About a hitch?

[tom4bren]

OK, spent another 2 hours with Welder Guy last night. He's going to have to start over from scratch. We got the hitch tucked in as far as humanly possible (snug against fuel tank shield & frame crossmember). Still couldn't get the cladding to align properly.

Our fall back position is to change from 2" stock tubing with 1/4" wall thickness to 1 1/2" stock tubing with 1/4" wall thickness. This should NOT significantly decrease the strength since we are WAY overdesigning anyway. The main reason that we were trying not to go away from the 2" tubing is that is what he had on hand. He'll be picking up the new tubing and tack a new copy together ASAP. Poor guy had such confidence in the last design that he actually cut enough tubing for 3 hitches. His plasma cutter is FUBAR & his welder is acting up so that's slowing him down too.

Wierd: I've sheered off two of the 10mm bolts on the rear of the cladding. Not sure what that's all about. I've learnt to get the cladding off in 10 min flat. WooHoo!!!

[JAMAS]

Wierd: I've sheered off two of the 10mm bolts on the rear of the cladding. Not sure what that's all about. I've learnt to get the cladding off in 10 min flat. WooHoo!!!

Are you using a high speed air gun to remove the bolts "pit crew" style?

[tom4bren]

Are you using a high speed air gun to remove the bolts "pit crew" style?

Nah, I'm old school - the gorilly approach.

[tom4bren]

Talked to Ron last night. He's got the materials for the next build but his plasma cutter is still FUBAR (replacement coming in from Cali early next week). He hopes to have the final prototype by the end of next week. Will keep you posted.

Tom

BTW, looks like the cost is going to come in around $250 by his latest estimates.

[a745035]

Not bad, considering the "over-engineering" factor with custom nip'tuck fit. My VX currently has NO hitch. Tongue-weight & "flex" with the original Tone hitch has always been the showstopper (no fugly bar... haul w/fugly truck instead) & it's still a concern with 1.5" tubing (Class II?)... but this is an exciting prospect!

Question.. would ALL the tubing be 1.5"? Or just the main lateral support between frame rails? Thinking about re-use of existing 2" bars/balls, hooks & other implements we already have.

Like all here, I look forward to updates and the possibility of hauling with the VX soon!

[tom4bren]

All of the square tube will be 1.5". IIRC Ron said that it's 1/4" wall thickness so that's why I said that we are still well within the realm of 'designed by Max Headroom'. The receiver tube itself will of course NOT be 1.5".

Basically, to keep it all behind the cladding, the 2" tube will not fit without some very creative engineering/fabrication. The $$$ just don't make that practical (don't want to design something that nobody can afford). Besides, that creative fabrication would almost certainly have as much effect on structural integrity as switching to 1.5".

The problem lies with the curvature of the cladding and the location of the fuel tank shield. 2" stock could also be used if the fuel tank shield were modified but then it wouldn't be a bolt on modification. Again, designing something that couldn't be bolted on in the driveway was NOT an option (not everyone can drive from Azrizony to North Darkarta for a custom Ldub install).

[VX KAT]

The problem lies with the curvature of the cladding and the location of the fuel tank shield. 2" stock could also be used if the fuel tank shield were modified but then it wouldn't be a bolt on modification. Again, designing something that couldn't be bolted on in the driveway was NOT an option

(not everyone can drive from Azrizony to North Darkarta for a custom Ldub install).

That was an absolutely wonderful fall trip...I highly recommend it!

About the hitch....as noted before, Dub couldn't get 3 of the bottom cladding bolts in after the hitch install...but when I had the rear skid plate installed, my mechanic did get the skid and cladding lined up and in the holes....
I haven't noticed any bulging or embossing on the rear cladding from the hitch pressing on it...
Apparently the hitch dimensions were close enough to allow it when it was forced with vice-grips...??