OT: Mounting a tow hitch to a wagon.

[Grant Lenahan]

We're getting into technicalities. There are in fact reinforced frame  
rails as part of the unit body.  TYhat's where, for example, the sub- 
frame, suspension components, and bumper attach.

And that's where thsi should.

Grant
On May 11, 2008, at 8:27 AM, Kent McLean wrote:

> Tyson Varosyan wrote:
>> I have looked online and even posted the question here about  
>> hitches and all
>> of them seem to mount to the floor plate of the trunk - drilling
>> through-holes and bolting on.
>
>> Why not mount the tow hitch to the bumper's crash bar?
>
> I'm no mechanical engineer, but the two vehicles mentioned (and  
> most cars
> today) are unit body. There is no big heavy frame like you'd find  
> on your
> truck.
>
> As for the bumper's crash bar, that thing is going to be attached  
> to the
> unit body, not a big heavy frame. Either through the trunk sheet  
> metal or
> through the bumper bar, you are relying on the hitch being bolted to
> sheet metal.
>
> I'd go with the canned solution. My reasoning is that, if an auto
> manufacturer offers a hitch, it probably has some real-world testing
> behind it (for liability and reputation reasons). The after market
> solution probably copies what the auto manufacturer created. Hitches
> are rated for towing specific weights. Pulling a freight train might
> tear apart your sheet metal. But pulling a 600 boat, with 60 lbs on
> the tongue, shouldn't stress even a Class I hitch.
>
> That's my 2 cents.
>
> -- 
> Kent McLean
> '99 A4 Avant, w/ quattro, V6, Tiptronic, :)
> '91 200 TQA #1, backup car
> gone but not forgotten:
> '94 100 S Avant, "Moody", now with new owner
> '91 200 TQA #2, up in smoke 2
> '89 200 TQ, "Bad Puppy", up in smoke
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