Hitched

[bobofthenorth]

I don't know what the word is for a really stupid moron but that's who designed the hitch that came installed on our bus.  I'm guessing that the guy's grandson build him a mockup out of Lego and he reproduced it on the bus.  Over the years I have boogied it back together innumerable times but this year was the last straw.  It was in such a mess by the time we got back to the yard that I took the sawzall to it - it was either that or the torch to get the pieces out.  I figured that way there would be no doubt.  We didn't have a hitch for the past 4 years but if I cut it out then I would KNOW that we didn't have a hitch.  Yesterday I started laying out iron and today I bolted the new one in place. 



The receiver tube sits on top of a piece of 3" square tubing that is hung from each end.  There's 2 legs of angle iron going ahead to the front motor mounts with a cross member of 2" square tubing that butts up against the foremost end of the receiver tube.  I had to put a drop in the receiver tube to allow it to sit on top of the 3" tubing and still fit underneath the oil pan.  This will be the last hitch anyone builds for this bus. 

[David Anderson]

Looks good Bob.  Looks similar to the receiver I made for my Eagle. Six years and no problems.

David

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi RJ,

That"s not going anywhere... Nice Job!

Nick-

[Sojourner]

Looking good! It the good thing it is bolted on! Hope your using at least 3 star bolts.

Nice job RJ.

Sojourn for Christ, Jerry

[bobofthenorth]

Looking good! It the good thing it is bolted on! Hope your using at least 3 star bolts.

I would never weld a hitch onto a vehicle - it needs to flex that a bolted attachment allows.  I'm a cheap SOB so I was re-using bolts but the hangers are Grade 5 and the motor mount bolts might actually be Gr. 8 but they are at least Gr. 5.

[prevost82]

Looks good Bob
Ron

[FloridaCliff]

Bob,

Nice looking hitch!

I am with you on bolting things on, not even counting the flex reason.

Sure enough, you weld it on and it will need to come off for some reason or another.

Thanks for sharing your work.

Cliff

[PP]

Looks real good, Bob. I especially like the safety chain eyes on either side. But cheap or not, I wouldn't consider using anything less than grade 8 bolts on a hitch. Just me, FWIW.

[Stormcloud]

It looks even better in person....definitely a good one.

Mark