(Pics) Fabricating a Hitch Receiver

[enkeivette]

Bought about 5 feet of 2"x2"x1/8" steel tubing today. I was thinking about going with some 1/4, but it seemed too damn thick and heavy and it was way too expensive. I don't see the 1/8" flexing from a lil glass boat with a SBC. But we shall see. :inout:

[94cobra69ss396]

What's wrong with the hitch you have now on the trailer?

[enkeivette]

Oops, meant to say I'm making a receiver. For the Neon.

[94cobra69ss396]

Really? There's a reason they don't make a class 2 receiver for a Neon. How much does your boat weigh with trailer?

[enkeivette]

I have absolutely no idea. But I can lift the front of the trailer myself. And the rule of thumb is, if you can lift the front, there is less than 200lbs tongue weight which means it's ok to run a class one receiver.

The worst thing that could happen other than the hitch breaking is that I will bottom out the rear suspension pretty easily. And I really don't give a flying fuck. Besides, I would only be towing this thing a couple of miles to the bay, so I'm not worried about hi-jacking on the freeway. The Neon does have 4 wheel discs btw.

I'm mainly concerned about getting the boat out of the water. Since it is an open diff. If it doesn't have the traction to pull it out of the water I may pull out the trans, install a Phantim Grip LSD and a new clutch, since it will probably need one soon anyways.

[enkeivette]

I was also thinking about making a hitch for the Vette. It already has limited slip obviously. But the problem with that is that it is way too low. And in order to get the boat far enough in the water, I would probably need to back it in to the point that the edge of the door dipped in the water.

Also, I don't feel like dipping my Vette in salt water.

Also, the Vette is too low to get to the garage where my apartment is, it gets stuck on the headers and the oil pan on the concrete slab 5 feet in front of the garage door.

[enkeivette]

I may just get an Exploder if the Neon isn't able to pull the boat out of the water. FWD transmissions are such a PITA, I would almost rather kill myself.

[94cobra69ss396]

A class 1 receiver hitch is rated for a maximum of 200lbs tongue weight and 2000lbs gross weight which your Neon should be able to pull. However, I'd bet your boat and trailer weigh more than that. It most likely falls into the class 2 category which is 350lbs tongue/3500lbs gross. Also, the only concern isn't being able to pull the boat but also being able to stop it.

Now I know you're not going to listen to any of that so now for the construction. First, 1/8 is not thick enough. You need to use a minimum of 3/16. Also, you'll need larger than 2 inch for the cross bar because the ball mount is a 2 inch diameter.

[94cobra69ss396]

I may just get an Exploder if the Neon isn't able to pull the boat out of the water. FWD transmissions are such a PITA, I would almost rather kill myself.

That would be the smarter choice.

[Chuck]

If I were you I'd get a hydraulic ram to extend the trailer. So you can just launch the boat while keeping the vette on dry land salt water is bad for your car.:pot_stir:

[enkeivette]

Now I know you're not going to listen to any of that ...

Hahahaha, oh come on. I didn't end up butchering my friends control arms. It's not like I'm as stubborn as Ben.

Well I already bought the 1/8 tubing, so I'll probably end up plating the entire length of it with 3/16 plating.

I'm surprised you don't think 1/8 is thick enough. I don't even think the "frame rails" on the Neon that I will be bolting the receiver to are that thick.

[enkeivette]

Also, the actual receiver part is a separate piece. It has a 2" ID and it's about 1/4" thick.

[kdracer73]

I think your going to have trouble getting up the ramp. All that wieght behind the rear axle is going to make the front end very light. Traction will be hard to find on a wet, concrete ramp..

[enkeivette]

I think so too, but there's only one way to find out. Well two, but I wasn't a physics major.

[94cobra69ss396]

Also, the actual receiver part is a separate piece. It has a 2" ID and it's about 1/4" thick.

I measured a receiver hitch in my garage and it's 3/16. That's why I recommended it. If I were building one for my Explorer I would build it out of 3/16 but I tend to overbuild to be on the safe side. The 3 inch tube that I used as the cross brace for the front leaf spring mount I built on the Explorer is 3/16 and the two down peice that hold the front of the leaf packs are made out of 3 1/2 inch with 1/4 thickness.

