No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch October 08, 2021, 08:05:51 pm I’m trying to find a shop that will do some hitch work (rust repair and perhaps a replacement hitch) but the places I’ve tried all say they won’t work on a SCAB frame like LD. LDs are scab frames because LD doesn’t extend the truck frame all the way to the back of the MH an instead uses steel beams down the middle (basically what supports the last 6 feet of the MH). I called LD and they referred me to Arrow Trailer and they ALSO told me they won’t work on LDs for this reason.I’ve read through the forums and can’t find a good shop referral…anyone know of a place?
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #1 – October 08, 2021, 11:54:11 pm Your post raised a very concerning issue for me. I've been on the list close to two years, so I figure I'm getting close. If I can't modify the hitch to handle my Jeep Wrangler (I'd like an 8K hitch), then I'll have to cross the LD off my list; I really hate to do this, but not being able to tow my Jeep safely will eliminate the LD. I find it hard to believe the hitch can't be modified. I upgraded the hitch on my Phoenix Cruiser to an 8K hitch, but it was a bolt on, replaced the 5K hitch it came with. I'll keep an eye for responses to you question.
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #2 – October 09, 2021, 01:52:13 am Downgrader,If you search WhiteElk's post about getting his frame and hitch beefed up, he named a shop that will do the work in the Pomona, CA area. I called them about a year ago and they still do that work. They charge about $1000.However, I have now towed either an enclosed motorcycle trailer or my Jeep Wrangler about 25,000 miles and the hitch on my Lazy Daze has been trouble free. I was concerned that it looked wimpy when I started towing, but it has worked just fine. I no longer feel any need to beef up the hitch, other than replacing the bolts with grade 8 bolts and fabricating and installing reinforcing plates to strengthen the nuts and washers against the frame. Larry Wade has a post about this.The existing trailer hitch is fine for hauling a Jeep.Harold 4 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #3 – October 09, 2021, 02:15:32 am Far as I know, the LD frame extension is what you will find on all class-c motorhomes. You will need to look for a class-a if that design is a problem.Steve 1 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #4 – October 09, 2021, 07:35:02 am Riverside Hitch7304 Indiana Ave.Suite 4Riverside, CA 951-785-9353Upgraded my hitch to pull 8,000 lbs. Drama free! :-) 8 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #5 – October 09, 2021, 11:14:24 am We got ours replaced 2 weeks ago at Ballew’s in Tacoma, WA. Highly recommend the shop. Kevin the owner did the work and did a phenomenal job. New hitch is attached to the frame, not just the bumper.Sasha 1 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #6 – October 09, 2021, 11:21:36 am With minor upgrades in the bumper and hitch hardware, our LD has pulled Jeeps for over 100,000 miles with no issues since the upgrades over 60,000 miles. Search for the details or find them in the “Larry Wade Projects”Now towing the Jeep through Utah.Larry 2 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #7 – October 09, 2021, 11:38:58 am When requesting suggestions or recommendations for services, indicating the location(s) where the service is needed helps forum readers to offer useful information. 2 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #8 – October 09, 2021, 08:25:47 pm While not exactly in your back yard, Mike's Precision Welding in Temecula had no problem doubling up the steel connecting the OEM frame to the rear bumper on my LD. In my case the main reason was to add two receivers for a motorcycle rack, but I'm sure I could safely tow more weight as well since I'm well under the GCWR.A short drive seeing that Yamaha flopping from side to side in the backup camera persuaded me to get this done sooner rather than later.Redirecting...Steve 3 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #9 – October 10, 2021, 08:25:41 pm Quote from: Steve TK - October 09, 2021, 08:25:47 pmWhile not exactly in your back yard, Mike's Precision Welding in Temecula had no problem doubling up the steel connecting the OEM frame to the rear bumper on my LD. In my case the main reason was to add two receivers for a motorcycle rack, but I'm sure I could safely tow more weight as well since I'm well under the GCWR.A short drive seeing that Yamaha flopping from side to side in the backup camera persuaded me to get this done sooner rather than later.Redirecting...SteveI recently relocated to SoCal :-). Looks like mike’s is about 30 min away. Question: Did he fortify your frame AND add a hitch or just the fortification? 2 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #10 – October 10, 2021, 08:42:49 pm Quote from: debinvenice - October 09, 2021, 07:35:02 amRiverside Hitch7304 Indiana Ave.Suite 4Riverside, CA 951-785-9353Upgraded my hitch to pull 8,000 lbs. Drama free! :-)Thanks Deb, this is most likely where I’ll be going for the hitch upgrade. 2 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #11 – October 10, 2021, 10:52:15 pm Howard,He actually did both. I supplied an off-the-shelf moto carrier. Mike extended the frame rails to the bumper, added the two receivers, and modified the carrier to slide into the new receivers. The original center receiver is unused unless I remove the carrier for towing the CRV. It's probably overkill for my sub-300 pound TW200 but I'm alright with that.Steve 1 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #12 – October 11, 2021, 12:35:47 am Steve, I loved my TW200. It is one of the most endearing motorcycles in existence and will go virtually anywhere you have to foolishness to take it. I still see mine buzzing around town. Have fun with yours.Harold 3 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #13 – October 11, 2021, 01:16:58 pm Great input from all of you that responded about upgrading the hitch capacity, I'm in southern CA about 15 miles from LD, so it looks like I have several options once I get my LD. I hope to get the call in the next 6 months, that will put me over two years. I know manufacturing of everything has been turned on it head, so I'll be lucky to get a call in 6 months. I'm just hoping the next price increase doesn't put me out of the market for the LD, I have to believe one is coming due to every supplier have trouble getting products shipped and/or the vendors have to raise their prices to LD. 1 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #14 – October 12, 2021, 02:54:00 pm Quote from: Steve TK - October 10, 2021, 10:52:15 pmHoward,He actually did both. I supplied an off-the-shelf moto carrier. Mike extended the frame rails to the bumper, added the two receivers, and modified the carrier to slide into the new receivers. The original center receiver is unused unless I remove the carrier for towing the CRV. It's probably overkill for my sub-300 pound TW200 but I'm alright with that.SteveMind divulging what you paid for the frame rail extension and adding receivers?
