Thomas Shorty Tow Hitch

[plfking]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Not worth the waste of time.

Puh-leeze......I've seen you break three or four sticks beating the same dead horse.

But more interested in the answer you didn't provide.

2 Nascar Championships and 60 feature wins.

More self-aggrandizement on your part? Your only win that I saw (Google) was a 20-lap race on a 3/8ths mile track (7.5 miles total) against 7 other drivers.

[Danjo]

I think I found the hitch. Curt 15313. It’s for a Silverado. 1 1/2” more drop than I needed, but I’ll take it. For anyone looking, there’s also 15312 with not quite as much drop, but it wasn’t enough less that I could cut a hole and stub through the bumper. It would have been a notch.

[dazdconfsd]

Originally Posted by Danjo

I thought the frame rails on the Thomas are wider than the stock Express/Savanna. But now I’m wondering. I’ll do some more research and reply back.

Nope. They're built on the van cutaway chassis. It's distinct from the rest of the vans

[dazdconfsd]

Originally Posted by farok

How long of a bus is it? One other point to consider (and one I also have, as I'd like a hitch as well), is on the long short buses (is that right?). They weld extra frame rail to the end of the existing frame rails, to get the full length. Is there any concern welding or bolting a hitch to the extended frame rails on these? I would think not, assuming the original extension was welded properly, but can't hurt to ask the experts here!

Chris

AFAIK That isn't the case on my 5 window, but did appear to be true on my 6 window.

[dazdconfsd]

Originally Posted by Danjo

I think I found the hitch. Curt 15313. It’s for a Silverado. 1 1/2” more drop than I needed, but I’ll take it. For anyone looking, there’s also 15312 with not quite as much drop, but it wasn’t enough less that I could cut a hole and stub through the bumper. It would have been a notch.

Probably too late, but I hope you measured well since the pickups and vans do not share chassis.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Well that all escalated quickly. Lol


For the cut-a-way chassis... You'll likely need a "chassis cab" style hitch. Chassis-cabs all have the same frame width to accommodate service bodies, bus bodies, etc..etc.



I just bought one for mine. It is a weld together deal with bolt on or weld on frame plates. Has a 16k rating.


They also have different height drop plates for the frame.


https://www.draw-tite.com/products/t...Li13Jp63vOcso=


I gave $100 for mine on ebay with the frame plates that I wanted.


This is the one with longer side plates for extra drop.


https://www.draw-tite.com/products/t...kWhWRCGvxK9uA=

[farok]

Originally Posted by Mr4btTahoe

Well that all escalated quickly. Lol


For the cut-a-way chassis... You'll likely need a "chassis cab" style hitch. Chassis-cabs all have the same frame width to accommodate service bodies, bus bodies, etc..etc.



I just bought one for mine. It is a weld together deal with bolt on or weld on frame plates. Has a 16k rating.


They also have different height drop plates for the frame.


https://www.draw-tite.com/products/t...Li13Jp63vOcso=


I gave $100 for mine on ebay with the frame plates that I wanted.


This is the one with longer side plates for extra drop.


https://www.draw-tite.com/products/t...kWhWRCGvxK9uA=

Thanks! That's useful to me at least!

[Danjo]

The Silverado Hitch fit. I ended up not installing it because I decided that it had too much drop.

I initially looked at those universal hitches, but I couldn’t find a welder willing to do it.

I did find a custom hitch place about 75 miles from me :/

[Mr4btTahoe]

Originally Posted by Danjo

The Silverado Hitch fit. I ended up not installing it because I decided that it had too much drop.

I initially looked at those universal hitches, but I couldn’t find a welder willing to do it.

I did find a custom hitch place about 75 miles from me :/

Most any fab shop should be able to handle the welding portion. The welds aren't structural so to speak... they just hold the tube in position. Bolt on the frame plates.


I'd talk to your local machine shop or fab shop and ask if they'd do it.

[Doktari]

I modified a hitch to work on my 6 window 2004 Thomas. Didn’t do any welding.
Now on my 1995 Chevy 4 window I’m doing the same thing with no welding. Using angle iron, plates, and big bolts.

[Danjo]

Originally Posted by Mr4btTahoe

Most any fab shop should be able to handle the welding portion. The welds aren't structural so to speak... they just hold the tube in position. Bolt on the frame plates.


I'd talk to your local machine shop or fab shop and ask if they'd do it.

I called around and couldn’t get the word “tow hi...” out of my mouth before they were saying no and no again.

[Danjo]

Originally Posted by Doktari

I modified a hitch to work on my 6 window 2004 Thomas. Didn’t do any welding.
Now on my 1995 Chevy 4 window I’m doing the same thing with no welding. Using angle iron, plates, and big bolts.

I think I heard mention of an older Ford E450 Hitch with 0” of drop that’s the right width for the Express. I wish manufacturers would make this data available online instead of just “what’s your vehicle “ question.

I want something with a rating so no one can dispute its capacity. I’ll update when I work this out for those that might want to know what I find.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Danjo

I think I heard mention of an older Ford E450 Hitch with 0” of drop that’s the right width for the Express. I wish manufacturers would make this data available online instead of just “what’s your vehicle “ question.

I want something with a rating so no one can dispute its capacity. I’ll update when I work this out for those that might want to know what I find.

They make drop ball mounts to correct any difference in drop. They can be used right side up, or upside down to raise or lower to level the towed unit.

[Danjo]

Originally Posted by o1marc

They make drop ball mounts to correct any difference in drop. They can be used right side up, or upside down to raise or lower to level the towed unit.

That’s what I’m doing on my pickup. Turn the drawbar upside down. The problem I see though, is because the tail end distance from bumper to rear axel is pretty long the hitch was likely to drag on steep surface transitions like driveways and steep mountain roads. So now I’m trying to do what you did by stubbing through the bumper.

[Doktari]

That’s similar to what I did. I cut a 2.5” notch in my bumper. Them framed it in with angle iron. Reinforced the bumper. Rig is gone so don’t have a picture.
My trailer was only 2000 lbs so I built it to be strong enough for a 3000-4000 trailer. If I was towing a bigger trailer I would have done it a little differently.