Anybody use a bumper-pull setup?

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JTalley
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Anybody use a bumper-pull setup?

Post by JTalley »

I've seen them around on a few vans, but I've never seen everything up close. I'm making something in the shop to bolt onto the bumper. It consists of two metal plates- one goes inside the metal bumper with four bolts welded on, and the other goes outside the bumper. From there it bolts together, and it has a tongue so I can attach a ball to it. I'm not intending to pull more than 500 pounds with it. It's pretty simple, and I didn't even have to spend a cent on it since it's all made from scrap metal that the others in the shop had thrown out!

I'm just worried about the bumper itself. Would I have to brace it at all, or is it fine the way it is?
Jake

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LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: Anybody use a bumper-pull setup?

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

What about the hitch you had? Did you sell it already?
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Re: Anybody use a bumper-pull setup?

Post by doyoulikeithere »

sounds a bit risky.
Those bumpers and the brackets that hold them on are wimpy.
BTW, when you pulled off the original hitch, what did you replace the 2 brackets with, or is it only held on now by the 2 outter most brackets?
If thats so, I wouldn't even feel very safe, just standing on it, let alone towing.
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Topic author
JTalley
I sleep in my van
Posts: 383
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:56 am
Location: Sulphur, Oklahoma

Re: Anybody use a bumper-pull setup?

Post by JTalley »

I put every bolt back in except one or two- and that's because the nut on the inside came loose. I'm still trying to sell the hitch I removed, and I can't put it on again because if I do, I won't have a spare. I'm planning on building a lightweight trailer and using it only to haul little stuff, like my lawnmower and ATV. They fit inside the van, but sometimes I don't wanna pull out all the seats just to haul some of that stuff.


Btw, on mine the hitch just sat right under the bumper with all the bolts going through the bumper brackets. It has those brackets and the outer brackets as well.

UPDATE: It's finished except for the paint and the hole where the ball bolts on. Once it's all finished up I can take a few pics of it and post them! My dad has a small trailer; if he lets me borrow it I can roll around with it for a while, slowly adding weight, just to make sure that nothing's gonna bend or break.
Jake

Image
Ed- 1992 Astro, RWD, 4.3l V6 (purchased Feb. 2011)
FlowTech Red Hots glasspack exhaust (finally got it put on there!)
Old rides (earlier to later)
2004 Honda 250 Rebel (my dad's bike, he let me use it)
Neko- 1991 S10 Blazer, 4x4, 4-door (SOLD Feb. 2011)
Custom (aka failed) diy paint job- red with black stripe
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