Best way to mount a trailer hitch...

Wondering if anyone has mounted a trailer hitch on a second gen G van... or 1st gen if it's the same method.

It would be nice to have something capable of towing, say, a motorcycle trailer, or maybe a very small boat. Or to haul a vintage car from point A to point B on local roads, no hills.

In the past I've used a '79 Mitsubishi made mini pickup (Plymouth Arrow, 2.6 liter motor) with a tubular rear Smithy bumper for this. I was able to haul a '50 Plymouth some 25 miles on local roads early one Sunday morning this way.

Looking at the van, it's evident the bumper mounts may not be as sturdy as those on the Arrow. But they do appear to be pretty stout.

The Arrow has been parked for over a decade, though. Seems to need a new head - the old one is cracked and burning too much oil to pass smog. So the van needs to step up to the challenge.

I'd like to keep the stock rear bumper on the van. But I suppose I could unbolt it and put on a different bumper as needed, with an integral trailer hitch if that would work.

Any thoughts? Photos?

I bought a normal receiver,,,,cut the ends off,,,,,made end plates,,,,reinforced the frame rails with 2" square tubing inside it,,,,,added some L brackets,,,,,,,,

Off the frame rails !!!!! below the bumper & infront of it. That way the stinger is all you see.   My 3rd gen is done that way. craigs list is usually full of hitches & usually cheap too-then get to a welder, or bolt on.

Thanks guys. When I drop the gas tank to fix the sender leak I'll take a closer look at the rear frame rails. This is for a future project... don't have a trailer to tow at this time.

I used one from a jeep liberty. it it the perfect size and mounts like late model van hitches. 4 bolts throught the bottom of the frame rails. the front holes get mounted with carriage bolts through square plates. the rear holes get drilled through the bumper brackets. instead of frame plates on these, I welded nuts to the bumper brackets where the holes come through. that way, I can use bolts on these holes, up from the bottom. unfortunately, photobucket is not working for me right now. I will have to post pics. later.

That's interesting, Dave. An exact fit, or nearly that, would probably save a lot of time and work.

Any year Liberty would do, I suppose? I don't think that vehicle changed much over its production life. I think it's been superceded by the new Cherokee, anyway.

Looking forward to the photos.

here are a couple pics of the install. I used bolts coming down for the rear holes, but , found it to be easier to use bolts up from the bottom for those two, as I stated earlier.

Great photos, Dave. is there a brand or part number on that hitch? Lots of atermarket ones out there, although that triangulated design looks familiar from the ones I've seen online so far.

im pretty sure mine was a uhaul brand. but it was a little crusty when I got it, and I cleaned it up a bit. theyre all pretty similar. there's actually a recall with the liberty, and they put a hitch on it to beef up the rear end and protect the fuel tank. this one apparently, also protects the hell out of my fuel tank too.

uhaul pn #78262

Nice work Dave! Looks like you're good to go!   

Looks Great Dave..!!!...Saves a lot of Guessing,Grinding, and Welding,... I am going that route also.....  

I used it yesterday to move around my large jayco popup. it didn't flex at all when I put it on there. pulling it was what I had in mind when I installed the hitch, but, we don't use the camper, and just stay in the van. so, I sold the camper today. I guess I will have to just build a cycle trailer to haul the bike on vacation . I don't it to go to waste.

Hey all, I realize this is fairly old post. I was wondering if anyone could tell me if this same U haul hitch 78262 would also work on a 61 Econoline?

Thanks,

Jerry

I ordered hitch #13245 from Curt manufacturing on wed got today it`s a class 3 receiver hitch
to fit jeep liberty, cost 138.00 shipped.  their website is curtmfg.com.
thanks go to diamond dave for doing the trial fit, and the heads up on this hitch.

panelmanrd wrote:I ordered hitch #13245 from Curt manufacturing on wed got today it`s a class 3 receiver hitch
to fit jeep liberty, cost 138.00 shipped.  their website is curtmfg.com.
thanks go to diamond dave for doing the trial fit, and the heads up on this hitch.

Looks like you have a G van, do you happen to know if this will work on my 61 E?

alright something is wrong here, i have a '68 and ordered the blitz/magnus hitch off fleabay for 2008-2012 jeep liberty. the same application as the curt 13245 and the uhaul number..it is too wide for the frame rails!!!! arrrg. i guess ill be having to cut and weld this thing afterall...

get a hitch assm. off any 1967-1982++ chev/gmc van. Check it out for fit. Likely a simple mod if even needed I have one yet have not stuck it under the early as yet. Im thinking it will fit fine.mines on a 1982 chev conversion van.

im stuck with this one, ill make it work but wanted to post my experience...not sure we got all the numbers and applications worked out..unless i got a mismanufactured one..