MCI trailer hitch - anybody bought/using one?

Debo · December 27, 2014, 04:36:02 PM

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

John316 · December 27, 2014, 04:38:58 PM

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.

gumpy · December 27, 2014, 08:26:39 PM

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.

RJ · December 27, 2014, 10:37:58 PM

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. . .

Dave5Cs · December 27, 2014, 11:11:18 PM

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

Jim Eh. · December 27, 2014, 11:14:38 PM

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.

Debo · December 28, 2014, 05:15:08 AM

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'.

bevans6 · December 28, 2014, 05:21:52 AM

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

luvrbus · December 28, 2014, 05:36:52 AM

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

Debo · December 28, 2014, 08:02:56 AM

Clifford, I've sent a PM. Thanks.

bottomacher · December 28, 2014, 08:27:33 AM

Clifford, before it's gone can you post a picture or two?

luvrbus · December 28, 2014, 08:33:37 AM

Lol I can on F/B but I gave up here a long time ago trying to post photos

B_K · December 30, 2014, 11:54:18 PM

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.

BK

luvrbus · December 31, 2014, 04:22:59 AM

Mine is not going to work I chased it down and it is from J model

sledhead · December 31, 2014, 05:14:27 AM

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