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I searched the threads - not seeing what I want.
I know it sounds a bit off the wall.
The concept is to mount a Class 3 receiver so that the square opening is behind the rear plate. (square hole cut in the glass behind the plate - plate on a hinge)
To mount the hitch you'd have to go under the car to get the clevis pin through and secured. No spare tire carrier in use - so clearance and room a minimal issue. Strength is what counts.
Not sure if that rear cross member would need some beefing up. Bolting or welding is OK, both regarding the beefing and / or hitch mounting.
I welded a generic 2 inch receiver to a piece of 2 by 2 angle iron. Something like that you could just about attach to the rear crossmember. It bent down a bit over time, but I was hauling 4k lb boat-trailer combos.
Last edited by derekderek; 12-01-2017 at 08:15 PM.
Looked at the welds and realized I didn't weld it. I had a friend who was a welder weld it. It was mounted backwards from how you would want to attach it cuz it was hanging out off the back of a square camper bumper. What would you be towing with it?
Last edited by derekderek; 12-01-2017 at 08:16 PM.
Objective would be to tow a "light-weight" travel trailer / camper.
Can take to Vette to events and have lodging built in.
Also good for long trips - all Wal-Marts let you camp overnight.
There are many fiberglass shell units of a decent size in the 2500lb range.
-W
I've been towing for a long time, for the last 18 years it's been with my P/U. We have a speed boat up north at my lake home and like to drive the 69 there. So the only solution was to put a hitch on. It's going to take a lot to get used to have a boat probably less than 5 feet out the rear window and higher than the car. T
P/S it only goes to boat landing and back.
I put my jeep wheels 6 inches deep into the river or ocean launching boats. on long flat ramps I check that water wont come in when I open the door. on steep ramps I need the 4wd to pull boat back up the ramp. usually bigger boats than pictured, but...
While hinging the license plate might seem like a great idea, it wouldn’t be exactly legal. If the plate can’t be seen while you are towing, any Cop could pull you over for that and hassle you for anything else he found. I try to avoid mods that can get me pulled over. I removed the black out covers on my C5 taillights after getting pulled over twice and ticketed once...
I've been towing for a long time, for the last 18 years it's been with my P/U. We have a speed boat up north at my lake home and like to drive the 69 there. So the only solution was to put a hitch on. It's going to take a lot to get used to have a boat probably less than 5 feet out the rear window and higher than the car. T
P/S it only goes to boat landing and back.
Love that boat. Takes me back to my youth, living on the river
Besides the trailer hitch think about trailer brakes. A 2500 lb trailer now makes your Corvette weigh 6000 lb when you are trying to stopping it.
Having said that the Corvette has a full frame right out to the back.
If I was building a trailer hitch mount I'd start with a 2"or 2.5" tubing with at least .25" wall and then notch the tubing to "submerge" the receiver tube into the tubing so you can weld it 360 degrees. Oh and don't weld this with a 110 volt mig. Have it really burned in by a competent welder.
Plate the ends that bolt in the Corvette frame with .375" thick material with at least four bolts per side.
In the late 60's my friends father towed a 25' or 22' can't remember Nova Boat with his 68 - 427 4 speed vette - his wife would not let him put the hitch on the wagon... Looked funny , but worked for many years..
While hinging the license plate might seem like a great idea, it wouldn’t be exactly legal. If the plate can’t be seen while you are towing, any Cop could pull you over for that and hassle you for anything else he found. I try to avoid mods that can get me pulled over. I removed the black out covers on my C5 taillights after getting pulled over twice and ticketed once...
I was thinking of getting a duplicate plate and adding it to the back of the travel trailer with a "--> CAR" stencil pointing at it. Just to kinda try to pre-empt that kind of stop. Yes - brakes are thought of. For the rear view mirror issue, I could use a cam on the back of the trailer with a clip-on screen over the normal rear view mirror. As a rule, cops are much less likely hassle an older guy in an antique Vette, than they were when I was an 18-25 year old kid bombing around in a then "current" Vette.
-W
PS: Very likely to replace the tail-light panel as it's been rear ended and patched up 3 times over the last 40 years. Good opportunity to do the hitch and added brake wiring at the same time. Full access to rear of frame.
Last edited by Clams Canino; 12-08-2017 at 12:35 PM.
Clams, that rear bumper crossmember is mighty flimsy on our 68,69's. Lou.
It sure is, can't imagine one could put much tongue weight in it. I didn't even put any wiring on, just another way of keeping me from any notion of pulling the boat for any distance. T
Not sure what year you might be working with but my 77 had a nice mounting system to the rear bumper frame. Very sturdy. I used it to pull my small motorcycle trailer to shows. Worked great.
It is not the receiver style but the original style manufactured for the car. Stamped "Corvette" on mine.
Options.
David
The 70-73 mounts to the rear bumpers through two holes drilled in the rear bumpers. I like the 74-77 style that actually mounts up to the frame. I have had both.
David
12-01-2017, 06:20 PM
Class 3 receiver for C3?
