Welded In Recessed Drawtite Hitch

[Nay]

Working this weekend with a buddy, we welded in a flipped and fully recessed Drawtite between the frame rails and behind and under the tube bumper, providing major strength, triangulation for the bumper, no loss of clearance as it is lined up with the trimmed frame rails, and of course, full towing capability.

I love the way it turned out

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

I like it

 

[sailor]

Me like! Well done.

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Nay, I like it, but why'd you weld it in? Just curious...

 

[Cattledog]

Nice, I really like that! Great idea. Who did you rear bumper? Thanks

 

[voorland80]

Wow, that's super-compact. Nice job; awesome clearance.

 

[Nay]

Nice, I really like that! Great idea. Who did you rear bumper? Thanks

I worked with Jim at Solid Rock Offroad to fab the bumper as well as the lower quarter panel trimming.

The one thing we didn't do with the bumper was fully triangulate it (we only gusseted it off the frame rails), and the hitch now serves that purpose, something I've been meaning to do for awhile now.

 

[Nay]

Nay, I like it, but why'd you weld it in? Just curious...

A Drawtite won't bolt in if you flip it so it is between the rails - we had to cut a lot of the "wing" side off in order to get it between the frame rails and bend it down slightly so the whole thing would sit flush to the frame rails, plus I'd already trimmed one of the stock bolt holes off the frame for clearance reasons even if it it would have bolted it flipped.

The bumper is already welded in, so this becomes pretty much permanent as we welded the crap out of it. It's more or less part of the frame now, and I figure why not? I've already trimmed it up substantially, so there is no going back, and I want to do an Adventure Trailer at some point so just getting it all built in makes total sense for me.

The hitch is really the rear crossmember now - might as well go for strength.

 

[Cattledog]

I worked with Jim at Solid Rock Offroad to fab the bumper as well as the lower quarter panel trimming.

The one thing we didn't do with the bumper was fully triangulate it (we only gusseted it off the frame rails), and the hitch now serves that purpose, something I've been meaning to do for awhile now.

I an interested in one. I really like the clearance and how simple it looks. Is he fabing any currently? Thanks

 

[Nay]

I an interested in one. I really like the clearance and how simple it looks. Is he fabing any currently? Thanks

I don't think so - totally custom job welded into the frame with some pretty slick quarter panel trimming/reinforcement.

This is a fabrication job with owner onsite to collaborate on the design as you go - really a joint design. Glad you like it, though