Super Jet Home Made Hitch Hauler

[wildman326]

I originally wanted to buy one of these, but nobody seems to ship them, so . . .

I got some supplies and had a good friend help me weld it up.

It's 30 inches wide and 40 inches deep.

I'm very pleased with how it came out.

I hope to make a beach dolly that will fit in place of the rails.

 

[Snivilous]

Nice. I don't know how they make hitch haulers, but you don't need diagonal supports for the area sits on? It looks like if the CG isn't dead center it will put a lot of stress on those welds. Then again, I always think hitch haulers look like they'll snap in half!

Looks good though!

 

[Twinturbostang]

Looks good man.
Ya I don't shipp because people wouldn't be willing to pay the shipping price because these things are not light.

 

[Twinturbostang]

Nice. I don't know how they make hitch haulers, but you don't need diagonal supports for the area sits on? It looks like if the CG isn't dead center it will put a lot of stress on those welds. Then again, I always think hitch haulers look like they'll snap in half!

Looks good though!

The ones we make would never snap in half. But I feel the same way about others I see out there.
Ours are way over built.
http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/75036-...T-Strongest-ones-made!&highlight=Hitch+hauler

 

[wildman326]

Stang, I got the idea from looking at your posts a few months back. THANK YOU!!

Here are a few more pictures. I put it on my truck and am going to run some errands as sort of a test run.

My rig has an aftermarkes suspension that is pretty stiff, so I'm not too worried about bottoming out.

I taped a line on the bumper and set a ruler against it to see what difference there would be as I added different componets.

My cruiser set with the line at 29.5 inches with no hauler. 28.5 inches with the hauler and no ski. 26 5/8 inches with the ski and hauler on the back.

I have bags in my rear springs so I could pump that up and raise it back up to the original height if need be.

 

[chad]

hey , you finally made it !!turned out nice. looks strong enough , but is there a super secret reason why its sitting that far away from your bumper?? maybe to allow the hatch to open?

 

[Kny21]

In the name of safety get that thing as close to your bumper you can... If you can't open up the back so be it.

That length is going to put a lot of weight & torque on the hitch and I bet it's rating isn't more than 500 #'s.

 

[wildman326]

The super secret reason is . . . Um, I don't think it's that super, or that secret. Nevertheless, it was super long because I didn't know how long I wanted it to be.

Now that it's done, I'm still not sure.

In the name of safety, I think I'm going to drive around with it like it is for a while and see if it fails. If it does then I'll know that it was too long. If not, well, then why cut it down.

It sure is cool to have your ski with you all the time. This beats a trailer by about a million. I can only presume that the extra weight will affect gas mileage some, but I'll bet it's not as bad as a trailer.

 

[Snivilous]

Only as much as having a fat guy sitting in the vehicle with you. So your gonna see if it fails with your ski on it then if it does upgrade it? Will you upgrade your ski at that point also lol.

Nice vehicle by the way, my ski hauler is an '01 White 4Runner :bump: Toyota for the win!

 

[wildman326]

Not really gonna see if it fails. Pretty sure it's not going to do anything exciting.

Really though, if I was terribly worried about safety, I wouldn't be riding jet-skis let alone stand-ups.

I think I can chop 4 to 6 inches off and plan to do so sometime soon.

I love my LX, it's my daily driver here in the mid-west. I thought about buying a 4-runner for my east-coast ride, but ended up with a Sequoia instead.

 

[superramjet]

That'll never work, scrap it immefiately

 

[Idok]

looks great but definatly bring it in closer to the bumper.......




its not like its goihng to snap though...not without bending first

 

[chad]

That'll never work, scrap it immefiately

I expected , "it looks like a cat threw up on your bumper"

 

[wildman326]

Well, I made my first official test run today. Drove it out to the lake, unloaded, rode, re-loaded, and drove it home.

No problems, no bending, no breaking, nothing but a sweet day at the lake.

Huge 6 foot rollers. It was awesome!!

 

[B3IS]

6 foot rollers ??? Lake ??? I recently started using a cargo carrier for my ski and yahoo 75 in the fast lane no trailer is sweet for sure. I am with most thinking closer is better, or if you weld a cross bar from the end of the support to the post.


What about welding rigs on the bottom for a tiedown or wratchet strap.

I am using a wratchet strap and is really makes it secure and gives a little piece of mind (260 miles today).

 

[superramjet]

Photoshop, it couldn't have worked. Try taking the truck off a ramp and report back

 

[wildman326]

I cut some holes in the frame for attachment points and also added 4 SS eyelets. I had a wratchet strap on the back and a static strap on the front, but would like to make them more permanent fixtures.

 

[chad]

6 foot rollers ??? Lake ??? [(QUOTE]

we get really windy days out here in kansas, with no wind blocks the lake we ride in produces some nice size rollers . I ll try to find some pictures

 

[superramjet]

I think we had 45 mph winds yesterday

 

[B3IS]

I look forward to seeing this evolve. If you do stay long may as well put a spot for a gas tank or beach stand on the gap. Pics please of the rollers i am not doubting you.