Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Without a hitch
| Without a hitch [message #246133] |
Wed, 02 April 2014 06:57  |
 |
SeanKidd
Messages: 747
Registered: June 2012
Location: Northern Neck Virginia
Karma: 4
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Took some time off from my fuel tank/hard line install to finish my 3.70 final drive and install my new through the bumper receiver. All of what I've read, this installation goes off "without a hitch"... Once I removed my spare tire carrier and 1/2 inch plate steel welded "shelf" that was bolted to the frame, I placed my hitch on my jack and put it in place...nothing lines up...my coach is an early '73 #317...what is the consensus, redrill the frame? Then I have 16 holes in it...and retrofit the carrier? Were these holes factory? Any other history of wider than normal mounting points?
Sean and Stephanie
73 Ex-CanyonLands 26' #317 "Oliver"
Hubler 1-Ton, Quad-Bags, Rear Disc, Reaction Arms, P.Huber TBs, 3.70:1 LSD Honda 6500 inverter gen.
Colonial Travelers
[Updated on: Thu, 03 April 2014 07:40] Report message to a moderator |
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Without a hitch [message #246136 is a reply to message #246133] |
Wed, 02 April 2014 07:24  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Sean,
Those look like the OEM spare tire mount holes -- but there's no scale to
be sure. Hard to believe Blaine's holes are wrong, given his reputation
and experience, but I'd drill new holes in the hitch. Otherwise you've got
to drill both the frame and the spare mount. Since the hitch will be
bolted between the frame and mount, it really won't hurt a thing, IMHO.
Ken H.
On Wed, Apr 2, 2014 at 6:57 AM, Sean Kidd wrote:
>
>
> Took some time off from my fuel tank/hard line install to finish my 3.70
> final drive and install my new Blaine Merrell through the bumper receiver.
> All of what I've read, this installation goes off "without a hitch"...
> Once I removed my spare tire carrier and 1/2 inch plate steel welded
> "shelf" that was bolted to the frame, I placed my hitch on my jack and put
> it in place...nothing lines up...my coach is an early '73 #317...what is
> the consensus, redrill the frame? Then I have 16 holes in it...and
> retrofit the carrier? Were these holes factory? Any other history of
> wider than normal mounting points?
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6323/image138.jpg
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6323/image139.jpg
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Without a hitch [message #246168 is a reply to message #246133] |
Wed, 02 April 2014 11:57 |
appie
Messages: 902
Registered: April 2013
Location: denmark
Karma: 2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
19"
Appie
eleganza 76 "Olga" now sadly sold
6 wheel discbrake
Quadrabags
Springfield stage 2 462 olds
Manny tranny
( pictures at http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6489-olga.html
Fulltiming in Europe july 2014 til july 2016
Denmark
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Without a hitch [message #246199 is a reply to message #246133] |
Wed, 02 April 2014 17:01 |
Steve
Messages: 506
Registered: September 2013
Location: East Greenville, Pa
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I am hoping to receive the same hitch from Applied GMC before the weekend. I ordered it last week. I will let you know if the holes line op properly.
1978 GMC Royal
Eastern Pennslyvania
1968 Chevrolet C20 396 Camper Special
1969 Chevrolet C20 Camper Special
1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue
1992 Camaro 25th Anniversary Heretage Edition Black
|
|
|
|
| Re: Without a hitch [message #246250 is a reply to message #246199] |
Thu, 03 April 2014 01:25 |
George Beckman
Messages: 1085
Registered: October 2008
Location: Colfax, CA
Karma: 11
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| Steve Adams wrote on Wed, 02 April 2014 15:01 |
I am hoping to receive the same hitch from Applied GMC before the weekend. I ordered it last week. I will let you know if the holes line op properly.
|
Mine has been on for several years but it fit my '74 perfectly. The hitch is great.
