Has anyone ever converted the HF hitch hauler for a ski?

I was thinking about doing this to my '95 wrangler also. But now that i see it fits on yours, i might try this. My only worries are that : My wrangler has a class I hitch, and how hard it would be to load/unload by yourself on the ramp. I guess i would have to back in pretty far.
 
Shawn I built mine for 90 bucks. you can weld just build one.


I recommend that too... that way you know the welds are good. I had mine done by a top notch welder friend of mine... I overbuilt it so I know it would never break. the main 2" reciever piece is 1/4" steel and the rest is 3/16" steel....

It's like 5 parts to weld... any decent welder can do that in 30 min. w/ setup
 
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WFO Speedracer

A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
Location
Alabama
I think I had zero in mine,I had the tubing and rebar here and my next door neighbor ran a blacksmith shop so I borrowed his welder and Voila I had a hitch hauler,I used thick tubing for the piece that went into the receiver and thin tubing for the bunks then covered the top of the bunks with pieces of Yamaha rubrail off of a Waverunner XL.
 

shawn_NJ

Chasing waves.
Location
Daytona Beach
Shawn I built mine for 90 bucks. you can weld just build one.

I can weld.... but I dont have access to a welder anymore. Anyone local is intersted in making a few bucks, I would like one that is "OVER-ENGINEERED". PM me if you are interested. I need it soon though..
 
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shawn_NJ

Chasing waves.
Location
Daytona Beach
I recommend that too... that way you know the welds are good. I had mine done by a top notch welder friend of mine... I overbuilt it so I know it would never break. the main 2" reciever piece is 1/4" steel and the rest is 3/16" steel....

It's like 5 parts to weld... any decent welder can do that in 30 min. w/ setup


Nick, do you think the guy that built yours would want to build another one? I could drive down with this one, and switch it out for the good one when I get down there. I do trust this one to be able to handle easy highway driving for one day. I saved the reciept from HF incase I wanted to return it...LOL!
 
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shawn_NJ

Chasing waves.
Location
Daytona Beach
I was thinking about doing this to my '95 wrangler also. But now that i see it fits on yours, i might try this. My only worries are that : My wrangler has a class I hitch, and how hard it would be to load/unload by yourself on the ramp. I guess i would have to back in pretty far.

I never plan on using this at a ramp. (I'd use my beach cart). But many other ppl say that its not that bad to load/unload.
 
I can weld.... but I dont have access to a welder anymore. Anyone local is intersted in making a few bucks, I would like one that is "OVER-ENGINEERED". PM me if you are interested. I need it soon though..
Bro I will build you one this week! I just want a chance at a hull if you do end up building any others after yours!
And that will work with the spare. Ill bang one out monday and post pics I have been thinking about doing it anyways.
 

shawn_NJ

Chasing waves.
Location
Daytona Beach
Bro I will build you one this week! I just want a chance at a hull if you do end up building any others after yours!
And that will work with the spare. Ill bang one out monday and post pics I have been thinking about doing it anyways.

No S:Eyecrazy::Eyecrazy:T! Pm me your zip, so I can see if its even possible to pick it up from you....lol. Unfortunatly it looks like I am working everyday up until I leave for fl. But I could probably sneak away for a few hours to pick it up on Fri :drive:
 
hey shawn, where in FL are you headed? in fl, youre allowed an 8'6" width trailer. since most standups are about 7'6", you should be okay. its no wider than an obnoxious hummer.

btw, heres my hauler.....

coldandwet.jpg
 
Nick, do you think the guy that built yours would want to build another one? I could drive down with this one, and switch it out for the good one when I get down there. I do trust this one to be able to handle easy highway driving for one day. I saved the reciept from HF incase I wanted to return it...LOL!

the sad part is I don't work there anymore... sorry bro.


It would be very simple for any welder....
 
I am thinking 2 inch stock into the receiver then the 2 other bars be C Channel that a 2x4 can fit in tall ways and I can drill holes along the bottom to screw the 2x4s in. I would brace the hell out of it too.

What do you think for Sizes here?
 

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I am thinking 2 inch stock into the receiver then the 2 other bars be C Channel that a 2x4 can fit in tall ways and I can drill holes along the bottom to screw the 2x4s in. I would brace the hell out of it too.


What do you think for Sizes here?

1' on the bunks
~4' bunk length
~3' tongue length
 

Waternut

Customizing addict
Location
Macon, GA
The one I bought from Lowes had a tongue length of 30" and a width of 60". From center to center on the bunks, mine is 12" and the bunks are mounted in the middle of the carrier so you could probably get away with 25" tongue length but you risk not having enough. Just keep in mind that the longer the tongue length, the greater the force on the hitch and the suspension.
 
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I've loaded and unloaded mine by myself countless times.. No problems at all. Just have to back in a little further than normal. As for quality, etc, I used a wal-mart version all season with no troubles. Went with my to Cleveland probably 4-5 times, and all over Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, TONS of miles on this thing. I've bottomed it out tons of times, no problems. I do check all the bolts to make sure everything is good and tight before I take off. Otherwise it's golden.
If you want to see one thats done RIGHT, have 335 post pics of his.. Or just search for it. I'd bet he's posted it. It has a custom made aluminum one that is damn nice.
 
These are ones me and my buddy made in the shop.

http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/37855&highlight=hitch+hauler

post 10 has pics.

We scrapped the idea though because they just wont sell at the price needed to charge for them. Between the price of the steel, stainless hardware and time welding and cutting its just impossible to keep the price low for production.
Thats more or less what I was thinking just with an extra brace.
how long and wide is it?
 

guiness92

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I forget the measurements, I can take some tomorrow.

Extra braces are completely unnecessary. This thing is rock solid. The only play you may have with it is slop in the actual receiver on the vehicle, but that can be taken up with bolts if it bothers you that bad. A bow eye arm for it is worthless too IMO because the ski will NOT slide off this thing. To take a turn that would make this move, your vehicle would flip before the ski slid off of it. It has been road tested on highways and offroading for about 1000 miles and not a single problem with it.
 
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