definitely looks like a home-brew setup there. I can see it being useful if someone wanted to pull a trailer and maybe have a hitch mounted bike carrier or something of the sort. Could also be useful when backing a trailer up in a really tight spot (better turning radius) I've had a few vehicles that had a front mounted hitch receiver that i'd use to push my boat into precarious spots a tad easier.

12-01-2013, 02:48 AM	#6
NASTY-LSX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: HOUSTON Posts: 355	Re: Interesting frame hitches wow, first time to see one like that.

12-01-2013, 09:39 AM	#7
monte0185 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Brighton, TN Posts: 1,267	Re: Interesting frame hitches The middle one is welded to everything. The two side ones I could easily cut off but if im gonna leave one part might as well leave it all. Lol. Itll work fine for my 18ft and im gonna put a gooseneck in for the camper the wife wants so no worries there. Just curious if anyone else has a home brew monstrosity like this one? __________________ A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together.

12-02-2013, 06:26 AM	#9
tucsonjwt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,189	Re: Interesting frame hitches One issue with conventional receiver type hitches is that they usually interfere with the under bed tire carrier and spare tire. This is why most trucks don't have a spare mounted under the bed. I resolved that issue by moving the left bolt holding the carrier forward about 1.5", which allowed the spare tire to move closer to the differential and away from the receiver portion of the hitch. That front bolt is very close to the exhaust pipe but I have not had any problems with it. It is a tight fit but it does work. Putting the spare tire in the bed is not a good option in the desert sun and heat, and it collects dirt and any debris I am hauling with my dump conversion.

05-16-2018, 05:28 PM	#10
rpmgroup Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: so cal Posts: 97	Re: Interesting frame hitches I build a couple of those back in the day. You are right about the camper, the two outside ones are used for the step bumper. We would weld 3 ft. extensions to the bumper and with out the camper the bumper could be pushed in and pinned or pulled out and used to step in the camper. An extension for the center receiver was used to tow a small trailer. (we would build them for their 3 bike motorcycle trailer and see them show up pulling a 23 ft day cruiser)



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