MTFCA Forum

Hello,
I recently was given a nice little trailer built out of a cut down model t frame and front axle. I would like to pull it with my 27 Tudor sometimes for shows or hauling off the trash. I could remove my spare tire carrier and add a hitch but I don't really want to do that. I was wondering if it would be unwise to weld up a bracket that could simply bolt on using the lug nuts on the spare tire holder. In my mind, I think i could fashion something that would bolt in place and drop down probably six inches before welding on a heavy flat piece of steel for the hitch. The new bolt on hitch assembly could be made to extend on up above the original lugs so that I could attach another plate with lug studs for the spare to be remounted, thereby hiding the hitch assembly. I worry that the spare tire carrier is too weak for this idea so I wanted to ask the experts. I have no intention of hauling any real weight with the trailer, it would be purely for show.

Let me know if you think I am an idiot.

Thanks and God Bless,
Joshua A Powers

What I can tell you is I've had to weld and weld gussets on two 26/27 spare wheel carriers that have broken off just by the weight of it's spare wheel. I wouldn't put any faith in one as a hitch with out reinforcing from the spring mount and up.

My 2 cents for what its worth: I wouldn't attach any trailer hitch bracket that attached to a gooseneck spare tire carrier, regardless of tongue weight. Your trailer may not have any tongue weight at all. It maybe, even is light in the front and heavy in the rear, but any amount of weight pushing down or pulling up on the gooseneck might eventually cause the metal around the factory bolt holes to crack, and that ain't a good situation. If you have metal and a welder, consider making something that wraps around the rear crossmember (clamp style), going over the crossmember and under the crossmember, but positioned so it won't interfere with the rear spring.

Here are some DIY's. You need to click on the links to see more information about them
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1512687884 http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/167267.html http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/41 ... 1392861264 Trailer building etc
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1231634347

My thoughts on this is fab up a multi-point hitch, 2 coming from bolted collars around each axke hald at the pumpkin, 2 bolted to the frame, almost like a 3 point (or in this case, 4 point) hitch geometry... I would NOT trust either the spare tire carrier (as it wasn't designed for those kinds of dynamic loads) or the rim lugs... you'd bend stuff up and break parts - even with a light trailer, that's a few hundred pounds of push/pull jerkiness in directions none of it was made to do.

Actually, you look at most of the hitches in the above example that go from the upper spring perch etc., most have a second point of attachment to the body / frame / etc... That poor spare carrier will become a pretzel.

If you secure mounts to both sides of the differential housing and the frame you are asking for trouble. Every time the axle tries to move up or down the spring will not be able to flex as you have made it solid with the mount. Even with hinge points at the axle, frame mounts and the point where the mounts meet like a scissor joint, it will push your axle forward every time the axle moves upward. You are ahead to make a mount that connects to the crossmember to spring ubolts and possibly to the frame rails also. This would take some of the pressure off of the center of the crossmember.

Susanne wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 20, 2021 12:40 pm

My thoughts on this is fab up a multi-point hitch, 2 coming from bolted collars around each axke hald at the pumpkin, 2 bolted to the frame, almost like a 3 point (or in this case, 4 point) hitch geometry... I would NOT trust either the spare tire carrier (as it wasn't designed for those kinds of dynamic loads) or the rim lugs... you'd bend stuff up and break parts - even with a light trailer, that's a few hundred pounds of push/pull jerkiness in directions none of it was made to do.

Actually, you look at most of the hitches in the above example that go from the upper spring perch etc., most have a second point of attachment to the body / frame / etc... That poor spare carrier will become a pretzel.

Here is one that reflects part of your thought I think
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1322924618 photo below More links to pictures and ideas. Some show the same hitches hitches from different angles
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1226098461
This may be the ticket click here to see the install http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29 ... 1182381023

I have seen one which was made from 3" wide flat steel, Blacksmithed into an oval shape and attached to the rear axle housing. At the front, a U bolt clamped it to the drive shaft housing just forward of the rear driveshaft bearing spool. Two other U bolts clamped it to either side of the pumpkin. The rest of the oval was carried rearward to be the hitch point.Unless there is quite a deal of weight involved in the tow, It seemed to be a neat way to do the job. I wish it was something I saw after phones became cameras!

Allan from down under.

Awhile back a guy posted a period correct aftermarket hitch. Don’t remember the contact, but was advertised in the parts for sale forum.

Kbillet wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 12:56 pm

Awhile back a guy posted a period correct aftermarket hitch. Don’t remember the contact, but was advertised in the parts for sale forum.

Looks like several were available an all sold sold
https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php? ... ch#p110835

Dean Yoder would be the one to ask. He drives all over the country pulling a small trailer. Sometimes he has a spare engine and other parts in it. I saw a picture of him at Chickasa, on that thread. He had a small tent camper built onto the trailer.
Whatever you use, I think it should be attached to the frame because anything on the axle would tend to bend the housings distorting them to cause failure in the gears. And the spare bracket was not made for the weight of the trailer. Remember too, the slow moving T and also the brake is not made for the weight of the trailer. So it would be good to use only on fairly level ground. Anyway that's my opinion, for what that's worth.
Norm

TRDxB2 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 1:23 am

Here is one that reflects part of your thought I think
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1322924618 photo below
Hitch4.jpg

Yes, that's what I was kinda sorta exactly talking about. It's like a tractor wher the pull draw is tied to the axle housing... It would (maybe kinda sorta) have a longer "wishbone" off the 2 axle housing clampish geegaws... which would constitute the lower half of the new-fangled patent medicine show spitzermatic hitch™.

The upper part of my new-fangled patent medicine show spitzermatic hitch™ would attach to the corners of the frame, also terminating in a similar wishbone apparatii. The third member would incorporate ball joints on which the 4 arms would attach on a sliding plate as to not lock the upper and lower arms into an immovable object... like a tractor hitch it would have to be entirely flexible, to where the "wishbone arms" remain the same length but move independent of one another... on the back part of the plate would hence culminate in a flexible pintle-hook style hitch...

Man, I can already envision what a wonderful invention this is, I can sense the immense marketing potential... multiplied by 15 million cars, well, step aside, Rockefeller! Rube Goldberg has NOTHING on this kid!