home made tie downs to slide into trailer hitch - any ideas?

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hpcmbw

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Mar 16, 2009
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I've seen some people making tie downs for the rear by sliding a square steel bar into the ends of the receiver hitch. Hidden hitch has a product like this, but it only works with hidden hitch hitches. I'm trying to find something that will slide into the existing, stock ford hitch on my 2000 F250. All the hitch parts I have that slide into a hitch tube are a little to big. The inner diameter of the stock hitch tube is just under 2". The outer diameter of the hitch inserts  I have (i.e. the part of the receiver hitch you slide in, with a ball bolted to it) is just OVER 2".

Anybody know much about steel and if you can get square tubing with a slightly smaller outer diameter? It seems like a lot of work to try to grind down a few inches on all 4 sides of an existing hitch.

I'm trying to build a tie down system on a budget.

Thanks for any ideas.
 
Standard 2" square tubing will fit, I have made many ball mounts and accessories using that.  Get either 3/16" or 1/4" thick wall 2" square tubing.  Any steel supplier should have that.
 
Are you looking for something like this?


http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/trailer-hitch/d-ring-receiver-hitch-66212.html
 
Thanks TVMan, I found a local steel/iron shop, i'll see if they have this size tubing.  Lowell - I can't use the standard size hitch receivers because they are to big to fit in the ends of my hitch, that was my first idea.
 
If you have a standard size Ford receiver hitch, these things should fit.  Is it possible that the hitch was damaged?
 
Lowell, those will fit the receiver end of the hitch, but won't fit the tubes that the receiver is welded to. I need to slide into the receiver sideways, for tie downs to stick out the sides of the bed. The openings on these tubes are smaller then the opening at the back of the truck designed specifically for a hitch receiver.
 
You are trying the economy version.  TorkLift has the parrts but they slide into their hitch.  I equipped my truck with their stuff, including the truss extension.  Great stuff and idea, but pricey.  In the long run, glad I paid up at the beginning, made life with TC so much easier.

To do it with existing equipment, it will be trial and error at the shop.

 
I got a great deal on a used set of rear TorkLift tie downs, the ones that slide into the sides of the trailer hitch. These things work GREAT! I've got the front of the camper tied down to the bed corners with eye bolts and 2" square steel plates (the 4 wheel campers are light enough to use interior tie downs). I'll keep an eye out for a used set of front Torklifts, since they seem to work so well.
 
The Torklift tie downs for your truck slide into the factory hitch.

http://www.towshop.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=69&idcategory=0
 
Lowell said:
If you have a standard size Ford receiver hitch, these things should fit.  Is it possible that the hitch was damaged?

I've noticed a similar problem with a 4" dropped receiver purchased brand new from Camping World. The clearance was so tight on the new receiver part that I had to grind the paint off and wax up my Ready Brute tow bar to get it to slide in. Apparently not all 2" receivers are being manufactured equally......So measure before you buy...!
 

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