Hi everyone,

I need to tow a small 800-pound uhaul trailer behind my 1980 w116. I did a lot of searching through the archives before starting to build it, and I think what I've done will work, but wanted some opinions before I actually tried to tow with it.

The hitch is basically a combination of a 1/8" steel angle frame (which looks rusty in the pics but is actually brand new metal, though I do still need to POR-15 it) with a generic bumper hitch I found at pep boys. The frame is a 2" x 2" peice of 1/8" angle that I cut a V in the center of to allow for the slight bend to attach the ends to the bumper mount holes. I welded 4" extensions at the ends and drilled holes for the bumper bolts. I then welded a couple more extensions to either side of the V, and also welded a reinforcement over the V once I'd made the required bend. Drilled holes in the extensions and in the bumper for the hitch to mount to.

It seems like the primary force will be placed on the center of the frame and the mounts at the bumpers. I bolted the bumper back on without the bolts' washers, since the frame was the same thickness.

So what do you guys think? it just needs to be able to handle maybe 1100 pounds, trailer and load together.

thanks,

Dave

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1987 190d turbo, 5-spd conversion -- 146k
1973 280 -- back on the road with a euro m110
1980 300SD -- RIP - Sold for parts (lost battle with rust)

i like the design but the steel angle looks like it might be a little on the thin side. give it a try and see how it works out.

i made a similar one years ago and used it on my saab 99. but i used 3.5 x 3.5 x .25 angle. but my trailer weighed about 1300 and it was a travel trailer and we took long trips with it.

good luck

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I have built several trailer hitches for various vehicles over the years.
I find that although tougher to cut/bend, 1/4 inch steel is better.
Up to 800 lbs for yours is okay and it seems you used the bumper to strengthen/box the long run across the car.

The steel you have used will work, as long as your not tempted to load on it a Skid Steer!

I always go thicker than I think might do...... everyone overloads them at one time or another.

One I saw once was bolted to the spare wheel floor.....well..... it was bolted to the floor at the start of the trip

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"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

that makes me feel a bit better. my main worry was the thinness of the steel, too. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anywhere other than home depot to get the materials (the nearest metal supermarket to me is in CT and not open on weekends), and this was the beefiest stuff they had. 1/4" might have been too much for my welder, too, though I would have gladly given it a shot.

Thanks for the input... I'll probably go ahead and give it a try. it seems like at the very least it must be stronger than a straight-up bumper hitch would be, and I'd imagine one of those would be able to handle uhaul's smallest trailer. I only need to go a couple hundered miles, anyway, so I'll probably just take it slow and hope for the best.

thanks again for the responses,

- Dave

__________________
1987 190d turbo, 5-spd conversion -- 146k
1973 280 -- back on the road with a euro m110
1980 300SD -- RIP - Sold for parts (lost battle with rust)

Oh my. Don't do it. I doubt if 1/8 angle is strong enough for a trailer hitch. It is easy to over load a trailer. Will the metal fatigue from the combination of the weight and vibration while driving down the road? Will it be strong enough to handle the load at the same time you are doing some defensive driving to avoid an accident? Is there a place to connect the safety chains?

What I am really saying is you need to design this to handle a lot more of a load then a 800 Lb trailer. It's not worth driving down the highway, having the trailer come loose and you seriously hurt somebody before realizing it wasn't strong enough. It ain't worth it.

TimK

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EPA 609 & 608 HVAC Certified
_________________________________________
83' 300D Turbo - 300K + Miles
00' 1.9L TDI Beetle
85' 6.5L Turbo, GV-OD, GMC Suburban,
67' 2.5L Diesel NA - Land Rover Series IIA

Here's what you do if it's so cold your diesel fuel gels. Smear some on some toast and stay inside until it warms up outside.

One I saw once was bolted to the spare wheel floor.....well..... it was bolted to the floor at the start of the trip[/QUOTE]

My 82 300d has the spare tire floor mounted hitch which is on it when I bought it . I plan to weld on a beefy cross brace across the hitch to the frame for added support but still leave it mounted to the spare floor and to the bumper. I want to pull a small trailer not loaded more than 1000lbs.

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'83 240D 264k on 100% biodiesel/ 31mpg
83 300D 217K the $800 gem
'82 300D 267K the new WVO project car finished and driving for free
International tractor B275 on B100
Ford 555 backhoe on B100
Sargent 25 ton Rough Terrain crane on B50

I recently installed a standard $35 bumper hitch on the bumper of my TD and pulled a small trailer about 600 miles. Worked fine so far. Hitch is rated at 1000lbs although I have an identical hitch rated for 2000lbs. I go the hitch off a 300d in a junkyard. It looked like it had been well used. I did look at a TD a few weeks ago that had a bumper and floor mounted hitch on which the bottom part of the bumper was cracked away from the vertical piece.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Maybe I'll try the uhaul "sport" trailer first. it's only like 550 lbs. I won't be hauling all that much stuff... probably no more than 150 extra pounds of stuff in the trailer. I'd imagine that'd be ok, but if I get the chance to weld in some reinforcements to the hitch before this weekend I'll do that just to be safe.

- dave

__________________
1987 190d turbo, 5-spd conversion -- 146k
1973 280 -- back on the road with a euro m110
1980 300SD -- RIP - Sold for parts (lost battle with rust)

I don't think its strong enough. Will it work? Probably. But God help you if you are in a panic braking situation. The issue is the crossbar is not boxed, tubular or even I beam shaped. If you look at any hitch that attaches to the frame or even the unibody of a car the crossbar is always quite stout. Since it appears that you are also using the bumper and its supports then likely that will end up taking the load anyway. Square or round tubing at least 2" would be a better choice. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

I'll take another shot at it... too much of my own doubt has been confirmed here. No sense in risking damage to other people and/or thier property. Just gotta find somewhere near me where I can get the proper materials... If anyone knows of a place where I can get some decent metal stock in the NYC area (that's open on weekends), I'd love to hear about it.

thanks,

- dave

__________________
1987 190d turbo, 5-spd conversion -- 146k
1973 280 -- back on the road with a euro m110
1980 300SD -- RIP - Sold for parts (lost battle with rust)

For under a 1000lbs, I'd just use a generic bumper hitch. They're cheap and strong.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

And don't forget--not only is it 1/8" steel--its Home Depot 1/8" steel. I would not do this.

i would not attach anything to a mb bumper.

at 20 plus years they are ready to fall off the brackets anyway!

nothing at all.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.