Hi guys,
I'm close to needing a trailer hitch for my MCI MC9, and for years I've seen the one offered on "busrvparts dot com." Has anyone ordered one, and what is your take on it? I'm a little gun-shy because I seem to remember the company being associated with someone who was a shady businessman. Just curious if it's a real product? Thanks in advance.
Debo
If the part exists, it could be a great hitch. Just to be clear, to the newbies especially. That is Sam Walkers website (not to be confused with Sam Caylor, from Kansas. Sam Caylor is a good guy). Sam Walker is a convicted con man, and not a good person. Steer clear of him!
Debo, I have no personal experience with that. Bobby Easter just welded the hitch onto our old bus. Not cool.
Best of luck.
I don't know anything about that site, but if it is associated with the aforementioned name, I would not touch it with a "39 1/2 foot pole" (appropriate to the current holiday season :-)
I've built two. Both MC9's. One on mine. One on a friends. His was second, and more substantial than mine. it's not difficult. You can buy the receiver tube and build the hitch around it.
Greyhound Canada often pulled Package Express trailers behind their scheduled service line runs. That makes me wonder if perhaps MCI Service Parts may actually have a hitch somewhere deep in the parts books?? Maybe only Winnipeg as it is/was a Canadian thing?
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Debo agree with John. You can order it but you will never get it from that crook. He tried the bait and switch with us in 2009 on a Bus. Almost went for it and at the last minute and no he is no flippin relation to me. The Angle fire Bus Mc9 that 5 different people were getting ready to purchase from him at the same time.
Dave Walker
I am not sure all the series of buses Greyhound Canada hitches are installed on. Before my "bus years" I heard from some small operators that the engine cradle is beefed up to handle/support the extra load. They must be. Those trailers have tandem axle, single wheel set ups with full air brakes connected to the bus via a pintle hitch. Not sure on the weight capacity tho.
Hmmm. Ok then. That pretty much sums up what I was thinking. I'll probably do as Craig suggested. I do like the design shown on that site though.
On a side note, thanks Craig for the great documentation you've done on your website. It's been a valuable tool during my conversion. Just sayin'.
Sorry to be a nay-sayer to the nay-sayers, but I ordered that hitch, it arrived promptly as promised, it fit very well and it has performed perfectly. It was cheaper than I could have made the same hitch. Not saying anything other than that, the guy does have the reputation he no doubt deserves. It is a pair of 1/2" steel plates that bolt to the frame plates on either side, a very heavy wall tube cross-bar and a normal 2" receiver, so you could make one up. One thing is that I needed to trim the bottom 1/2" of the bumper for clearance, which I was told about prior to ordering. You could order using a credit card and get them to reverse the charge if there is a problem, I would think. I've heard of that being done when there are problems ordering things.
Brian
I have a factory MCI hitch but I don't know what model it came from, post your measurement the guys at Arrow gave it to me and I would like it gone
Clifford, I've sent a PM. Thanks.
Clifford, before it's gone can you post a picture or two?
Lol I can on F/B but I gave up here a long time ago trying to post photos
If I were you I'd pay Clifford for the shipping on his if it will work for you.
If not I have part of one that was built for me by a friend of a friend and I took it off our '85 MCI 96A3 when we pulled the engine and transmission to sell the trans. It's just laying here in the shop floor and free to a good home.
It will need some mounting tabs fab'ed & welded to the engine frame to bolt to.
;D BK ;D
Mine is not going to work I chased it down and it is from J model
got mine from walmart it's a 6000 lb reese universal hitch about $ 100.00 . I had to drill 4 or 6 holes for the 1/2" bolts in the cradle that came with the kit .Now I have only pulled my ford ranger with it but no problems in the last 7 years . only problem is it hangs down 2 " lower then the cradle so its kind of like wheelie bars but it has never hit any thing
dave
Here is a picture of mine from the back, I put 3 receivers on. I use the outer 2 to haul a bike. Tom
Digging through my 102 manual I found in the part number section a listing for a rear reinforcement kit. I think it does break down some of the kit, which seems to be added gussets etc. However they do not show it on a diagram to see where the gussets etc are to be added. I will eventually be added a hitch for a toad but that will not be for a while down the road. I am also thinking of sending the rear construction diagram to my brother and have him analyze it and give me some suggestions for reinforcement. He is a mechanical engineer and I am sure he can provide me some insight on how to reinforce things to put my mind at ease. I have already notice I have a break in the steel that supports the engine cradle. So I know I already have some work to do back there.