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Virginia Rocks!
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Just outside the beltway
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Pickup truck questions
I saw this on the Random Photo thread. Made me start thinking...
The only difference if that was done right is that the bolt/pin would be side ways through a metal square shaft. So I could see in this case the bumper bending. BUT, I have seen plenty of trucks with a hole through the bumper for a tow ball. Why is that OK? Is what you can tow by the bumper hitch limited by weight or something? Also, I was thinking at a light about the spare tire mounted under the bed. That's cranked to the ground with a tool through a hole in the bumper, right? How do you get it back up there? How do you thread it back up with out lying on the ground to do so? 
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Rosewood 1983 911 SC Targa | Black 1990 944 S2 | White 1980 BMW R65 | Past: Crystal 1986 944 na Guards Red is for the Unoriginal
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10-20-2011, 10:24 AM
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Yes light trailers can be towed with bumper mounted balls.
The spare tire is hung by a cable and is cranked down and up using a crank handle which goes in the hole in the bumper. Crank clockwise- tire goes down. Crank counter clockwise tire goes up. Simple really.
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Jacksonville. Florida https://www.flickr.com/photos/ury914/ Last edited by URY914; 10-20-2011 at 10:35 AM.. |
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10-20-2011, 10:29 AM
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The numbnutz in the picture will find out how stupid he is when he hits the brakes and the ball rotates around and hits his bumper.
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10-20-2011, 10:33 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: To Be Determined MI
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Think of the torsional leverage that ghetto set up has on the bumper.
The cable Paul speaks of is usually just a little too short to comfortably mount/dismount the spare from its cradle without at least getting on your knees. I've had 2 newer trucks with the crank mechanism in-op from rust, that will have you on your back and cursing.
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10-20-2011, 10:36 AM
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the ball on the bumper is ok (as rated). by adding the drop arm, you are introducing a moment arm. you are adding leverage for the load to bend the bumper.
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10-20-2011, 11:59 AM
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The Unsettler
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lantanna TX
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Quote:
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10-20-2011, 12:05 PM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
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My truck just has a keyhole in the bumper. And electric motor raises/lowers the spare. The only benefit I see is that this makes the spare harder to steal.
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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10-20-2011, 12:19 PM
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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
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I may mount my ball as pictured above (when towing NOTHING) just to watch structural engineers faint when they see it!
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10-20-2011, 01:06 PM
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Virginia Rocks!
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Quote:
Does the cradle slip through the center of the wheel or do you lay the wheel on it somehow? I'm having a hard time picturing this.
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Rosewood 1983 911 SC Targa | Black 1990 944 S2 | White 1980 BMW R65 | Past: Crystal 1986 944 na Guards Red is for the Unoriginal
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10-20-2011, 02:17 PM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
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It's exactly like the purely mechanical system, except that a motor drives the winch that raises/lowers the spare. I've never lowered it, but I believe it has an I-shaped piece on the end of the cable that slips through the center hole on the spare. The keyhole is simply an electrical switch that activates the motor.
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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10-20-2011, 02:24 PM
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canna change law physics
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The reason to lower the ball is to attach to trailers that have a low hitch. Looks like someone is too cheap to install a proper receiver.
What other cheap short cuts have been done?
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10-20-2011, 02:24 PM
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You do not have permissi
Join Date: Aug 2001
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It's a potentially heavy load...attached to a pivot on the very tip of an extention...attached to a long thin piece of metal(bumper) using only one bolt....which is then attached to the actual frame/vehicle.
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10-20-2011, 02:34 PM
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10-20-2011, 06:04 PM
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10-20-2011, 06:05 PM
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Virginia Rocks!
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Thanks. I just couldn't get the image of lying on the ground lifting a tire even a couple inches to mount in some fashion.
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10-20-2011, 06:07 PM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
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If you think about it, the receiver pin takes the entire weight of the trailer and it isn't much thicker than that bolt.
When my dad was living in a low-rent apartment before he died, one of the guys in his building had a hitch on the bumper of his 80's Buick attached with C clamps...
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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10-20-2011, 06:46 PM
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But the pin is in a shear condition/position. The bolt is in bending.
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10-21-2011, 03:26 AM
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Just an FYI, as part of getting your ride ready for the winter months, take the spare tire down, make sure it has air in it of course, but also clean and lubricate the mount and lowering mechanism. There is nothing worse than being stuck by the side of the road with a good spare that you can't get to because the mechanism hasn't been used in a decade and it's rusted fast. Ask me how I know.
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10-21-2011, 05:23 AM
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1973 Porsche 914 1.7 very modifed
1970/1982 Porsche 914-6/911SC 2.7 RS
