Hey Jim (and Listers):
Regarding the hitch I fabricated for my '67 GT, it was quite a simple
approach. The hitch is attached to the car via the two rear bumper bracket
attaching bolts.
I removed the rear bumper and measured the span between these two points
and purchased a length of thick wall 2" square tubing. After determining
how far below the bumper I needed the receiver to sit, I centereed the
receiver at a right angle to the long 2" square tubing run. purchased some
3/16" thick 3" wide angle iron. Using the mig welder (Miller 185), I
welded the angle iron in place so it would give me an attachment point for
the long tubing, as well as cap off the tubing ends.
This all sounds a bit confusing as I read this, but trust me, once you
remove the bumper and see what you have to work with, it is a very simple
project! I chose the smallest female type receiver type hitch assembly I
could find (1", I think) and welded it at the center point of the 2" square
tubing at a right angle. I employed gussets for added strength wherever it
seemed prudent.
Having built one, I could easily build another one in an hour or less,
providing all the required materials were available. It kinda like a
Saturday morning project. After all the final fitting was completed, a
test drive with trailer in tow was conducted. Everything was perfect, so
the hitch was removed, degreased, sanded, primed and painted a flat black,
re-assembled with Grade 8 nuts and lockwashers for safety. The black seems
to help the hitch disappear from vision most of the time. It could have
just as easily been painted body colour, too.
I use a 1 7/8" ball on a removeable male part of the receiver hitch. With
the ball removed, it looks very clean. I wouldn't suggest that this hitch
design could pull a 32' houseboat, but certainly could tow a smaller
utility type trailer, a small sailboat, tent trailer, etc. I used the hitch
for a 1300 mile trip one time only and had no failures in the hitch.
If anyone would like exact measurements, I could create a complete bill of
materials and post it to the list. I recall the hitch costing about
$50.00, counting materials, paint, electricity, welding supplies, etc., so
it was pretty low budget. Originally I was going to have a local hich
manufaturer complete my design, but they had limited interest, since the
project was too small for them.
One of the other benefits to this hitch design is that it gives added
protection to the rear side of the petrol tank, in the off chance you were
rear-ended. That 2" thick wall tubing is plenty rigid I'd say!
Thanks for asking the questions! If anyone would like a Bill of Materials
and exact measurements, e-mail me and I will post to the list, OK?
Tools needed: metal cutting saw, hack saw, or actelyne cutting torch,
4: angle grinder, 1/2" drill with
various bits
sandpaper, primer, paint
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Jim Boyd
International Sportscar Components
Paradise, CA
At 10:45 PM 11/28/99 -0500, James H. Nazarian wrote:
>Hi Jim,
>
>I have hoped someone would bring this topic to the surface someday. I have
seen
>numerous Rubber Bumper MGB's with trailers in tow. There is plenty of
>substantial metal onto which a hitch can be constructed in those cars.
But, the
>chrome bumper car is another matter altogether. Would you share with us
how you
>fabricated the hitch, and to what did you attach it? Thanks in advance.
>
>Jim
>
>Jim Boyd wrote:
>
>> Hey Listers:
>>
>> With all the hoopala about crushing MGB GTs, let me tell you a brief story
>> about a re-born MGB roadster!
>>
>> I bought a '71 B from a lady whose twin 16 year old daughters had driven
>> the car head on to a curb at 45 mph. The car sat in her driveway, covered
>> with a tarp for 2 years afterwards, until her neighbors complained and were
>> about to have the city tow it away to the crusher.
>>
>> Here I come into the picture. I have a vast knowledge of Bs (yeah,
>> right!); I figured I could fix this one! After spending $185 at a frame
>> shop (following my $200 initial purchase), the frame guy says "I'm suprised
>> how strong this car is...it's really bent under the K member. Sorry, I
>> can't fix this one!"
>>
>> The car went home, engine/trans got transplanted and the car sat and sat.
>> Finally, I had a revelation! I cut the car from the "B" post back and made
>> a trailer out of it! I can tell you first-hand that the Bs are really
>> strong, 'cause it took a lot of effort to cut that car in half!
>>
>> After several months of part-time effort, the Tartan Red MGB trailer was
>> finished. It has wire wheels, with a spare mounted up front, a custom
>> tonneau (formerly was the rear cockpit area), carpeted trunk, new bumper,
>> three new tires, new tail lights, new trim strips, etc.
>>
>> We towed the B trailer behind my '67 GT for the last Moss Festival in
>> Southern Ca about 2 years ago. It was amazing to see the looks on faces of
>> people! Everyone wanted to know where the rest of the car was! Much to my
>> pleasure, the B trailer tows perfectly. I custom made a receiver type
>> hitch for my GT which works out well, too. I've always been glad I learned
>> to weld in H.S. and a good mig welder is worth it's weight in gold!
>>
>> Maybe this posting will foster creative recycling ideas with other listers!
>> I lack the computer savvy (and time) to get a jpg of the trailer on my
>> website. But if/when I do, I'll let you all know!
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Jim Boyd
>> International Sportscar Components
>> Paradise, CA USA
>
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