| Author | Message | ||
| John and Barb Tesser (Bigrigger)
Registered Member Username: Bigrigger Post Number: 297 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 24.183.21.246  Rating: N/A |
I wanted to be able to tow the wife's '07 Ford Focus occasionally so I went to our local "Tool Shed" (same stuff as Harbor Freight, etc) and bought a tow bar kit for 60 bucks. I built and welded plates through the bumper.I feel very good about my end of the vehicle but in looking over the cheap towbar, I see the two bolts that hold the long arms to the hitch and the two that make it adjustable are only about 5/16 and not very substantial looking. My question is. Besides making the towbar adjustable for various vehicles is there a reason why the bars are able to swivel at the hitch end? If not, then I will flip it over weld those connections solid, so I don't have to worry about their cheap chinese bolts. I guess an easier way to state it is "is there any reason that the hitch needs to be moveable in relation to the towbars themselves?" Thanks in advance to all the engineer folks. John | ||
| Paul Karasz (Neverlearn)
Registered Member Username: Neverlearn Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 74.4.253.24  Rating: N/A |
Hi John, More speculation here than certified fact. I just bought a Blackhawk towbar because I too didn't like the cheap build quality of those 'other' towbars - but that wasn't my only reason for buying one (I'd rather make one). The ability to connect the towbar by myself without perfect toad to bus alignment was a large consideration - but that is a function of the adjustable length design of the blackhawk. In your case, the adjustment is a pivot for the width of the connect points on the toad, and is not necessary for adjustment if it's only ever going to be used on one vehicle. I used a home-made tow bar assembly (just a couple of times) which was essentially a (rigidly welded) triangle with a ball coupler and ratchet straps. Not very useful for modern vehicles with delicate front-ends, but it worked very well. So, if it were me - not only would I weld it in a fixed position, but I'd also add some reinforcement plate or angle to it for added strength. | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 64 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 68.155.150.83  Rating: N/A |
John, I used one of the "cheap" bars in a driveaway operation, towing an Astro van, for several years. It was rated at 5000#, as required by federal regs, and the van weighed about 4000#. I never had a problem with it and I liked being able to fold it up for storage. I also quite often found that, when it came time to disconnect, the bar would be in a little bit of a bind. Loosening those bolts would allow me to remove the bar for the hitch without having to reposition the two vehicles. Bob | ||
| John and Barb Tesser (Bigrigger)
Registered Member Username: Bigrigger Post Number: 298 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 24.183.21.246 Rating: N/A |
Thanks guys! I haven't towbarred anything since the early 70's when I haul my Oldsmobile to the 1/4 mile track, so I was not sure about this long distance hauling. Bob I like the idea of a little bit of adjustability for hooking or unhooking but I think my peace of mind would be well served by throwing some beads (and maybe gussets) on it. The Focus is light enough I should be able to "manhandle" it forward or back to hook and unhook. That said, I think I saw a reciever that allowed some movement for hookup. Oh well, we will try it a few times and if lineup is a major problem,(with her driving and me directing and swearing or her directing with me driving and swearing) I will try to figure something out to alleviate the problem.(I have lots of wire and gas in my welder!) lol Thanks again, John | ||
| David Ljung Madison (Daveola)
Registered Member Username: Daveola Post Number: 131 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 66.93.216.22 Rating: N/A |
Out of curiousity, where did you guys get your hitches? I'm looking to find a hitch for a 102A3 | ||
| Paul Karasz (Neverlearn)
Registered Member Username: Neverlearn Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 74.4.253.24 Rating: N/A |
I started to make mine from raw materials and generic trailer hitch parts, but then I came across this link: http://www.busrvparts.com/Towing%20Hitches.htm I will probably end up with that instead of my own fabri-creation - that is after I get my drop-box fixed. | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Registered Member Username: Niles500 Post Number: 947 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 173.78.39.41 Rating: N/A |
***** Sam Walker alert ***** | ||
| Paul Karasz (Neverlearn)
Registered Member Username: Neverlearn Post Number: 7 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 74.4.253.24 Rating: N/A |
"***** Sam Walker alert *****" So, at first I thought that either this was code for I am breaking some forum rules already - or it was a reference to an inside joke. So I checked the archives. Woah! So, back to Daveola's question: "where did you guys get your hitches?" Maybe I'll finish making my own now. | ||
| Mark Renner (Boomer)
Registered Member Username: Boomer Post Number: 181 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 206.58.200.38  Rating: N/A |
Try hitchtrader.com. You might find a good used major brand towbar for cheap. | ||
| Ralph Peters (Ralph7)
Registered Member Username: Ralph7 Post Number: 80 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 75.210.185.183 Rating: N/A |
I used Craigslist, in any areas, got a very old Roadmaster out of Fl. $60.00 an $60.00 shipping, very heavy, rusty, BUT it works great. Went on E-@@@, an found K C Trailers Who sell them and ordered the correct vehicle adapters, less than 300, including quick lift off. made my own 7 wire hookup. Best was a Roadmaster air brake set up for toad, less than 300 off E-@@@, only needed to get 1/4 quick disconnect for air line, and it has a mini air tank if break away. Some have built there own toad brakes and hitches, but I like the fact I do not be perfect to hook up, just get close. | ||
| Rob Norgren (Robsedona)
Registered Member Username: Robsedona Post Number: 174 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 75.210.220.197  Rating: N/A |
You can go to you local Hardware store and buy grade 8 bolts and replace them and feel safe! You may want to leave "able to swivel at the hitch end?" this lets you make it smaller to store and carry around or are you leaving it on the car?? If so weld it solid! Rob (Message edited by Robsedona on November 21, 2009) |