Reese hitch on a bus?

[Hammerhead-SKO]

I'm wondering how other folks have installed a Reese receiver on their bus. Behind the bumper of mine is nothing to mount to and mounting the receiver directly to the bumper doesn't seem like a good idea.
Ideas and/or photos would be helpful.

Hammerhead

 

[Njsurf73]

I'm wondering how other folks have installed a Reese receiver on their bus. Behind the bumper of mine is nothing to mount to and mounting the receiver directly to the bumper doesn't seem like a good idea.
Ideas and/or photos would be helpful.

Hammerhead

It needs to go to the frame. If your frame doesn't extend to the rear, you have to make it. Going to the bumper might work for a bike rack or a cargo basket.
What's your bumper mounted to?

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[Hammerhead-SKO]

I've only been under there once so I don't really know.

 

[Jolly Roger-SKO]

Just an idea.
Remember when they actually made bumpers out of steel and before the plastic bumpers that had have a Reese hitch?
Your bumper should be attached to the frame at some point.
If it looks solid then find a truck that has a bumper mounted ball and look at the load rating on it. You will see tongue load rating and trailer load ratings. Match some of those numbers to what your intentions are for towing and share them with us?
Plus a pic. With your bumper outside and underside will help us help you.
Good luck and let us know.

 

[Hammerhead-SKO]

What I would be towing would be under 5000 lbs. I'll get the photos tomorrow. Sun has moved behind the trees for today! Thanks!

 

[Hammerhead-SKO]

http://www.skoolie.net/forums/members/11049-albums962-picture16218.jpg

 

[Hammerhead-SKO]

Chassis goes to the bumper so it's just a case of constructing a frame to hold the receiver below the bumper...

 

[Mudbuscamper]

I just found a hitch the same width as the frame, took the two nuts and plate off the u bolts that hold the body to the frame, bolted the hitch to the bottom of the frame, and put the plate and nuts back on under the hitch as added security. I dont have any underside shots at the moment, but here it is installed.

 

[Hammerhead-SKO]

My plan with this is to bolt it to the underside of my bumper with 5/8" grade 8 bolts.
On the inside top of the bottom bend on the bumper I'll add a 1-1/2" x 1/4" flat bar with the same bolts extending through that also. Should give the bumper some added rigidity. Heck, the bumper itself is already bulletproof!
After use, if it appears I need more support, I'll add struts to extend to the frame.

 

[Dixie Bushcraft]

My plan with this is to bolt it to the underside of my bumper with 5/8" grade 8 bolts.
On the inside top of the bottom bend on the bumper I'll add a 1-1/2" x 1/4" flat bar with the same bolts extending through that also. Should give the bumper some added rigidity. Heck, the bumper itself is already bulletproof!
After use, if it appears I need more support, I'll add struts to extend to the frame.

Not a good idea.
That setup will give you a front row seat to watch your trailer zooming off in a different direction.

All you need to do is let Uhaul or Camping world look at your setup ad recommend a hitch.
Buy from them, or buy elsewhere. But don't skimp on this or cheap out.
The last thing you want is your towed coming loose and smacking a vanload of kids head on.

 

[Hammerhead-SKO]

Not a good idea.
That setup will give you a front row seat to watch your trailer zooming off in a different direction.

All you need to do is let Uhaul or Camping world look at your setup ad recommend a hitch.
Buy from them, or buy elsewhere. But don't skimp on this or cheap out.
The last thing you want is your towed coming loose and smacking a vanload of kids head on.

In retrospect, this isn't a good idea. I haven't done anything yet. Still pondering the idea and now, with new info available about towing, I'm looking more towards a "real" hitch welded to the frame. I have the means to weld but, getting under the bus is the issue for me! It's very low to the ground.
Basically, I'm back to square one and will probably have to get a garage to install a hitch...

 

[Dixie Bushcraft]

In retrospect, this isn't a good idea. I haven't done anything yet. Still pondering the idea and now, with new info available about towing, I'm looking more towards a "real" hitch welded to the frame. I have the means to weld but, getting under the bus is the issue for me! It's very low to the ground.
Basically, I'm back to square one and will probably have to get a garage to install a hitch...

You can buy "box tubes" and have a welder fabricate what you need.
Might be a lot of steel to get it right, but no more expensive than a dealer.

 

[Seriousracer]

The way I did it.
I also have access to some serious metal lol. Which helps.
The receiver was something I had laying around. I have a 17k receiver that will be put above that one.

 

[chev49]

i go to the scrap yard recycle place n pick out a hitch (usually 25dollars) and just fab up the necessary mounts for the frame rails... have done this several times for myself n some others

 

[CaptSquid]

AGREED!

I have a 98 Chevy Astro that had a CHEAP receiver hitch installed by NORCO to carry my power scooter.

Unfortunately, the hitch wasn't secured deeply enough (2 holes vs. 4 holes per side). It ended up DESTROYING the unibody frame. NORCO wasn't even authorized by the VA, but they had connections with Ft. Harrison prosthetics, so they got the low bid.

 

[CaptSquid]

The way I did it.
I also have access to some serious metal lol. Which helps.
The receiver was something I had laying around. I have a 17k receiver that will be put above that one.

Is it difficult to drive your bus on its side? :whistling:

 

[Seriousracer]

Not when you are going fast enough around a corner.

 

[golfersmurf57]

Piece of 1/2" angle bolted over the bumper to frame bolts usually does the trick. Seen pintle hitches mounted this way if you want to lower the receiver then you'll need a flat piece to drop the height and brace pieces from bottom of mount to frame rails for strength

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