installing a hitch

[leanburn]

my car went in last week to start on some body work, this may sound crazy but i would like to add a small hitch but would like it to be hidden even if i had to bolt it on each use. has anyone ever done this?

[Challenger6pak]

It can be done but would be very difficult.  A non hidden hitch can be done. 

['Cuda Hunter]

I read that U'haul will make custom hitch's to your specs.
Might give that a try.

get a custom hitch made that mounts to your frame rails.
Reinforce the inside of the frame rails and I would think you could unbolt the hitch when not in use.  And it should fit in the trunk if done this way. 

That would be a slick custom set up.  I like it.  the idea, not necessarily what I added.

[purple1]

I had to make my hitch (not hidden though). I guess it could be done. I'm stumped on how to make it hidden. Maybe make part of the valance removeable?

[Super Blue 72]

I had to make my hitch (not hidden though). I guess it could be done. I'm stumped on how to make it hidden. Maybe make part of the valance removeable?

Making part of the rear valence sounds like a great idea.  Some high end SUVs, I think like Caddies or something have a small part of the bumper that can be removed to expose the trailer hitch receiver.  (I think that's what it's called?  The 2" deal that the actual hitch inserts into?)  That way if you had a panel on the rear valence that could open/fold down then expose the hitch reciver then you wouldn't have to remove the hitch assembly from the rear frame rails. 

I have a hitch too but it's no hidden, but a hidden one sounds cool. 

What are you thinking of towing?  I'm not sure what mine is rated at but it is very light duty.  The original owner used to pull snowmobiles with my Challenger.

[Moparal]

I had 2 barracudas at one time, that had dealership hitches installed. The hitch brace went from frame rail to frame rail, Bolted in 4 spots, then it was bolted to the bumper useing an adapter that came down from behind in the middle of the bumper. Glenn Brodie back in like 1977 from New Orleans bought a 70 hemi challenger I was buying out from under me. It had a dealer trailer hitch installed on it. Also a 27 ft camper hooked to the car. Had a warranty block in it . The car was only used for towing that trailer. Was a 410 dana 727 car.  3500 bucks was the selling price

[Super Blue 72]

... a 70 hemi challenger ... Was a 410 dana 727 car.  3500 bucks was the selling price

 

['Cuda Hunter]

That sure would have been a score !

[leanburn]

super blue,   i will be towing a small enclosed trailer [ 5 x 8 ]. when i go to the races i don't have enough room for everything. also i do a trip to vancouver island every year and i want to be able to take the wife and i don't have room for the kitchen sink.

that rear valance idea is great, i think that's what i will attempt.

[Final Challenge]

My 1974 Challenger is in the process of being restored.
I came up with an idea to make a hitch that is hidden. The friend that is doing the bodywork helped me acheive a rather novel approach to having a hidden hitch on a challenger.

I had some heavy plate steel bent in a very large press in a manner to mimmick the lines of the rear cross member where the bumper is bolted to the rear frame rails.

I had a second plate bent to fit behind the cross member that when combined, sandwiches the factory crossmember.

A receiver tube was welded to a heavy plate and to the first outer cross member plate.  It is then bolted to the inner cross member plate that sandwiches the factory cross member.

Longer and higher grade bolts go through the bumper brackets the plates and cross member. Thick washers and nylock nuts will retain the basic sandwich hitch.  Additional bolts add stiffness in a few more places.

The hitch is accessed through a hole in the rear valance under the license plate.  The license plate, is held by an upside down hung spring type b body license plate holder that is used to access the gas filler tube.

I don't have pictures, and there will be a few custom pieces required to work the safety chains, but I believe the prototype will work.

['Cuda Hunter]

That sounds like a pretty slick set up.

Your killin me with no pictures.   

[leanburn]

sad to say but i don't have to worry about a hitch anymore. we stripped the car and the more we stripped the more nasty stuff we found. it's not worth fixin.