About a hitch?

[tom4bren]

OOORRRRR ...

Now I'm just thinkin outside the box right now so bear with me ...

I focus on getting the dang thing to fit & worry about all yer minutiae stuff later

Just kidding.

I'm kinda leaning towards just drill & tap a hole through the collar (on the under side) for a large set screw. Benefits: hidden (no extra holes), no compromise of strength, gives you your locking option for rattling hitches. Issues: Ya gotta carry an allen wrench with you to remove the hitch.

BTW, Welder Guy has already located the hole for the pin 1/2 inch farther outboard for youse people who really can't stand the idea of me getting any sleep so put on stoopid fiberglass bling stuff that gets in the way of using the hitch for what it's intended for.

[vt_maverick]

I'm kinda leaning towards just drill & tap a hole through the collar (on the under side) for a large set screw. Benefits: hidden (no extra holes), no compromise of strength, gives you your locking option for rattling hitches. Issues: Ya gotta carry an allen wrench with you to remove the hitch.

This is what I had done on my Tone hitch, but it didn't work as well as the J-pin. I think it may have had to do with the fact that with a bottom-mounted bolt you're trying to squeeze the accessory against the roof of the hitch, which is fighting against gravity, especially when your accessory is fully loaded. And I can tell you from experience it's much easier to tighten a bolt that goes in from the side (without the force of gravity pushing against you) than from underneath. Plus you don't have to get dirty.

So why does a second hole for the J-pin compromise strength more than a second hole for a bolt? Is it because they're on different walls?

[VX KAT]

BTW, Welder Guy has already located the hole for the pin 1/2 inch farther outboard for youse people who really can't stand the idea of me getting any sleep so put on stoopid fiberglass bling stuff that gets in the way of using the hitch for what it's intended for.

.....guess that would be Mav and I.....

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stoopid is as stoopid does....hehe

[VX KAT]

mine had 28mm from the back of the hole to the collar....so if WelderGuy moved it more aft 1/2" for use goofballs....that probably means it would be really really tight to get another hole and still have some metal integrity....???

[tom4bren]

So why does a second hole for the J-pin compromise strength more than a second hole for a bolt? Is it because they're on different walls?

It's more of an issue with the second hole being in line with the primary (pin) hole in the direction of the most significant force (draw weight). As long as there is at least 2x the wall thickness of the tube between the two holes, it should be fine.

P.S. If it's a big headache I can just drill the second hole after I buy it.

You're taking me entirely too seriously ... but what's next, duzzit hafta be powder coated an exact match to foxfire???

stoopid is as stoopid does....hehe

I have no response to that.

[tom4bren]

WooHoo!!!

Cladding now fits over the hitch. Need to drop it off to Welder Guy this week to finish her up (full welds, clean up, & paint).

Will keep you posted & add some pix next week (middle of week - gotsa run to Vermont on Monday for work).

No J pin hole yet, but we'll add that.

Prolly gonna mount the safety chain loops tucked under - harder to get to but cleaner look ... hope that's OK with everyone.

I'll try to get him to extend the mounting brackets down so that you can add a shakle on both sides if you wish. Feedback on hole for shakle???