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Vintage Hitch-On


55 Fargo

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Hey all, scored this vintage bumper hitch as of late.

I figure this thing must have been universal, fitting many models of autos.

I have tried many ways to secure it, this is the only way, that I have been able to secure it very tight to the bumper.

I would only use this with an extremely light utility trailer, in the calss 1 weight range, less than about 1000lbs.

I will clean it up, and paint, not sure I will ever use it, other than for a nostalgic piece.

If anyone has a better idea to attach, or if this is seriously wrong, please inform me......

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I don't think I would be pulling any tree stumps with it..

No thats for sure, what about pulling weeds....LOL

Do you think a tiny light trailer, witha couple of kids dirt bikes is doable on this deal.....

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Dad had one like that in the 70's. We actually used it and a tow bar to tow many a car. We clamped it on several 60's vintage cars to tow with. Everything from a 65 Satellite to a 70 New Yorker and towed everything from an English Ford Anglia to a Thunderbird.

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the strength of these hitches will surprise you for certain..the thing that I find most detracting other than their obviously "hang-on" look is that if for some reason a person should have a quick stop or start the bumper is subject to the dents dings and scratches assocaited with the resulting movement..once on you can usally tell they have been mounted even when removed later from the bumper..

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I think you used to be able to rent a similar hitch from u-haul and other places back in the day. I remember placing a piece of innertube behind ours to help prevent slipping and scratching. Bumper hitches were fairly common around here, mostly bolt on if they were permanently mounted. I'll bet Dad's is still around somewhere.

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Looks good Fred, maybe you can install some thin rubber between the hitch and the bumper to protect the chrome?

My idea too, my bumper right now is pathetic, well you know, you have seen with your own eyes.

I am going to clean up the hitch, and paint it hammertone silver.

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the strength of these hitches will surprise you for certain..the thing that I find most detracting other than their obviously "hang-on" look is that if for some reason a person should have a quick stop or start the bumper is subject to the dents dings and scratches assocaited with the resulting movement..once on you can usally tell they have been mounted even when removed later from the bumper..

Is mine ackbasswards or upside down, this was the only way to mount it

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I think you used to be able to rent a similar hitch from u-haul and other places back in the day. I remember placing a piece of innertube behind ours to help prevent slipping and scratching. Bumper hitches were fairly common around here, mostly bolt on if they were permanently mounted. I'll bet Dad's is still around somewhere.

Do you think it is mounted wrong, as this is the only way it would secure......

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My Uncle used a very similar set up to tow a trailer very much like yours. He had a draft beer set up that he would haul to family reunions, union picnics, social club picnics and such. Fully loaded I would guess between beer, Ice, soda, and other stuff he was close to 1500 ibs, behind his 49 Buick.

If you are going near that weight with anything of value in the trailer, I would suggest some actual trailer tires, rather than whats on your now. Supposedly trailer tires are built to work differently than passenger tires for weight bearing and other features unique to a towed vehicle.

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My Uncle used a very similar set up to tow a trailer very much like yours. He had a draft beer set up that he would haul to family reunions, union picnics, social club picnics and such. Fully loaded I would guess between beer, Ice, soda, and other stuff he was close to 1500 ibs, behind his 49 Buick.

If you are going near that weight with anything of value in the trailer, I would suggest some actual trailer tires, rather than whats on your now. Supposedly trailer tires are built to work differently than passenger tires for weight bearing and other features unique to a towed vehicle.

Don't think I would have any issues with these tires Greg, although they are old, they are 10 ply military type tread, 16 inch radial tires.

I have actually hauled a wet yard of sand, it was a super heavy load, my Van has a Class 3 hitch, and handled it no problem, did not have to got oo far, about 10 miles

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My father had a hitch like that on a couple of our cars back in the 1950s.

They worked just fine for lighter trailers.

One time he was pulling our Boy Scout troop camping trailer, and

the weight started bending the bumper. He stopped at a filling

station, borrowed some tools, and turned the hitch upside down,

simply attaching the ball back on top....that got us home.

I may still have one "somewhere" in the stuff not taken by the

tornado. Was just keeping it around for nostalgia.

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One time he was pulling our Boy Scout troop camping trailer, and

Boy scout story. In about 1957 my boy scout troop was preping for a parade. We located an old steel capped wooden wheel stagecoach about a mile away. Went with my dad and a boy scout friend and his dad in his dads 57 chevy to drag the stagecoach home. No hitch. So us boys were instructed to sit in the trunk of the car and hang on to the stagecoach "toung" while our dads sat in the car and pulled the coach home.

Guess what happens when you pull a steel wheeled coach on a cement road with no electrical grounding? STATIC ELECTRICITY! My buddy and I soon got the shock of our lives. We yelled and screamed to no avail. But like good troopers we hung on until we got home. Once we got home we told our dads what a shocking experiance we had. They both got a good laugh.

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My Dad used a hitch like that to pull a soft top tent trailer over the Rocks to Kelowna BC with the "old" 49 Chrysler for a few summers, then transferred the hitch to the "new" 58 Rambler and did it for a few more summers to Kelowna. He did have hefty safety chains between the chassis and the trailer tongue but still worried about it the whole trip.

He had to get a real hitch for the 64 Marauder...cheap "newer" car bumpers ;)

Edited by PatS....
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Boy scout story. In about 1957 my boy scout troop was preping for a parade. We located an old steel capped wooden wheel stagecoach about a mile away. Went with my dad and a boy scout friend and his dad in his dads 57 chevy to drag the stagecoach home. No hitch. So us boys were instructed to sit in the trunk of the car and hang on to the stagecoach "toung" while our dads sat in the car and pulled the coach home.

Guess what happens when you pull a steel wheeled coach on a cement road with no electrical grounding? STATIC ELECTRICITY! My buddy and I soon got the shock of our lives. We yelled and screamed to no avail. But like good troopers we hung on until we got home. Once we got home we told our dads what a shocking experience we had. They both got a good laugh.

That would have landed Dads in jail for life these days!!!!!!!!:eek:

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its amazing we are here today typing on a keyboard..and with Halloween up and coming, folks out to kill the tradition because their kids will grow up to be serial killers..I know we here all trick or treated..mainly we tricked as we got a bit older..I admit some folks may still want to know the "who" but honestly folks me and my buds have never been in jail much less accused of murder or satonic sacrafices..but today standards a typical Halloween night where I grew up would get you life in jail today..bunch of soft woosies..

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Just to share another bumper hitch with you. The ACME (go, Wiley Coyote, go!) Bumper Hitch. Bolts onto the rear bumper through the center bumper bolt and with that frame on front, to the crossbar under the trunk. Both those vertical pieces for the actual bolts are massive 5/32" plate steel.

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Another Fine ACME Product, brought to you by Wile Coyote, Super Genius!

Cheers!

John

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