Building a trailer receiver/hitch to tow behind fifth wheel

[Reeko08]

I was wondering if any body has a set up like that. If you do, send me info on the specs that they use to build your receiver. (Thickness, square tubing. Etc) pics will help a lot. Thanks

[C_B_]

Goostoff wrote:

C.B. wrote:

Here's what I put on my Cedar Creek.
Link:
www.buyersproducts.com/product/trailer-accessorylight-towing-hitch-receiver-180?criteria=1801125
Not only used for towing.

Stabilizing also.


C.B.

This is just what I have been looking for. There is no price on that link. Mind if I ask what it set ya back?

.

Sorry for the delay. Medical problems.

Check with Tractor Supply for a price.

C.B.

[tinner12002]

Here's one I found on ebay that would fit the I-beam frame. I think I would also add a V on the front of it from the center of hitch forward about 3-4 ft to the frame on each side just to give the center more support.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CLASS-3-MATTE-BLK-RECEIVER-BUMPER-TOW-KIT-2-RV-TRAILER-HITCH-FOR-UP-72-FRAME/382309797147?hash=item5903708d1b:g:1PMAAOSwjodaMa3J&vxp=mtr

[jalichty]

We had our Jayco HT 26.5 RLS modified with a professionally done hitch right after we bought it with very heavy duty square tubing, welded to the frame which had been reinforced about five feet forward towards the axles. I am unable to attach pictures but, if you want some, I can send them to you. Send me a private email address and I'll get them sent to you. We tow a Crestliner Super Hawk 1900 boat and trailer attached to our hitch and, when we weighed it last year, the package weighed over 3,500 pounds.

[Ivylog]

OH NO, we now have the welding police. Yes, you can have a better looking weld with a wire feed, but hard to get the penetration of the good old stick welding. Do you really think those welds are not up to the application????

[DSteiner51]

Goostoff wrote:

Bipeflier wrote:

Have you looked under any RV's lately? Those don't look too bad by comparison to what Lippert is turning out.

Good point. I have 15 years of structural welding under my belt and it just makes me sad to see people call themselves a professional and turn out work like that. I would be ashamed to take someones money for that.

I have seen some real nice looking “professional” welds that held almost as good as chewing gum.

[laknox]

Given the state of the average FW frame build, I'd reinforce the frame all the way to in front of the rear spring hangar before hanging any sort of receiver on the a$$ end. I remember one build detailed here, where the builder went 4 or 5 FEET forward, with 3 cross-members, all attached to the tube attached to the receiver tube. Was towing a small fishing boat, IIRC.

A question to the engineer types... Could something strong enough be built out of aluminum for weight reduction? Would you have issues with bi-metal reactions, if you did? Just curious...

Lyle

[Goostoff]

Bipeflier wrote:

Have you looked under any RV's lately? Those don't look too bad by comparison to what Lippert is turning out.

Good point. I have 15 years of structural welding under my belt and it just makes me sad to see people call themselves a professional and turn out work like that. I would be ashamed to take someones money for that.

[Bipeflier]

Goostoff wrote:

Itinerant1 wrote:
This is what I had added. I picked up a 12" long 2" receiver from napa and had a welding shop build this. I use it mainly for the bikes but I suppose it could pull a lite trailer.

Please dont take this the wrong way because you didnt build this, but I would go find the person that did and slap them up side the head and ask for a refund. They should not be taking peoples money and calling themselves a welding shop.

Have you looked under any RV's lately? Those don't look too bad by comparison to what Lippert is turning out.

[Itinerant1]

No offense taken. After 2 years 15k miles some off road rough conditions and still there. Those welds might not be machine perfect but they are better than some I've seen on trailers being turned out on new trailers that folks buy everday and think they have a well made trailer.

[Goostoff]

Itinerant1 wrote:
This is what I had added. I picked up a 12" long 2" receiver from napa and had a welding shop build this. I use it mainly for the bikes but I suppose it could pull a lite trailer.

Please dont take this the wrong way because you didnt build this, but I would go find the person that did and slap them up side the head and ask for a refund. They should not be taking peoples money and calling themselves a welding shop.

[Ivylog]

Itinerant1 wrote:
This is what I had added. I picked up a 12" long 2" receiver from napa and had a welding shop build this. I use it mainly for the bikes but I suppose it could pull a lite trailer.

I would have put the cross pieces/channels as far apart as possible and the rear one as close as possible to the rear fiberglass IF I was going to pull a trailer. More than good enough for two bikes.

[reluyog]

I built our own hitch for the 5th wheel. There are two 45 degree gussets behind the hitch plate that extend rearward and upward. Main mounting slides into the box frame 18" on each side. It's rock solid and good for a 7k trailer. First two pics are unpainted pre-assembly, and material is 3/8" and 1/2" thick flat plate except for 2x6-3/16 rectangular tubing laid flat times 2

[Itinerant1]

This is what I had added. I picked up a 12" long 2" receiver from napa and had a welding shop build this. I use it mainly for the bikes but I suppose it could pull a lite trailer.

[JIMNLIN]

I don't have any specs for you but I've had a custom fabed rear receiver hitch made for all three of the 5th wheel trailers we've owned. Plus several GN equipment trailers. I like my hitches heavy for pulling other heavy trailers if need be.

The braced box style hitch is tied into the main frame rails.
I like 4"X 4"X 1/4w steel square tubing at the rear and 2" X 4" X 1/4"w to the main frame rails and front. Basically a welded box with cross bracing welded to the main frame rails.

I did a quick google and youtube and several custom made hitches popped up.