OK, found them.
The center "tube" is a solid bar to the point where it becomes a "socket" at the rear. It is still pinned into the stock Reese Tow Beast. The extension is not welded in any way to the frame OR to the existing Tow Beast. It's bolted in, with bolts/nuts that go in opposing directions. If I were to remove it, I'd have to pull the bolts, the pin, quick disconnect the lights and the 7-way and remove the air-valves from the angled pieces. Those air valves are emergency fill ports for the rear air-bags....I can turn a cutoff right there, and then fill if I had a leak in one or both of my air systems that can fill the bags.
There was one screw up in width which meant he had to put an additional 1/2" (I think) of plate to fill between the frame and the extension which makes it look a little rag-tag but is no less strong.
The Tow beast was already modified some when the Kelderman Air-Ride was put if I recall right, it is now an integral part of the suspension pieces. In other words, the Tow Beast can't be taken off without removing/releasing the rear spring mounts.
The rear-most cross piece is back to back channel, and the 7-way plug will be recessed into that cross bar (along with a giant DC hot/ground connector) so that the "shelf" will be completely flat and can hold several of the platic totes that carry various gear.
I can't seem to find one of my extension that has the over/under receivers, but you can see it in this photo where the "X" of plate steel kind of shows up. I was experimenting with loading ramps and such in this photo, but you can see the height of the bike above the "normal" hitch height is. I have a long tube inserted in the lower opening to use to help test load. May be hard to see this one very well....
The center "tube" is a solid bar to the point where it becomes a "socket" at the rear. It is still pinned into the stock Reese Tow Beast. The extension is not welded in any way to the frame OR to the existing Tow Beast. It's bolted in, with bolts/nuts that go in opposing directions. If I were to remove it, I'd have to pull the bolts, the pin, quick disconnect the lights and the 7-way and remove the air-valves from the angled pieces. Those air valves are emergency fill ports for the rear air-bags....I can turn a cutoff right there, and then fill if I had a leak in one or both of my air systems that can fill the bags.
There was one screw up in width which meant he had to put an additional 1/2" (I think) of plate to fill between the frame and the extension which makes it look a little rag-tag but is no less strong.
The Tow beast was already modified some when the Kelderman Air-Ride was put if I recall right, it is now an integral part of the suspension pieces. In other words, the Tow Beast can't be taken off without removing/releasing the rear spring mounts.
The rear-most cross piece is back to back channel, and the 7-way plug will be recessed into that cross bar (along with a giant DC hot/ground connector) so that the "shelf" will be completely flat and can hold several of the platic totes that carry various gear.
I can't seem to find one of my extension that has the over/under receivers, but you can see it in this photo where the "X" of plate steel kind of shows up. I was experimenting with loading ramps and such in this photo, but you can see the height of the bike above the "normal" hitch height is. I have a long tube inserted in the lower opening to use to help test load. May be hard to see this one very well....
From what I understand, you technically need each segment that is "removable" (i.e. an extension) to have it's own set of changes. In other words, you need chains going from the truck, to the end of the extension, and then another set of chains going from the end of the extension to the trailer/Jeep being towed.
I don't have pictures handy, but I had an extension built that bolts in super-securely to the end of the frame.....so it doesn't need chains. At the back of that I have the big D ring weld-on loops. On my extension I have the "B" shaped bracket at the end. So one set of chains go from the frame to the end of the extension. Then another set of chains goes from that same B bracket and connects to my trailer tongue.
Now that I am flat towing a Jeep behind, I have a similar setup to Joe B's, except it isn't the lighter weight telescoping shafts, it's a tow bar made by Curry Enterprises that has regular solid bars. But it has chains that attach to the tow hooks of the Jeep, and then run along the towbar and are attached to the "B" ring on my extension. I didn't setup the Jeep flat tow stuff, it was already a part of the Jeep we bought.
It's my understanding that each 'separable' segment of the extensions need their own chain. I started to use one chain from my hitch all the way to the trailer but was told that is technically not legal. I like it better that way anyway because each item (extension, towbar, ?) each has it's own set of chains so you never have the wrong pieces or length of chains no matter which combination I use.
Here's a picture of my "frame extension". The top flat surfaces will have diamond plate or expanded metal and then covered with horse stall mat rubber. The rear facing exposed stuff (the wires and fuel tank) will have diamond plate for protection. It makes a great stairway to climb into the bed. It is also removable but via about 12 large bolts and I have the camper on 90+% of the time anyway. I leave it on for laziness and ease of access to the bed.
