trailer hitch ideas for a 37?

[mumpsimus]

I need to create a trailer hitch for the 37 woodie. Has anybody bought a generic hitch or a kit of tubes/plates/etc that was somewhat easily adapted to a late 30's Ford? Or, can anybody please post photos of hitches that they have made?

thanks,
Pete

[KDL]

I can't help but interested in the replies. I'd like to add a hitch to the '35.

[cmbrucew]

I believe I would upgrade to hydraulic brakes first.
Bruce

[slowforty]

In the early 50s' my friends Father hauled 28 foot travel travels to Florida from Chicago, with a 40 Ford Tudor Sedan.
He used a piece of four inch angle iron bolted to the bumper brackets. My friend went with him a few times and said it worked well, but then again they hardly did much over 45. He did say stopping was very interesting.

[Snouts out]

Laurie hauls a trailer,he might want to chime in!

[38bill]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

What kind of weight are you planning to pull?

[D. Jones]

I built a receiver hitch for my 45 pickup that bolts to existing holes in the bottom of the frame. Not very period correct but nice and easy to use and doesn't put the load on the bumper.

[mumpsimus]

Bruce, I'm upgrading to hydraulic disc/drum brakes this weekend, hoping to do the trailer hitch in a few weeks. I'd like to avoid the hitch touching the bumper if possible, so I'm thinking it will be it's own crossmember with a square tube that goes just under the bumper to receive the stinger.

[mumpsimus]

Bill, I'll be hauling a lightweight flatbed trailer with 1-2 old motorcycles from the 19teens/1920s and maybe a gas can. Bikes weigh around 200-250lbs each, trailer is 400lbs. Total would be ~900lbs.

[38bill]

Originally Posted by mumpsimus

Bill, I'll be hauling a lightweight flatbed trailer with 1-2 old motorcycles from the 19teens/1920s and maybe a gas can. Bikes weigh around 200-250lbs each, trailer is 400lbs. Total would be ~900lbs.

I would probably get a universal receiver hitch and make up a crossmember to fit the car or use the rear frame and add some additional supports. A class 1 is all you need as they are rated at 2000# total and 200# tongue weight. The class 1 is small and not very noticeable when the hitch is removed from the receiver.

My truck spent most of its life working at the Minneapolis/St Paul airport. There they had welded a simple hitch to the bottom of the rear frame crossmember. The crossmember was a little kinked because there wasn't any other support but it was still there years later.

[mumpsimus]

That sounds like a good plan Bill. I haven't yet found a universal hitch, but I'll look around. I just heard that Weedetr sells them from Red Bluff, CA so I'm checking in with them too.

[Brian]

The towbar on my 35 attaches to the rear spring crossmember via the spring u bolts and extends back just past the rear bumper. There is another plate, tucked in behind the bumper, attached to bumper each end via the bumper guard bolts. This 'cross brace' is welded to the main bar sticking aft and prevents any side movement. I have hauled many heavy loads, long distances, with this setup [with rod brakes!] and it has been superb! Having the main attachment point on the rear spring cross member is logically, the only place to mount it.

[mumpsimus]

Thanks Brian. Is the main bar maybe 3/4" thick and 2" wide, with a plate on the end for the spring U bolts? If you can send me a photo or two, that would be great. Thanks again.

[Lawrie]

My hitch(tow bar) is home made,it like Brians attaches to the centre spring mount,then has an extra support going up to the spare wheel mount,at the back it has a cross member that attaches to the two bumper mounts on the inside of the bumpers,so far we have done about 35000klms towing our 900-1000kg caravan,still have the mechanical brakes on the 33 ,BUT have electric ones on the caravan.
Lawrie

[jimTN]

I pulled a trailer and a race car with my 40 cpe with a hitch I made from angle iron bolted to the bumper arms with a ford rod cap over them and two bolts to the angle on each side. I had a 5/8" thick by something like 5 in wide that went under the bumper and out the rear for a ball. It had a upright welded to the flat bar behind the bumper with a bolt that ran thru the bumper. Never had a problem with it.

[Brian]

Here you go, I've run this thing for years, I removed it from a 35 I parted out in the early 70's, probably wouldn't get it approved these days, but it has stood the test of time [and use]. I'd suggest replacing the angle iron drawbar with something more substantial, but this should give you an indication of how to mount etc. Good luck.

[mumpsimus]

thanks Brian! The pictures are worth 1000 words.

[37fordpickup]

Would you like pictures of the hitch that came with my 37 1/2 ton pickup?

[flatford8]

I would..... Love pictures!......Mark