Building a trailer receiver/hitch to tow behind fifth wheel

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.

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

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.

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????

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.