Operation flip a hitch (1 Viewer)

[Taildragon]

Soo, I have been thinking for a while about flipping my receiver hitch that I was blessed with on my 80. It turned out to be super easy and looks pretty good as well.

The receiver I have is the kind that is welded to the bottom of the main receiver bar that runs from frame rail to frame rail. I was tired of dragging that thing all over the place and after looking at it decided it would unbolt and flip upside down very easily.

I know some 80s have the receiver welded into the middle of the support bar. I was not blessed by the LC gods to have that kind nor did my truck come with the 4x4 labs bumper I so desperately want!

See you at Moab 2010 (I'll be in the white topped maroon 80)


On to the pics. (sorry about the cell pics, wifey had the camera)

Pic 1 unbolt receiver.
Pic 2 find your favorite sawzall and have at it. I just cut from the bottom up to the first hole in the bumper on the left and right hole and then cut across. I also had to sawzall the chain attach point as you can see. The only thing I still need to do is drill out that plate so I have a place to attach the safety chains.
Pic 3 Finished product -- I also did the spare tire lift mod. Thanks to those who documented that!

 

[LittleRock80]

More and better pictures please! I have this same hitch--and as you mentioned, it drags EVERYWHERE.

Nice Mod!

Thanks,
JWP

 

[Taildragon]

I will take some better pics this afternoon. It really was a stupid simple mod that I hadn't seen before. (for those of us with this type of hitch)

Post up questions and l'll answer.


Thanks, Littlerock80.

 

[Taildragon]

Pics

More pics

 

[Taildragon]

I had a chance to wheel the rig today for the first time since this mod.

Ran a bunch of trails over at Disney, Ok that I had previously drug the hitch left and right on. Please to say that the hitch didn't touch the ground once! I was really AMAZED how much difference there was.

Cost zero! Gotta love those mods!

 

[AppleTech]

What about chain attachments? It looks like you cut those off?

-Phil

 

[alkaline747trio]

Way similar to what I plan to do, except I plan to cut out my rear cross-member and instead of having my hitch bolted to the bottom of the frame rails, I plan to weld it to the top as a new rear cross-member. Then beef it up and add some plate or tube and have a cheap heavy duty rear bumper/receiver.

 

[kidglove13]

I just cut out my rear cross member and welded it back in and made a tube bumper around it similar to what others have done here.
I cut about 4-5 inches off the frame rails and picked up a lot of clearance.
Still not finished with it but you get the idea.
Sorry if pics are not that good.

 

[Taildragon]

What about chain attachments? It looks like you cut those off?

-Phil

You are correct sir, I just wrap the chain around the main carrier bar for now. I was planing on drilling a hole in the plate below the receiver. I mostly use this hitch to carry my mountain bike. JT