Homemade Receiver Hitch

[nishby]

After waiting 3 months for a hitch, I finally decided to build my own.

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It's a modified version of the hitch on the Delica wiki, made to accomodate the sway bar on the Deli.
Here it is on the van.

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And here's my first BIG load of cargo. 100 cedar rails.

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The van handled the weight with no problem, but the balance of the load was a little sketchy with most of the weight hanging off the back. Had to keep it slow to avoid fishtailing with the trailer lifting up on the back of the van!

[snelson]

NIce hitch - man's got skills!
What do you build/craft with those posts?

[nishby]

The posts are for a fence to help keep this energetic critter off of the road.

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[konadog]

Like this? I just finished this one for the edge of our #1 garden. I love your skookum hitch Nishby - really nice!

[nishby]

Yes, exactly like that...except your rails look a little "fresher" than mine.

[konadog]

The garden is on the beach - tons of cedar laying about. Lots of work cutting and splitting and lugging and fitting and spiking - not to mention the boulders at the base of every joint - whew. I love the look though. Have fun with your project!

[nishby]

Hey, that's one sweet garden...and one sweet setting. Nice work.

[konadog]

Thanks Nishby - Yeah, the garden is right on the beach with a view of the Coast Range across the Straight. A nice big lot and we have a free hand to expand and plant and practice our art. Great clients!! When your'e done post a shot of your fence

[Adam]

Nice fence Scott, and a beauitful garden. Hopefully our place can approach that look one day. I was looking into making my own split cedar fence. Waht did you use to split the cedar? Well I guess I should finish the house before I think about a fence.

[FalcoColumbarius]

I should get a Delica fence weld, too!

Not knowing anything about welding or trailer hitches: It looks like a nice job. Have you had any issues since you installed the hitch Nishby? Are you a welder by trade or just something you do on the side?

Falco.

[konadog]

Nice fence Scott, and a beauitful garden. Hopefully our place can approach that look one day. I was looking into making my own split cedar fence. Waht did you use to split the cedar? Well I guess I should finish the house before I think about a fence.

Thanks Adam - I used a sledge hammer and two steel wedges, and had a pry bar on stand by. A draw knife is handy when fitting the rails together. I think a split rail would look great at your place - fit right in

[nishby]

Falco,

I'm not a welder by trade. I just picked up the skill and the equipment so can complete an endless list of DIY projects as well as repair steel bicycle frames. Bicycles are my trade.

I take it from a number of posts that your trade is something in the art world, although I haven't figured out exactly what.

Cheers.

[FalcoColumbarius]

I paint. I either go into houses doing faux finishes; murals; tromp l'oiel; &c., or work in the film industry painting sets. I do regular painting as well, depending on the business.

What kind of load can you put on your hitch?

Falco.