Are there any trailer hitch options yet

[that_guy]

Originally Posted by qoncept

A carbon steel trailer hitch is going to rust, with or without powdercoating. I see both sides here. But I've never seen a stainless trailer hitch. I say let it rust. The outside is protected, and 3/16" steel isn't going to rust through, certainly not in 5 years. A hitch using kask's design is completely hidden so it's not going to be an eyesore. And really, even once every 5 years wouldn't be so bad -- my dad and I took the bumper off in about 10 minutes, learning as we went, and once the hitch was fabbed put it back together in about the same.

I come back to the fact that rust is a very big issue here. I don't know about you, but here rustproofing a car (oil spray) annually is a very common practice.

While stainless might not be a popular option with people here, it's the only way I'll consider it for myself. Off the shelf parts from a big chain store is fine steel because it's expected. But if your fabbing it from scratch yourself, why not go the extra mile and go for lifetime vs. "could make it 5 years"?

But kask is checking into it, so for those of you in the north with salt the size of rocks lining the roads 8 months of the year, there could be a solution for you. If not, it's still a nice piece and I'm sure many members here will still jump at this opportunity.

[PMPB]

Why not just have the part galvanized after it's fabricated?

In my field, the cost of buying SS is about 5x the cost of black steel. Galv is about 2x the cost of black steel.

[jdcorbitt3]

Originally Posted by that_guy

I come back to the fact that rust is a very big issue here. I don't know about you, but here rustproofing a car (oil spray) annually is a very common practice.

While stainless might not be a popular option with people here, it's the only way I'll consider it for myself. Off the shelf parts from a big chain store is fine steel because it's expected. But if your fabbing it from scratch yourself, why not go the extra mile and go for lifetime vs. "could make it 5 years"?

But kask is checking into it, so for those of you in the north with salt the size of rocks lining the roads 8 months of the year, there could be a solution for you. If not, it's still a nice piece and I'm sure many members here will still jump at this opportunity.

I like this concept. I wil see how much it will cost me.

John

[Getagrip]

Interesting.
http://www.uhaul.com/Locations/Trailer-hitches/753069

[banzairx7]

Originally Posted by that_guy

Stainless may cost double the amount but at least I wont be replacing an unsightly rusty block of metal and removing the back end of my car every 5 years.

If no option for stainless, I'll likely just stick with the bike bars I fabbed myself...out of stainless

Why not aluminum? 30% stronger than stainless(304SS vs 6061-T6) and less than half the weight. It's also a lot cheaper than stainless.

[kask2_6.0]

Got all quotes back yesterday. Will be posting a thread later tonight with prices and design info. Will let you know as soon as I do.

Thanks for the interest guys!

[kask2_6.0]

PRE-ORDER/GB THREAD HAS BEEN POSTED! It is in the Commercial Classifieds under Brakes/suspension/chassis. Thanks for being patient!

[that_guy]

Originally Posted by banzairx7

Why not aluminum? 30% stronger than stainless(304SS vs 6061-T6) and less than half the weight. It's also a lot cheaper than stainless.

Always an option. Just looking for the best corrosion resistance possible. To me there is never a need to compromise when your making it yourself.

Kask, sent you a PM. Amazing work BTW!

[djdnz]

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...97#post1026797

For the lazy

[GavinAnt]

Originally Posted by kask2_6.0

Not a bad idea. Would anyone be interested in something like that?

Please from South Africa

[Dorb]

Don't tow with a sports car, get a truck.

[kask2_6.0]

Originally Posted by Dorb

Don't tow with a sports car, get a truck.

But if I tow with my sports car I only need to get 1/2 of a truck..

[Shanahan]

Originally Posted by Dorb

Don't tow with a sports car, get a truck.

Why? I have 2 very nice trucks and I still use my cars to tow the toys. It's much more fun to cruise to the ocean with the T-tops out than in my truck. These hitches are similar to the one on my MR2 and I've used it for 100s of miles over several summers.

[banzairx7]

Originally Posted by Dorb

Don't tow with a sports car, get a truck.

I see this mentality constantly and don't understand it. I have towed with quite a few small cars with no issues ever. The list of cars I've towed with is- 86 MR2, 2004 MazdaSpeed Miata, 2005 KIA Spectra 5, 2003 Mini Cooper S, 1993 Mazda MX-3. I just kept the loads to reasonable amount of around 500lbs. I moved half away across the country, Boston to Austin, with my Miata towing a 4'x8' trailer full of all my worldly belongings. I towed a Cannondale ATV with the MR2 and MX-3. Then the Spectra 5 was used to haul construction materials when we remodeled our house. Trailers on cars kick ass!