I agree with Paul. I don't think the Neon will pull your boat up a ramp. I had an '84 Toyota pickup years ago and had to pull my wifes aunt's boat out of Lake Parris. I had to put the truck in 4 low to have enough power to pull it up the ramp.

[kdracer73]

I think so too, but there's only one way to find out. Well two, but I wasn't a physics major.

Just remember to post the video when you are done:laugh:

[94cobra69ss396]

I want to see pictures of the build.

[Vettezuki]

. . . It's not like I'm as stubborn as Ben. . .

I'm not stubborn. I'm right. :drink:

[Vettezuki]

I think your going to have trouble getting up the ramp. All that wieght behind the rear axle is going to make the front end very light. Traction will be hard to find on a wet, concrete ramp..

N20. :huh:

[enkeivette]

N20. :huh:

Traction problem, not a power problem. I've even thought about chain linking my axles, but for about $180 I could get LSD. And that's the way to go.

[enkeivette]

I think I discovered the reason they don't make a class 2 for the Neon.

I was wondering if the 1/8 really wouldn't be thick enough, so I wanted to see how thick the Neon 'frame' was in comparison... it's only about 1/16 thick, no joke. Hahaha. I can't even weld on it without burning holes in it!

Anyways, I stil plan to plate the tubing and gusset it. I have the basic shape made, and I cut off the edge of the bumper mount brackets to make it fit. So to make sure it doesn't rip right through the frame rails, not only am I going to bolt it to the frame but also to the bumper. So it has a lot more to grab on to and it is better able to spread out the load. I may have the cut into the bumper to get some bolts to hang though there though :/ Which would mean almost definitely having to take the bumper cover off.

[enkeivette]

I've been welding all seams on both sides, wherever possible.

http://i52.tinypic.com/jkjbqw.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/sfuonq.jpg

These gussets are just tacked on obviously, didn't have time to finish today.

http://i54.tinypic.com/287dieb.jpg

I'm also going to gusset the rear of the receiver tube on the back.

[94cobra69ss396]

The design looks good. Is it just the picture or is the main bar bent?

[enkeivette]

It is bent! Haha, noticed that today. I guess I got it too hot!

[enkeivette]

I put it on the kitchen table to see how bent it was, and it's not bent at all. I guess it's just an optical illusion since it has the receiver tube and bracing on one side.

[enkeivette]

All done, I predrilled the mounting bolt holes and the receiver stud/ coder pin hole. But I grabbed the wrong 1/2" to finish it off. I'll open up the holes and paint it this weekend.

I decided not to plate it. If the frame is only an 1/8 thick (the 1/16 steel doubles up where the mounting bolts are), I don't see the reason to make the receiver thicker than 1/8.

Took this pic before I started drilling. I decided rather than bolt it to the bumper, which involves removing the bumper cover to drill for access holes, I'm just going to weld the freakin thing right to the bumper. I'll put a couple 6" length roll of dimes on it after it's installed. It sits right up on the bumper, so it'll be easy.

http://i53.tinypic.com/1z66xyf.jpg

[Leedom]

Lookin' good Adam. Nice job.

[enkeivette]

Thanks dog. PS, I cut everything with an angle grinder. Hahaha. :sm_up_there:

[94cobra69ss396]

Thanks dog. PS, I cut everything with an angle grinder. Hahaha. :sm_up_there:

Isn't that the way you're supposed to do it?

[enkeivette]

Isn't that the way you're supposed to do it?

Are you joking?

I used to cut metal pieces with a table saw and a 10" metal blade. Nice clean cuts, no fuss. Till my saw died.

[94cobra69ss396]

Are you joking?

I used to cut metal pieces with a table saw and a 10" metal blade. Nice clean cuts, no fuss. Till my saw died.

I cut most of the stuff on the Explorer with a sawzall, cut off wheel and a grinder. I did borrow my buddies chop saw to cut some of the square tubing though.