Beefing up the hitch on 345

[ccetex]

Two questions;

1 - Do I need to disconnect the batteries before welding on the coach?

2 - Does anyone have pictures of what they did to theirs?
I searched and did not find pictures of this.

I have a good picture of how I want to do this in my head, but I am always open to others ideas. I always tell my guys at work to tell me their thoughts because I am a believer in working smarter not harder.

Thanks
Chuck

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by ccetex

...I searched and did not find pictures of this...

hi chuck

a few picsndetails here and links 2 others...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f160...c-mh-4431.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f160...ity-37089.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f310...ity-35737.html

cheers
2air'

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by ccetex

Two questions;

1 - Do I need to disconnect the batteries before welding on the coach?

2 - Does anyone have pictures of what they did to theirs?
I searched and did not find pictures of this.

I have a good picture of how I want to do this in my head, but I am always open to others ideas. I always tell my guys at work to tell me their thoughts because I am a believer in working smarter not harder.

Thanks
Chuck

Chuck,

I can't say whether you have to disconnect the batteries but when I'm welding on a vehicle I do it anyway "just in case".

If you follow the third link that 2air posted you'll see pictures of how I did our 310 hitch. Lots of people have strengthened their hitches and there are a bunch of different threads on the subject.

Rob Fike pulls about a 20' or 24' enclosed trailer with his 345 without problems. You definitely need to install a brake controller along with your strengthened hitch.

Good luck!

Brad

[ccetex]

This is what I was looking for.

Thanks

2air, I don't know how you find all the links you do. Thanks

bkahler, I have always been told to unhook the battery also and I am too chicken not too.

The pictures of the beefed up hitches look great. I am thinking about pulling my 08 Dodge 4x4 with a brake buddy instead of buying another vehicle. With the stronger hitch I do not see a problem.

Chuck

[Mikethefixit]

UNHOOK them battery's. Ground side should be enough. Why take a chance.?? I owned big trucks for yrs and I always unhook the batteries when doing any kind of welding to them. If I were going to weld on my trailer frame I'd unhook the battery's,I like you am chickin,and it don't take that long to be safe.

[Robfike]

Chuck,
We had the hitch beefed-up on our 345. Here is a link to my post on the project. If this link does not come up, just do a search under my name; robfike.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f311...ing-25348.html

[Robfike]

BTW, I should mention that the 345 tows our 7000# race trailer with no problem. We use a weight distributing hitch. The race trailer costs us 1 mpg.
When we go to Florida, we flat tow a Porsche 912E with a NiteShift tow bar. Towing this car costs us nothing. The fuel use is exactly the same as with no car.
Rob

[John H.]

All the above is very good advice and good information

Just be sure you have a Very good welder, hitch shop or machine shop do the work that takes into consideration the most viable NEEDED strength and the Least weight added for that re enforcement !!!