Don't need no stinkin' drop hitch!

[brainpause]

Saw this at a campground this weekend. Guess they thought driving to Wally World to get another drop hitch would be too much work. So, let's just bend the tongue.

In their defense, I guess they didn't want to drag the jack.  :confused:

Larry

[austinado16]

Just when you think you've seen it all.

Imagine the work (and heat) it took to bend the frame!  Too funny!

[tlhdoc]

You can always find something interesting at a campground.

[robpoe]

Saw this at a campground this weekend. Guess they thought driving to Wally World to get another drop hitch would be too much work. So, let's just bend the tongue.

In their defense, I guess they didn't want to drag the jack.  :confused:

Larry

Oh my.

[brainpause]

Just when you think you've seen it all.

Imagine the work (and heat) it took to bend the frame!  Too funny!

Exactly what I thought. Notice that the pictures are taken at some distance with a zoom lens. I didn't want to walk up and take pictures up close, because I might have to admit that I thought their "mod" was ridiculous.

It probably took TWO torches at the same time to bend that thing! I wonder if the frame is weaker now?

Larry

[AustinBoston]

I wonder if the frame is weaker now?

I don't.  It is.

Austin

[austinado16]

Warning: Off Topic Content Below.....
By the way Larry, I was looking at your Starcraft restoration photos (and Grand Canyon pics.....since we were just there) and noticed your camper's step isn't working?  I've got the step from an '83/'84 Starflyer 19' if that will fit yours.  Pay for shipping and it's yours.  This step that I have is the style that is flat metal with 2 curved legs.  The legs rotated upward and then you stick them into 2 holes in the camper frame just below the door, and then the step hangs down from them.  In other words, it's a seperate assembly, not a step that slides up under the camper frame and then just pulls out for use.
End Of Off Topic Content.......

[brainpause]

Warning: Off Topic Content Below.....
By the way Larry, I was looking at your Starcraft restoration photos (and Grand Canyon pics.....since we were just there) and noticed your camper's step isn't working?  I've got the step from an '83/'84 Starflyer 19' if that will fit yours.  Pay for shipping and it's yours.  This step that I have is the style that is flat metal with 2 curved legs.  The legs rotated upward and then you stick them into 2 holes in the camper frame just below the door, and then the step hangs down from them.  In other words, it's a seperate assembly, not a step that slides up under the camper frame and then just pulls out for use.
End Of Off Topic Content.......

Thanks...but I'm about to tow that thing to its storage lot. Don't have more time to fool with it. I got it finished just in the nick of time before Jessie got here. I do still have to replace two roof latches, but hopefully that's a 15 minute job (famous last words).

Larry

[jerkin]

They're made like that. http://www.primotrailersales.com/legacy.shtml
Eliminates the need for a large drop hitch.

[Funrover]

That is actualyy pretty cool, keeps it low where needed for entrance  I like it!  Had it been a used to be straight frame that would be something different!

[brainpause]

They're made like that. http://www.primotrailersales.com/legacy.shtml
Eliminates the need for a large drop hitch.

I'm sure this was a homemade job. Look at the jack. I bet a commercial venture would make the jack more "attractive" and point straight down.

But interesting find, though.

Larry

[AustinBoston]

I'm sure this was a homemade job. Look at the jack. I bet a commercial venture would make the jack more "attractive" and point straight down.

A commercial job would have made the coupler perfectly level as well.  It doesn't look that way to me in your photos.

Austin

[ScouterMom]

I was going to make the same comment -


On the 'legacy' trailers in your link, the frame is bent TWICE - level, up, and then level again - so the trailer rides and sits level.  

on the one he photgraphed at the campground, there's only one bend, and the camper would NOT be level when the jack was down, in fact, I'd be leary of trusting that jack to hold at that angle!

I just had something welded onto my trailer tongue, rather than bolting it on, because my welder friend pointed out that he wouldn't mess with putting holes in, or otherwise compromising a weight-bearing part of my camper.  He's been a metal worker for 20+ yrs and I trust him.  

Besides - I wonder if it can grab the ball of the hitch well at that angle, either?

that thing doesn't look safe to me!

Laura

[weathermaker]

Waht a Bozo operation!

[wavery]

I don't think that the frame is "Bent" at that angle. Cut & welded would be more like it.

That looks like a 3 piece box frame tongue. I just can't see how they could possibly bend all 3 channels at the same time. If they did, it would weaken it more than 50%.

They could have cut a V in each channel, in the same spot, exactly the same size. Bend the lower part up, then weld the channel back together and reinforce it by welding plates over the cuts.

I just don't see why they didn't do it twice like the factory job in the other link.