Homemade trailer hitch reciever

[87Skier]

I have a homemade trailer hitch on my truck and have been thinking about replacing it. Would you guys trust a homemade one?

It attaches to the side of the frame in 4 places and made with 1/2" steel plate (no that isn't a typo). It is basically just a large flat plate with a store bought receiver welded on.

Is it safe to use?

[michael bustamante]

wow whats that about 150 pounds off the truck!!

[LockDoc]

-
Have you used it? It looks pretty stout. I guess it depends on the welds, which we can't see.

LockDoc

[Cape Codder]

I would use it for light towing up to maybe 750lbs. It doesn't matter if it's 1/2" plate it is still just a flat piece of steel that can flex. The longer the piece the more chance of it bending. I tow with a hitch that I adapted to my truck from a jeep. It is a square tube hict that I had to make my own end plates to mount to the truck. I welded a piece of angle to both flat bars that go up to the frame.

[87Skier]

I haven't used it and I know its 20+ years old since it sat for about 20 years. The welds actually look good for something someone made at home, and somehow the sides where it connects to the frame (through the bumper bolts) there is half inch plate that is bent around the bottom and welded on. I think it would hold up under regular conditions but at some point I think I would hit the brakes and the boat would continue through the back of the vehicle.

I'll probably go with something like this:
http://www.carolinaclassictrucks.com...-receiver.html

[lowrollin70gmc]

I've built the hitches for a few of my rigs and trust them. However, one that's simply plate I wouldn't trust with more than a 1000lb trailer, if that.

[87Skier]

Well, I'm planning on towing the boat with it this year, but it weighs about 3200 lbs, so this won't be used.