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12-09-2013, 09:35 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
Cat City
, California
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 854
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Fabricating Your Own Receiver
Anyone built their own receiver? In consideration of my Chrysler 300 S project, I am looking at all ways to accomplish the right receiver to two my 25 Flying Cloud. There are stock receivers that can be modded of course, such as the way Andy T. does it. But then I thought, if I am going to a fabricator/installer, maybe I can have one custom made. I discovered that Reese actually sells "parts" from which a fabricator can build a hitch.
Trailer Hitches - Reese
It doesn't look that difficult for a good welder/fabricator. Any comments?
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12-09-2013, 10:12 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1994 30' Excella
alexandria
, Kentucky
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,320
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Back in the late 1960's Chrysler cars had unibody construction and somewhere on the net I have seen a factory document to would show custom shops how to fabricate a hitch for uni-body cars.
Do you know anybody into old Mopars with some old shop manuals?
When I was a kid my grandpa owned a late 60's Dodge station wagon that pulled his travel trailer and I vaguely remember a long receiver hitch under the car with heavy steel braces - it came from the factory that way.
This probably doesn't help much but our 2002 Grand Cherokee has a unibody and here is what the hitch looks like. As you can see it has multiple fastening points and looks to be very strong. One item I would add/change is to make the receiver as long as the side rails - weld in a cross brace.
__________________
Steve, Christy, Anna and Phoebe (Border Collie)
1994 Classic 30'11" Excella - rear twin
2009 Dodge 2500, 6 Speed Auto, CTD, Quad Cab, Short Bed
Hensley Arrow hitch with adjustable stinger
WBCCI # 3072
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12-09-2013, 10:46 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1961 24' Tradewind
1969 29' Ambassador
1970 21' Globetrotter
Jamestown
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,783
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It was common to fabricate them in the 70's before all the custom fit hitches became available. Possibly Reese could have some vehicle specific info in their old files.
__________________
Rick Davis 1602 K8DOC
61 tradewind, plus a few others
13 Ram 2500 TD
99 Dodge TD 577K miles
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12-09-2013, 10:52 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,803
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The biggest problem you will have is liability. One of the reasons many of the custom hitch places have gone to the wayside is because of liability. Though they may be able to build it and install it, if you are going down the road, it fails, trailer comes off and kills someone will you or their insurance company cover it (that is if they even have insurance)
Just something to think about,
Enjoy,
__________________
Paul Waddell
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12-09-2013, 11:10 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1994 30' Excella
alexandria
, Kentucky
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,320
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I doubt liability would be a major concern as things are fabricated everyday in less than ideal conditions "in the field". Welding a hitch together in a shop environment is a piece of cake.
The cookie cutter after market hitches came along because they provided a quick solution for the auto manufacturer and the consumer which is much easier than searching out a competent fabricating shop.
A decent fabricating shop can undoubtedly build a better hitch.
__________________
Steve, Christy, Anna and Phoebe (Border Collie)
1994 Classic 30'11" Excella - rear twin
2009 Dodge 2500, 6 Speed Auto, CTD, Quad Cab, Short Bed
Hensley Arrow hitch with adjustable stinger
WBCCI # 3072
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12-09-2013, 11:54 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,803
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crispyboy,
Not saying it's not a piece of cake to do, question becomes, who is responable "if" it fails? My guess, "mstephens" is going to say, "not me" shop xyz built it. The insurance company he has his car insurance with is going to say "not us" since it was a custom product not placed on the car either by the factory or a shop that has insurance for this type of matter. If he takes a hitch from Reese and makes mods to it, their going to say "not us" since you did not use it based on factory specs and install guides.
So, unless the shop that does the work has this type of worked covered under their insurance policy, he could have a mess on his hands. And if you think a hitch won't fail, look at all the Chevy's that had them fail over the past couple years.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...tch-58202.html
Now understand, I personally have two custom hitches myself, one on a 1962 Ford Galaxie and one on a 1968 International Travelall. So I very much understand the process.
Just trying to open eyes to what can happen,
Enjoy,
__________________
Paul Waddell
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12-09-2013, 12:13 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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Paul Waddell, the O.P. is most surely aware of this, for what it's worth. I've always considered free legal advice worth what you paid for it.
Help him build a hitch.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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12-09-2013, 12:48 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
St. Catharines
, South Western Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,367
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Back in the 60's my dad had an RV sales business. He outsourced all hitch installs to the local small town gas station / welding shop. Never a problem.
On my Dad's personal TV the welding shop would use the same hitch on any new car my dad would buy. There were a few adjustments needed but more or less worked fine.
These days it is a little more trickier as the vehicles are different in more ways than before. Attachment points are key too.