Here's the Jeep end of the chains.
And what the whole setup looks like. You can see the two separate segments of chains hanging:
The extension also has a high tube, that I mount my XR650R on that keeps it above the tow hitch stuff for the Jeep. I actually haven't towed the Jeep AND carried the XR yet as I am doing some additional modifications to the extension to add tensioners and get the "slop" out. Each separate piece you add adds slop.
The Jeep basically tows like there isn't anything there. I have the Brake Buddy setup but I haven't actually used it yet because I really hardly need it with the braking power I have with the big truck and the exhaust brake and I want it to be super quick and easy for us to jump out and disconnect, raise the tow bar and drive the Jeep away. My compromise for being willing to tow is to be able to disconnect anytime anywhere, very fast.
I guess I need to update my sig with the new Jeep in tow.....
I don't have pictures handy, but I had an extension built that bolts in super-securely to the end of the frame.....so it doesn't need chains. At the back of that I have the big D ring weld-on loops. On my extension I have the "B" shaped bracket at the end. So one set of chains go from the frame to the end of the extension. Then another set of chains goes from that same B bracket and connects to my trailer tongue.
Now that I am flat towing a Jeep behind, I have a similar setup to Joe B's, except it isn't the lighter weight telescoping shafts, it's a tow bar made by Curry Enterprises that has regular solid bars. But it has chains that attach to the tow hooks of the Jeep, and then run along the towbar and are attached to the "B" ring on my extension. I didn't setup the Jeep flat tow stuff, it was already a part of the Jeep we bought.
It's my understanding that each 'separable' segment of the extensions need their own chain. I started to use one chain from my hitch all the way to the trailer but was told that is technically not legal. I like it better that way anyway because each item (extension, towbar, ?) each has it's own set of chains so you never have the wrong pieces or length of chains no matter which combination I use.
Here's a picture of my "frame extension". The top flat surfaces will have diamond plate or expanded metal and then covered with horse stall mat rubber. The rear facing exposed stuff (the wires and fuel tank) will have diamond plate for protection. It makes a great stairway to climb into the bed. It is also removable but via about 12 large bolts and I have the camper on 90+% of the time anyway. I leave it on for laziness and ease of access to the bed.
Here's the Jeep end of the chains.
And what the whole setup looks like. You can see the two separate segments of chains hanging:
The extension also has a high tube, that I mount my XR650R on that keeps it above the tow hitch stuff for the Jeep. I actually haven't towed the Jeep AND carried the XR yet as I am doing some additional modifications to the extension to add tensioners and get the "slop" out. Each separate piece you add adds slop.
The Jeep basically tows like there isn't anything there. I have the Brake Buddy setup but I haven't actually used it yet because I really hardly need it with the braking power I have with the big truck and the exhaust brake and I want it to be super quick and easy for us to jump out and disconnect, raise the tow bar and drive the Jeep away. My compromise for being willing to tow is to be able to disconnect anytime anywhere, very fast.
I guess I need to update my sig with the new Jeep in tow.....
SoCalDesertRider wrote:Mello Mike wrote:Wayne, I've been hearing about your hitch for years now. This is the first time I have seen it. I like it. ๐Reddog1 wrote:Thanks, Wayne. I understand now what you're saying about the tubing for the side forces. Looks pretty sturdy. ๐
This is an old (2004) photo. The extension uses 2"x2" 3/16" wall tubing in instead of chains, for the side forces. Way overbuilt, and adds unnecessary weight to the truck. I have chains to replace the tubing, but keep using it for other projects. I have the tubing on the truck now, but again I will replace the tubing with chain.
Thanks Mike and SoCalDesertRider.
As you guys can see, it is definitely overbuilt (and heavy). Without the extension, the side force tubes would tow my Samurai. The side tubes have 1/2" nuts and bolts at the ball end of the extension, and 1/2 pins at the bumper end. The bumper end has 2"x3/16" wall tubing that goes into the OEM hitch cross tube. It reinforces the OEM cross tube and services as a mounting points for the TC tie-downs and hitch extension tube/chain. My preference is wide mounting points of the tube/chain at the truck end, as it is configured.
Wayne