'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Without a hitch [message #246317 is a reply to message #246292] |
Thu, 03 April 2014 19:28 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
|
Senior Member |
|
|
The hitch that was sent out was not the ones we stock that we aquire from
Blain, but a one that was supplied to us few years ago by a GMCer in the
mid West.
The Original HD Hitch was done by an outfit in Utah.
There are few that are still making them.
No, we do not make the HD hitches.
we only make the standard hitch, so don't give me credit David yet.
Bennet and another in Idaho makes them as well.
On Thu, Apr 3, 2014 at 10:19 AM, David H. Jarvis <jarvis210@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
>
> The message here is, it's OK for some people to copy other peoples
> products but don't copy any of mine.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Without a hitch [message #246368 is a reply to message #246358] |
Fri, 04 April 2014 09:49 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| 1275gtsport wrote on Fri, 04 April 2014 07:40 |
| Harry wrote on Thu, 03 April 2014 14:19 |
The message here is, it's OK for some people to copy other peoples products but don't copy any of mine.
|
I think the message here should be if your going to copy something at least do it right 
|
The most expensive, important, and difficult to find part when building these hitches is the receiver tube. The square tube OD is around 2.5 inches. But all 2.5" OD square tubes are not the same. Usually when they make that stuff the inside of the square in unimportant. So if you buy normal square 2.5" ID - 1/4" wall tube, the inside dimensions vary all over the place. Also the quality of the butt weld inside varies significantly.
Since this tube is the receiver for another tube (the drawbar) and the joint will not be welded, the ID of the tube needs to be exactly correct. Most private hitch builders (not Reese, or Hidden Hitch, etc.) do not know, or do not bother to find a source for the correct ID tube. BTW, The receiver tube sold by Harbor Freight is junk as far as the ID goes.
By using just plain old square tube for the receiver the drawbar is usually very sloppy in the receiver. Occasionally the receiver ID is too small and the sloppy inside butt weld and has to be ground out. That is a fun job inside a 2" tube. When I was in college, I worked summers in a steel mill that made that stuff. My dad was a craneman there. I worked on inspection determining the quality and thickness of each pipe / tube prior to shipment. The tolerances were very wide and we did not care about the weld thickness at all.
So the best thing for the builder (and customer) is to start with the expensive but correct ID receiver tube. This higher tolerance tube is all Blaine uses in his hitches.
Note: the sizes mentioned above were off of the top of my head. I have a cut off piece of that stuff in my garage but measuring it exactly was not important to this posting. So I did not bother.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Without a hitch [message #246387 is a reply to message #246368] |
Fri, 04 April 2014 14:48 |
GMC.LES
Messages: 505
Registered: April 2014
Karma: -2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
The proper receiver hitch tubing is 0.230" wall X 2.5" square tube. If you try to use regular 1/4" wall X 2.5" sq. tube, the 2" drawbar won't fit inside due to a lack of clearance. The cheap sloppy fit receivers often use 3/16" wall X 2.5" sq. tube which provides a 1/16" clearance all around on a 2" draw bar. This is too loose. The 0.230" wall tubing provides the perfect clearance without excess sloppiness. I've built a few reciever hitches using the 0230" tubing and I always had trouble finding a supplier for short pieces. It can be special ordered in full lengths from any of the bigger steel suppliers.
Les Burt
Montreal
1975 Eleganza 26ft
A work in Progress
On Apr 4, 2014, at 10:49 AM, Ken Burton <n9cv@comcast.net> wrote:
1275gtsport wrote on Fri, 04 April 2014 07:40
> Harry wrote on Thu, 03 April 2014 14:19
>> The message here is, it's OK for some people to copy other peoples products but don't copy any of mine.
>
> I think the message here should be if your going to copy something at least do it right :)
The most expensive, important, and difficult to find part when building these hitches is the receiver tube. The square tube OD is around 2.5 inches. But all 2.5" OD square tubes are not the same. Usually when they make that stuff the inside of the square in unimportant. So if you buy normal square 2.5" ID - 1/4" wall tube, the inside dimensions vary all over the place. Also the quality of the butt weld inside varies significantly.
