Best tube to insert into a 2x2 hitch tube for reinforcement? Source?

[e9999]

anybody has figured out the best tube to insert into a 2"x2"ODx1/4"WT to reinforce it? The fit would have to be tight for this to help the outer tube with stiffness.
The issues seem to be that the hitch tube has rounded corners and typically a small seam protruding on the inside. I suspect the WT is probably a bit less than exactly 0.250" too usually.
I would prefer a square tube with rounded corners if possible at all over a real square or round one but not holding my breadth.
I'd rather not have to deal with shimming, grinding, machining etc, so praying for a MUD miracle of an off-the-shelf good fit.
And if there is such a thing, do you know a good source?
TIA

 

[Mace]

Why??

And, adding tubing to the middle will do very little to strengthen it.

 

[ntsqd]

E.M. Jorgensen lists a product called "Telespar", Square telescopic steel tube that might be the answer though the thickest version is only 10 ga. (.135") WT.

Why not just buy 2x2x5/16" or 2x2x3/8" if you want/need thicker walls?

 

[e9999]

it's an existing piece that I may want to reinforce. Squeezing something in there would be the easiest way to do it. I do realize it's a long shot, unfortunately.

 

[ntsqd]

I seem to recall a picture of such a tube that is fairly long? If so you'd be better off to buy a length of blank receiver tube and slide it over the existing tube. Could even cut the existing into two stubs to weld into each end of the receiver tube. Obviously this doesn't work if you're after an extendable/collapse-able tongue.....

 

[e9999]

I seem to recall a picture of such a tube that is fairly long? If so you'd be better off to buy a length of blank receiver tube and slide it over the existing tube. Could even cut the existing into two stubs to weld into each end of the receiver tube. Obviously this doesn't work if you're after an extendable/collapse-able tongue.....

yes, doing it on the outside is much easier to find tubes for since the 2" ID receiver tubes are readily available (although the fit is typically sloppy - but can be fixed, see other thread) and I will do that for extensions etc, but I do want to go inside in this case since I don't have access to the outside. I'm just hoping there is something readily available. If not, I can machine a solid insert but the rounded corners of the outer tube would require chamfering the 4 edges and it would need to be pretty short to make it affordable.

DOM 1.5" is probably readily available but being round it may not help as much with stiffness.

 

[Mace]

And, adding tubing to the middle will do very little to strengthen it.

You saw this right?

 

[e9999]

You saw this right?

yes, but no idea what that means. Middle of what? Care to elaborate?

 

[Mace]

It means inserting anything inside the square tubing will not do much to strengthen it.


Strength comes from larger diameters and distances from the top to bottom.

You would be better welding a piece of tube to the top or bottom of the existing 2".

 

[e9999]

It means inserting anything inside the square tubing will not do much to strengthen it.


Strength comes from larger diameters and distances from the top to bottom.

You would be better welding a piece of tube to the top or bottom of the existing 2".

- I don't think that's true if the fit is good. Won't be as strong as a single wall tube of the combined thickness, of course, but probably would help a lot. You have to bend 2 tubes instead of one at the same time. How would that not help?

- sounds reasonable, at least if everything else is the same

- I don't have access to the top. The bottom is a possibility. But it's welding instead of just sliding in. Given that it's an important part I would not want to try to weld it myself so I'd have to have a pro do it and that's time, logistics and probably more $$. And I like to do stuff myself.

 

[Mace]

Beam Deflection Calculator - Solid Round Tube Beams Calculation - Mechanical Engineering Calculators Online

The calculator is for round tubes but the theory is the same..

 

[ntsqd]

Geometry will always trump wall thickness if the weight is to stay the same.

I could dig up an exact example, but basically let's agree that 3 feet of 2" square by .25 wall and 3 feet of 2.5" square by .188 wall weigh the same (I don't know that they do, but stay with me). The bending strength of the 2.5" tube will be much greater than the 2" tube for the same weight.

It's common thing to think that increasing the wall thickness will add strength, and it does, but the gain is linear. Increasing the size of the tube increases the bending strength exponentially.

A good example of this are aluminum MTB frames. Never mind the marketing babble, those tubes are huge because that's what it takes to get their stiffness up to equal that of steel bike frame tubes.

 

[fj4068]

E9999999.99999,

Would you post some pictures with pretty circles 'n arrows of the afflicted area? I'm more of a visual thinker...

 

[e9999]

It's just a 2"x2" OD receiver tube with rounded corners, 1/4" WT. Nothing fancy.


OK now that various alternative possibilities have been mentioned, does anybody have an answer to the original question by any chance?

 

[Brian in Oregon]

I'm trying to picture why you need to reinforce the tube, which as I understand it is the hitch with a ball or whatever that slides into your receiver hitch.

I'm wondering what the issue is that you have to increase the thickness of the stinger tubing. If you are having an issue with excessive weight possibly bending the tube, then you need to be looking at the weight rating of your receiver hitch, because they are designed to PULL a lot of weight, but are only rated for typical trailer tongue weights.

Is this for extending the receiver hitch out so you can put a cargo basket or bike rack on it?