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Old 04-30-2011, 05:05 PM   #1
kingdaddy
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Custom receiver hitch for High Country!

I recently had a custom made 2"receiver hitch made for my H.C. by a local RV shop (All Valley RV in Acton, Ca.)
As I requested they took some digital pics of it during the fabrication and install and I thought I would share some photos of it for those interested.
I really like the clean look without the large cross member exposed beneath the rear cap like some I've seen.
This hitch is NOT for towing anything and I had it made specifically for my Thule bike rack (two bikes). Rack and two bikes weigh around 100 lbs or so.
You can see the cross members are 2x3" pieces (one on edge, the other laying flat) with the 2" combo bar welded to both very securely and gusseted.
Used it on my trip this week to Pismo with the bikes and it worked out very well. Very strong and secure.
I think I will have a couple of tabs or loops of some kind welded to the receiver tube for tie downs just to help stabilize the ends of the bike rack (tray type rack).
Take a look:

Nicely done job on the underbelly!

View of welding and fab work

Notice the piece tying the two cross members together on top
 
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Old 05-01-2011, 12:02 PM   #2
oldelmer1
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VERY NICE JOB!!!!
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Old 05-01-2011, 12:24 PM   #3
camper4
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That will make one heck of a bike rack hitch!
Well done.
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Old 05-01-2011, 07:49 PM   #4
kingdaddy
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Thanks, the guy who built it is very good! Even with the relatively long receiver tube length, it is very solid due to the design and build quality. They were very careful about how they cut through the underbelly...real craftsmanship!
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Old 05-02-2011, 05:18 AM   #5
arcateq
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That looks really great! Want to pay to put mine on?! :-)
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Old 05-02-2011, 05:57 AM   #6
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LOL...ya it wasn't cheap! Materials not so much but there was a fair amount of labor involved obviously.
But they did the hitch, wet bolt kit (installation only) and the Progressive Industries EMS installation (also install only) for around $800. Labor costs are high, but as long as the quality of the work is also high I can deal with that!
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Old 08-03-2011, 01:53 PM   #7
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Mike, that looks great but my bikes aren't worth $800 together. I'm pretty cheap. I have been thinking about U-bolts around the horizontal bar then around the bar on the hitch itself. The length of the reciever might be a problem, not sure. I cut a hole in the underbelly and located the crossbar. I thought all I would find was the end of the beams running the length of the rig. The next problem might be the length of the U-bolts.
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Old 08-03-2011, 03:31 PM   #8
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Paul, that cost included the installation of the wet bolt kit and also the EMS so the hitch itself was nowhere near $800!
Not sure what the hitch alone would have been for parts and labor. My bikes are kinda expensive, but regardless I would want a well designed hitch that was strong and would not create any problems with the trailer frame etc.
There are other options of course, some have used a "kit" from Hidden Hitch or someone like that.
You don't want your bikes flopping around and creating a hazard due to a poorly designed hitch. Just not worth it...
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Old 08-03-2011, 04:57 PM   #9
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Paul ... you'll find that the cross beams under the floor and above the black corrugated underbelly aren't much to attach anything to. Ahead of the very rear crossbeam which is light stamped steel, the next ones are little more than a "truss" made up of 2 flimsy angles and round rod zig zaged between them to form a truss. 2 pieces of steel angle welded or bolted to the main frame for some fashion of a hitch tounge to attach to doesn't cost that much ... It's nothing to drop the belly pan down to do this. JIMHO
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Old 08-04-2011, 02:50 AM   #10
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Good stuff KingDaddy! Thanks for sharing!

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Old 08-04-2011, 05:39 PM   #11
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Mike...that is a very clean and solid looking install. Is there much flex in it when your hauling your bikes? I am not far up the road from you. I am going to check out All Valley myself. Thanks for showing us...
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Old 08-06-2011, 10:02 AM   #12
kingdaddy
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Don, ya check out All Valley RV and talk to Craig in service! Great guy to deal with and the guy who does their fab work (forgot his name) does a good job. You're welcome to check the hitch on mine out personally if you're in the area too.
It is VERY solid and clean design too. No flex as far as I know, but you could make it even more beefy using this basic design if necessary.
My rack and two bikes weigh around 120 lbs. or so...
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2015 Ram 3500 DRW Laramie Megacab, Aisin w/3.73s, 255/80 17 Toyos A/T III, rear auto level, 40 gal. fuel/tool combo box, some Banks mods...
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