Since this tube is the receiver for another tube (the drawbar) and the joint will not be welded, the ID of the tube needs to be exactly correct. Most private hitch builders (not Reese, or Hidden Hitch, etc.) do not know, or do not bother to find a source for the correct ID tube. BTW, The receiver tube sold by Harbor Freight is junk as far as the ID goes.
By using just plain old square tube for the receiver the drawbar is usually very sloppy in the receiver. Occasionally the receiver ID is too small and the sloppy inside butt weld and has to be ground out. That is a fun job inside a 2" tube. When I was in college, I worked summers in a steel mill that made that stuff. My dad was a craneman there. I worked on inspection determining the quality and thickness of each pipe / tube prior to shipment. The tolerances were very wide and we did not care about the weld thickness at all.
So the best thing for the builder (and customer) is to start with the expensive but correct ID receiver tube. This higher tolerance tube is all Blaine uses in his hitches.
Note: the sizes mentioned above were off of the top of my head. I have a cut off piece of that stuff in my garage but measuring it exactly was not important to this posting. So I did not bother.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Without a hitch [message #246412 is a reply to message #246387] |
Fri, 04 April 2014 18:50 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Thanks for the exact numbers.
Ken B.
| Les Burt[1 |
wrote on Fri, 04 April 2014 14:48]The proper receiver hitch tubing is 0.230" wall X 2.5" square tube. If you try to use regular 1/4" wall X 2.5" sq. tube, the 2" drawbar won't fit inside due to a lack of clearance. The cheap sloppy fit receivers often use 3/16" wall X 2.5" sq. tube which provides a 1/16" clearance all around on a 2" draw bar. This is too loose. The 0.230" wall tubing provides the perfect clearance without excess sloppiness. I've built a few receiver hitches using the 0230" tubing and I always had trouble finding a supplier for short pieces. It can be special ordered in full lengths from any of the bigger steel suppliers.
Les Burt
Montreal
1975 Eleganza 26ft
A work in Progress
On Apr 4, 2014, at 10:49 AM, Ken Burton <n9cv@comcast.net> wrote:
1275gtsport wrote on Fri, 04 April 2014 07:40
> Harry wrote on Thu, 03 April 2014 14:19
>> The message here is, it's OK for some people to copy other peoples products but don't copy any of mine.
>
> I think the message here should be if your going to copy something at least do it right
The most expensive, important, and difficult to find part when building these hitches is the receiver tube. The square tube OD is around 2.5 inches. But all 2.5" OD square tubes are not the same. Usually when they make that stuff the inside of the square in unimportant. So if you buy normal square 2.5" ID - 1/4" wall tube, the inside dimensions vary all over the place. Also the quality of the butt weld inside varies significantly.
Since this tube is the receiver for another tube (the drawbar) and the joint will not be welded, the ID of the tube needs to be exactly correct. Most private hitch builders (not Reese, or Hidden Hitch, etc.) do not know, or do not bother to find a source for the correct ID tube. BTW, The receiver tube sold by Harbor Freight is junk as far as the ID goes.
By using just plain old square tube for the receiver the drawbar is usually very sloppy in the receiver. Occasionally the receiver ID is too small and the sloppy inside butt weld and has to be ground out. That is a fun job inside a 2" tube. When I was in college, I worked summers in a steel mill that made that stuff. My dad was a craneman there. I worked on inspection determining the quality and thickness of each pipe / tube prior to shipment. The tolerances were very wide and we did not care about the weld thickness at all.
So the best thing for the builder (and customer) is to start with the expensive but correct ID receiver tube. This higher tolerance tube is all Blaine uses in his hitches.
Note: the sizes mentioned above were off of the top of my head. I have a cut off piece of that stuff in my garage but measuring it exactly was not important to this posting. So I did not bother.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
|
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Sat Sep 21 09:17:47 CDT 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.02113 seconds
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