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #15 – October 12, 2021, 10:45:01 pm I got mine redone while in Seattle. they had no issues doing any work on it. added a "subframe" and a new hitch to my 23.5 '95 LD:Torklift CentralGoogle Maps
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #16 – October 14, 2021, 11:46:33 pm Howard,A lot. Like several hundred IIRC.Steve 1 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #17 – October 15, 2021, 12:57:53 am mine came out to $1,771.13 including all the parts and labor 1 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #18 – October 15, 2021, 08:34:58 am Every few months someone posts about "beefing up their hitch". I wonder where they get the idea the LD hitch is not adequate? Has one failed? [After doing what Larry Wade has suggested for years] Like many folks on here, I have towed a 4,600 pound Jeep over 130,000 miles. The frame has not flexed. The issue is not about the hitch but stressing the drive train beyond Ford's specs. Those towing a 4,000 toad with a 31 foot LD are already maxed out. Keep $5m handy for a new transmission.This topic has been discussed in The Companion for almost a decade.PS - Jeeps are not generic. There are vast differences in weight between the models, not to mention mods the owners have made. 1 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #19 – October 15, 2021, 11:22:13 am Quote from: Don Malpas - October 15, 2021, 08:34:58 amEvery few months someone posts about "beefing up their hitch". I wonder where they get the idea the LD hitch is not adequate? Has one failed? [After doing what Larry Wade has suggested for years]The issue is not about the hitch but stressing the drive train beyond Ford's specs. Those towing a 4,000 toad with a 31 foot LD are already maxed out. Keep $5m handy for a new transmission.Most owners do not realize how much strength the connection to rear wall adds, as long as the wall remains rot free.Transmissions wear much faster towing Jeeps, our needed rebuilding at 100,000 miles.Larry 1 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #20 – October 15, 2021, 12:41:28 pm Personally I font think i would have beefed up the hitch if i used it for towing. Even though it's a '95 and doesn't really have a proper receiver, just a ball hitch tongue (which previous owners added a funky receiver adapter).The reason I beefed it up was because I wanted to "tow" a moped on the back, and that's a lot more weight on the hitch than it could handle. Based on the manual, it only handles 300lbs. Bike is already about 280, plus the rack would get it fairly close to the limit.Another thing to note is that hitches trainings are usually on the end of the receiver or tongue in this case. For a moped, the rack extends out a bit from the receiver adapter, so it's already cutting on the amount it can officially handle.Now I have a proper hitch receiver that handles 500lbs of dead wright on it officially so I'm not too worries about taking the moped anywhere. That's the main thing I paid for.
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #21 – October 15, 2021, 11:44:25 pm The added benefit of my rear being beefed up is I didn't need to worry about the frame twisting when I removed the rear rotted wall. The hardest part was the bumper was welded to the frame when the extensions were welded on to prevent twisting. Cutting those welds were a pain. 1 Likes
Resolution Reply #22 – October 16, 2021, 06:47:47 pm I guess the issue I had is that the existing hitch had quite a bit of rust and fortunately the frame was just surface rush. Mike’s Precision Welding in Temecula is taking on the project and they’re going to remove the hitch, clean up the rush and powder coat to make it good as new. 1 Likes
Re: No Shop Will Touch the LD Hitch Reply #23 – October 16, 2021, 08:13:18 pm Hi Don.In my case, the TK is running at approximately 13,000 and my GCWR is 20,000, thus plenty of margin from the Ford spec. But the OEM frame rails are 6" channel and the added extensions from Lazy Daze were only 3", which has now been doubled up to match the frame.Plus, the extra steel also reinforces the bumper where the added receivers mate with my motorcycle carrier. That moto-moshing with the single receiver on the back of my LD was not a pretty sight.Steve