__________________
Airstreams..... The best towing trailers on the planet!
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12-09-2013, 12:48 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Currently Looking...
Durango
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,112
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Unless you can find an attorney that is a certified welder, the next best thing would be to seek out a race car/hot rod chassis fabricator. I'm thinking Cat City is probably Cathedral City and there are several good shops in Orange County you might talk to.
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12-09-2013, 01:04 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1984 34' International
Toronto
, Ontario
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,499
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Any shop worth its salt will have professional liability insurance - i.e. they make a mistake, insurance will pay for it. That's just a basic cost of doing business.
Just find yourself somebody who does custom work. Denis4x4's suggestion sounds like a good one to me.
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12-09-2013, 01:21 PM
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#11
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Vintage Kin
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,014
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12-09-2013, 01:21 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
Cat City
, California
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 854
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While driving this am I remembered I had met a fabricating genius at the last rally. He had built some amazing stuff for his RV. I am going to contsct him and see if he could be interested. So I have at lesdt one lead. Yes, OC has several custom car builders. That will be my backup. I assume all custom shop face the same issues of liability when chopping snd sectioning street rods, replacing motors, and rededesigning drive trains.
My final backup will be driving to CanAm
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12-09-2013, 01:41 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
Cat City
, California
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 854
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For example, I would think this kind of place could do it.
http://www.occarsinc.com/What_we_do.html
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12-09-2013, 02:11 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
Cat City
, California
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 854
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Curt makes a universal Class V that looks very easy to adapt. Part number 15901. The only mounting difference to the Curt unit for the 300 S are the side plates. I am no genius, but I think even I could dedign a proper side plate tp use this HD receiver. Then add an extension from the back of the draw tube to the rear axle mount and it is done. (always easy on paper! LOL)
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12-09-2013, 04:06 PM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
2001 25' Safari
London
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 299
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Denis4x4
Unless you can find an attorney that is a certified welder...
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Good one!
__________________
Gary & Debbie
2001 Safari 25 SS
2011 Chevy Traverse 3.6L AWD • Hensley • DirecLink • McKesh
Set-up by Can-Am RV
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12-09-2013, 04:53 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1994 30' Excella
alexandria
, Kentucky
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,320
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The information posted by Slowmover about the Plymouth was the exact factory tow package that my grandpa ordered for his station wagon. I remember him talking about it and seeing the hitch design brought it all back.
__________________
Steve, Christy, Anna and Phoebe (Border Collie)
1994 Classic 30'11" Excella - rear twin
2009 Dodge 2500, 6 Speed Auto, CTD, Quad Cab, Short Bed
Hensley Arrow hitch with adjustable stinger
WBCCI # 3072
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12-09-2013, 04:54 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
St. Catharines
, South Western Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,367
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If you have the good pics from Andy you would think a good hitch shop would put one together for you.
On our Nissan Van I bought a Uhaul class III and modified it myself to a class IV+ level. A few hour work. Not a big deal. Very solid and flex free.
__________________
Airstreams..... The best towing trailers on the planet!
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12-09-2013, 07:30 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
Cat City
, California
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 854
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Road Ruler
If you have the good pics from Andy you would think a good hitch shop would put one together for you.
On our Nissan Van I bought a Uhaul class III and modified it myself to a class IV+ level. A few hour work. Not a big deal. Very solid and flex free.
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I can see the piece you added behind the draw tube. Did you also add that gusset which is right on the draw tube? Nice job.
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12-19-2013, 07:04 PM
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#19
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1972 Travelux Princess 25
Cobourg
, Ontario
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,059
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I would buy a Reese Class 3 and build onto it. This is what I did on mine. I got some square tubing the same as the hitch was made of, 2 pieces of channel for the end brackets and made it into an H shape the way Can Am does theirs.
I cut the pieces myself and tacked them together on the vehicle, then removed it, took it to a welder and had it welded solid (I only have a small wire feed welder). It took less than half an hour to weld it, and when he was done he said "you could tow a dump truck up the Rocky Mountains with that hitch" ha ha.
When you look at the hourly rate a good welder and fabricator charges, it makes sense just to buy a good receiver or buy one and modify it. Plus the Reese is already engineered for your car which saves some time and head scratching.
__________________
Living in the trailer park of sense, looking out the window at a tornado of stupidity.
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12-19-2013, 09:03 PM
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#20
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3 Rivet Member
2003 25' Safari
Riverside
, California
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 234
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__________________
2003 25' Safari
2005 Ram 2500 4x4
1994 Ram 2500 4x4
2015 Toyota Tacoma trd 4x4
2000 Jeep Wrangler 4x4
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