FORTUITOUS CALAMITY

I would have looked for a new welder. He said "he wouldn't do it", but still quoted a $600 price???? Sounds to me like he would do it, but wanted the $600.
Anything can be fixed, you just have to find the right guy who knows what he's doing.

olbomb--Excellent contribution to the post. Your cleverness is asstounding

TOMMY47 wrote:
CALAMITY
The bumper and hitch dropped off my 1990 MH with my car behind me in Great Falls, Montana. I recently drove up from Hardin, MT on 2 lane highways. The hitch was not attached to the frame, but only to the bumper. Rust and metal fatigue. It cannot be re-attached. Now stuck in Great Falls with 2 vehicles and one driver. Trying to sell MH now.

FORTUITOUS

The bumper dropped off in a gas station just after I gassed up. I was going about 5mph. 10 miles earlier or 10 minutes later, you would have read about this in the paper. Incredibly lucky.

.

First paragraph: Change your ID to "Primitive Pete".

Second paragraph: "Fortuitous" someone wasn't behind you when your obviously mickey mouse set-up failed - is right!

Second post:
Slogan for a local welding shop on their card is/was:
"We can weld anything except the crack of dawn, or the crack of your A**" - underneath a donkey.

Soooo - The welder that turned you down ....AND said *HE* wouldn't drive it that way.....speaks volumes!..:R

BTW - good plan to check you PL & PD coverage!
"Somebody" is going to own you or your stuff - and/or help you switch from RVing to to new digs in the grey-bar hotel..:R

~

TOMMY47 wrote:
I don't think it was outside his skill set. The gas tank, bins, plumbing all got in the way. They would have had to add a lot of weight to the back end.

This may be the issue....not that it "can't" be done, but if the gas tank and propane plumbing are too close to the frame rails that he needs to weld to...then they must be removed to do the job safely.

So now installing the hitch is a huge job that requires significant dis-assembly and re-assembly of components....making the job more expensive than it is worth. This is likely why the PO put the hitch on the bumper to start with, because it was too difficult to weld to the frame rails. Anything "can" be done, the question is are you willing to pay for it?

Tommy, so many threads that caution adding a bike rack to the rear bumper and you're towing a car!!! Although the car doesn't have the same bounce as a bike rack does....glad you are safe!

Depending on your level of adventurousness, consider selling the car, then taking the MH back to home base and doing the pre-work necessary to install a frame hitch. You can work on it when you have time to work on it, not when it's a roadside disaster. You can get a mobile welder to come do the welding when you have removed the interfering parts.

Mine came off (not bumper since there is no bumper, but the cross rail the hitch adapter is mounted to) at 55mph.. I got some honking and pointing since the rear tire on the bicycle hit the ground and tossed up a large amount of smoke (no fire).. Got stopped. the only thing left conneted was teh brake control and battery re-charge lead.. Brakes worked as designed, No 2ndary damage.

Seperated car and hitch, stowed hitch, put wife in car and found parking (Very close) next AM found RV dealer, (Sorry can not help) next door was welding service Simpsons & Sons as I reall .... They re-built the broken brackets using steel that was half again as thick as the OEM, added some additional bracing to make it even stronger, and bolted it back on to the frame rails.

Still there.

TOMMY47 wrote:
darsben- I think they might notice a missing bumper and wonder why I'm selling. I don't plan to hide anything.
Your comment about the guy not standing behind his work--Where does that come from? Would you rather the guy say it could be done when he knew it was unsafe? He could have made a bundle. I guess you're saying the guy should have lied to prove he would stand behind his work?

Your second post led me to believe he would not stand behind his work. If there is nothing to attach the bumper too then the frame must be rotted severely otherwise I would think someone could safely fashion a piece from the frame to the rear of the riig

Water bug-You've got that right. I have no idea who did it or how long ago.

I'm curious who attached the original hitch to only the bumper. Bumper hitches are designed for light utility or small boat trailers. They aren't meant to be used to tow another vehicle. You were probably tempting fate the entire time that you were towing. You've been lucky for a long time and didn't know it.

pictures would be helpful.

jerem--I think this shop is the best shop in town. I checked with an RV place and they referred me directly to them. They would have sent it to him to do.
I will call the suggested place Monday. I checked their website and it really doesn't seem like work they do. I'm guessing they would send it out to the same guy.
I don't think it was outside his skill set. The gas tank, bins, plumbing all got in the way. They would have had to add a lot of weight to the back end.
Sometimes, things just can't be done safely.