Hitches to replace bumpers

[Slick]

who has used a hitch to replace a bumper but also be fully functional? I work for U haul and have the hitch, but i don't like the idea of my hitch hangin below my bumper.... so i was wondering if anyone modded their pathy to fit a hitch in place of their bumper, but also be able to use it for the intended purposes?

i have a class 3 hitch with 2" receiver to tow our boat, but i REALLY hate the idea of it being below my bumper when i want to remove my bumper in place of something stronger anyway...

SO..... who's done it and what did you use? was the hitch for another vehicle? fabbing stuff and welding are not a problem

-bounce- thanks in advance!

Edited August 10, 2006 by Slick

[cdhicks99]

I don't have any pics, but what I did on my old 720 and will be doing on my pathy, I just bought the reciever tube and cut a square in my heavy steel bumper and weld it in. I'll try to get pics of some friends when I go to WITC Sat.

[Slick]

I don't have any pics, but what I did on my old 720 and will be doing on my pathy, I just bought the reciever tube and cut a square in my heavy steel bumper and weld it in. I'll try to get pics of some friends when I go to WITC Sat.

well.. my other idea was to do like i did on the front bumper and use parts off the push bars to make brackets and weld them to the frame. i want it strong to tow the boat...

-bounce- definitely wanna see pics of your concoction

[cdhicks99]

Just looking at some pics here and found one.

[dagwoodzz]

linky

 

 

Frontier2k1 & Pezzy have some nice homemade jobs. Is that what you have in mind?

[cdhicks99]

Found a pretty cool idea.

http://www.chuckschevytruckpages.com/bumper.html

[cdhicks99]

Just a few more design ideas for ya!

The list could go on for days.

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/bumper.html

http://www.yankeetoys.org/mangler/rearbumper.htm

http://home.4x4wire.com/swilson/mods/bumper/

http://www.sonoransteel.com/store_custom_bumpers.html

[Slick]

wow! thanks for all your investigating. Well, I want to use the actual hitch i have, but want to somehow remove my bumper and put the hitch (complete with some obvious mods needed) in its place so it sits higher. the bumper is worthless anyway, i have the brand new hitch and so.. that's my idea..... I will have to check out the class III hitch i have coming in, right now all we have is a class II with a 1 1/4" receiver, the cl 3 i have comin is 2" receiver sly funny enuff....they haul the same weight

thanks for all the ideas/pics!

 

Hitch# Type Class Max weight Max distribution weight Finish Price Details

36152 Heavy Duty 1 1/4 inch Rec 2 3500 N/A Black $129.95

75020 Square Tube 2 inch Rec. 3 3500 5000 Black $189.95

 

 

figure that one out lmao.. i'll get it for cost..... which is about $60

Edited August 10, 2006 by Slick

[vengeful]

The Class 3 hitch will pull 5,000lbs. The class 2 will pull 3,000lbs. Those numbers are wrong.

[Slick]

The Class 3 hitch will pull 5,000lbs.  The class 2 will pull 3,000lbs.  Those numbers are wrong.

well.. it's stamped right on the class II hitch in my shed.. 3500lbs and the pathy isn't the only vehicle that has Cl II & III hitches with the same load rating...... same size.. just receivers are smaller/bigger......... weeeeeeeeeeeeeird

 

 

 

 

and if the boat rips it off i can sue u haul sly

Edited August 11, 2006 by Slick

[mws]

It's still on my "to do" list.... I will be replacing the bumper on TWM's old '88 with a custom high mount receiver/home made Pull Pal transformer bumper. Maybe next spring? The idea is to have the receiver tube and a "framework" rigidly mounted to the frame, with a couple 2.5 and 2.0" square bars bolted to that framework. Those bars will be bolted on so they can be easily removed and used as the frame for a home made Pull Pal.