Roadster Trailer hitches

[dbrick]

Wondering what's been done by others. Any photos or suggestions appreciated. Going to Harbor Freight tomorrow to get the trailer.

[notoptoy]

Ummmm, Why?

[dbrick]

Someone had a small trailer at Watkins Glen, and my Wife thinks it would be a handy thing for extended roadster trips. Planning on a 100 pound motorcycle size trailer, not hitching up a 25 ft boat or anything like that.

[fj20spl311]

Here is the "Basic" Idea

If you have a welder it's cake
Two flat plate that bolt to the bumper mounts and maybe a third bolt through the frame.
Cut two square holes for the cross bar and weld in. Maybe a bracket to mount to the z center bumper bracket.

Any good "old time" trailer or weld shop should be able to whip you one up.

You could take the pieces to a shop have your own design welded up.

[notoptoy]

There is a thread on this!
http://www.311s.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1230" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Fubar]

dave I just cut one off my roadster. One of the owners was in the military (Navy LT.) and had a small trailer he dragged all over the country. It's a home made (shipyard made) one. that welded directlty to the frame it took forever to grind it off there. I'll try to rember to snap a pic and you can have it if you want it. It really is a beefy thing I wouldn't pull much wieght with it but it was on there but good since the 70's.

Just PM me if you want it. I'll trow it in a box and ship it to ya. It's a pretty heavy thing

[jhayden]

Dave,
We used this Draw-Tite every year during the 1980s to pull a Wetbike up to Oklahoma for vacation (ah, to be young again!). Honestly, when pulling at 70mph, it was as if the trailer and its load were not even back there. There is no model number on the hitch, but it has a 3 inch rise and the markings "1965 -- 1971 Datsun." It is NOT a generic hitch, but is a custom fit for the Fairlady roadsters.

It does require drilling two holes in the frame, and a hole in the bottom of the bumper for proper mounting (but with a tongue weight less than 200 lbs you should be okay w/o it).

Worth a try to locate one through a Draw-Tite dealer. Good luck! Hope this post is not too late to help -- your posts have helped many of us in the past!
Sincerely,
Jon Hayden
SRL31108153
HLS3000327 (sold but fondly remembered)

[dbrick]

Thanks Jon, that looks like the one I gave to Mark a few years ago, might grab it back if he isn't going to use it. And Fubar, if it's a reciever, then yes, please snap a photo. I may be down your way in 3 weeks.
I really want to do a 1 1/4" receiver so it's at worst flush with the bumper. I think Bob may have done some templates going across from the shackle /spring mounts.. Right now, I'm thinking of adding a full width filler into the hollow in the front of the rear crossmember and then sandwiching the crossmember and keeping the receiver up tight to the frame, or make a removable drawbar. I have too many scars from walking into those damn things.

I guess a set of late springs would be required too.

[Alvin]

done like dinner...


nice plate too, from Shasta 2009

[fj20spl311]

It does require drilling two holes in the frame, and a hole in the bottom of the bumper for proper mounting (but with a tongue weight less than 200 lbs you should be okay w/o it).

IMHO, You would not be OK without the additional twisting support from the bumper attachment.

[gvpjared]

Hey Dave, my car had a 2" receiver on it when I got it. I've since removed it and sold it David Vezzani. It was basically just a piece of L stock bolted to the rear cross member with the receiver welded to it. It was quite stout. My car also had a set of helper leaf springs on the rear! They really stiffened things up back there. I've since removed them and my ride is much better. If you want the springs you can have them for the cost of shipping...

[dbrick]

That looks like what I was thinking. Scale it down to 1 1/4" and add a plate on the front. Looks like a plan. I'll let someone beside me do the finish welds

Now to find the trailer. Harbor freight has the 40x48 bare frame trailer for about $150.00, or the finished little clamshell trailer for $350.00. I was thinking of a mini teardrop camper trailer but need to keep it super light.

[spl310]

Dave, a Motorcycle camper would be right. Here is a homebuilt that a guy towed with a trike:

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/rvs/2991804953.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dbrick]

Dave, a Motorcycle camper would be right. Here is a homebuilt that a guy towed with a trike:

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/rvs/2991804953.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've been watching, not many for sale. Trying to keep it small for the 51 weeks a year I won't be using it.

[spl310]

They are out there. Here are 3:

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/rvs/2967738628.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://hartford.craigslist.org/rvs/3025209358.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://dayton.craigslist.org/rvs/2997676763.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I like the one in Hartford, but the one in Dayton is the smallest.