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Homemade Receiver Hitch

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 7:10 pm
by 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!

Re: Homemade Receiver Hitch

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 7:39 pm
by snelson
NIce hitch - man's got skills! 8-) :-D
What do you build/craft with those posts?

Re: Homemade Receiver Hitch

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:54 pm
by nishby
The posts are for a fence to help keep this energetic critter off of the road.
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Re: Homemade Receiver Hitch

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:16 pm
by konadog
Like this? I just finished this one for the edge of our #1 garden. I love your skookum hitch Nishby - really nice! :-D

Re: Homemade Receiver Hitch

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:28 pm
by nishby
Yes, exactly like that...except your rails look a little "fresher" than mine. :?

Re: Homemade Receiver Hitch

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:34 pm
by 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! :-D

Re: Homemade Receiver Hitch

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:27 am
by nishby
Hey, that's one sweet garden...and one sweet setting. Nice work.

Re: Homemade Receiver Hitch

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:50 am
by 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 :-D

Re: Homemade Receiver Hitch

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:37 am
by 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.

Re: Homemade Receiver Hitch

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 10:58 am
by 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.

Re: Homemade Receiver Hitch

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:35 pm
by konadog
Adam wrote: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 :-D

Re: Homemade Receiver Hitch

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:05 pm
by 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.

Re: Homemade Receiver Hitch

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:43 pm
by 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.