Hitch receiver on 5ver

4x4ord wrote:

justme wrote:
The problem will be vibration and welds could fail if not engineered properly. So be ware.....

I am am a descent welder .... I can't recall having a weld break ever. However I am concerned enough about the welds holding the hitch I build onto the trailer's frame that I plan to have my nephew, who is a professional welder, do that part of it.

I've pretty much decided to use 5x5x1/4" square tubing for my hitch. I'll have two 4x2 receivers spaced 4 feet apart to attach the bike carrier. Additionally I will fabricate a 2x2 receiver in the center of the 5x5 for double towing. If I'm going to remove the nice hitch currently welded on this trailer I might as well replace it with one that is certain to be sufficient.

The tongue weight of my bass boat is 500#+-. The rear cap on my rv is a full cap that goes all the way down to the bottom of the frame rails. The ball on the hitch is about 16" from where it attaches to the cross member. I used two 3" structural channels that I welded together to make a 3"X3" square tube. I forget the lb per foot the channel was but the gauge is 3/8" thick. It is attached to the frame rails with 4"X4"X1/4" angle 3' long on each rail. I welded 1"X1"x1/8" X-bracing all the way up to the rear most axle to help the frame rails take the side to side loads. I know 500 pound tongue weight is not 800 pounds but it is a 5,000# boat yanking on it too. This is the second rv I've towed this boat with. 9 years with no problems.