Need Hitch Shop Recommendation; SoCal, AZ, SoNev February 04, 2018, 02:36:59 pm Hi, fellow LDers. Can any of you SoCal, SoNev, or Lake Havasu folks recommend a reliable -- hopefully LD experienced -- hitch shop in those areas? I want to upgrade or replace the 4K pound hitch on my 2017 RB with a 5K hitch. Would travel as far as Quartzite in AZ, just about any place in SoCal. Thanks in advance.
Re: Need Hitch Shop Recommendation; SoCal, AZ, SoNev Reply #1 – February 04, 2018, 03:55:13 pm You might want to check out Eckhart’s Hitch and Welding; locations in SoCal.Eckharts Trailer Hitch & Welding, Inc. SINCE 1944
Re: Need Hitch Shop Recommendation; SoCal, AZ, SoNev Reply #2 – February 04, 2018, 04:49:14 pm Thanks, JCT. Will do.
Re: Need Hitch Shop Recommendation; SoCal, AZ, SoNev Reply #3 – February 05, 2018, 02:38:07 pm I’ll second Joan’s recommendation. I had their West LA location beef up my hitch at the same time they fabricated our scoot rack. It’s been ten years now, but they’re still in business. — Jon
Re: Need Hitch Shop Recommendation; SoCal, AZ, SoNev Reply #4 – February 05, 2018, 06:07:46 pm Thanks, Jon. Can you relate just what they did to boost your stock hitch? Perhaps that will be sufficient.
Re: Need Hitch Shop Recommendation; SoCal, AZ, SoNev Reply #5 – February 05, 2018, 10:24:23 pm Ray, my hitch upgrade was an afterthought to the construction of the scooter rack. The latter required frame rail extensions to carry the load. Since they had done all that work, it was a simple matter to tie a new hitch into those rails, thus eliminating any load carried at all on the LD bumper. Don’t know what they would do to just beef up a hitch, but they’ve been at this a long time ( I think 40-50 years). — Jon 1 Likes
Re: Need Hitch Shop Recommendation; SoCal, AZ, SoNev Reply #6 – February 05, 2018, 11:03:26 pm Eckhart’s website says they’ve been in business since 1944; hope it’s not the original crew! 😉
Re: Need Hitch Shop Recommendation; SoCal, AZ, SoNev Reply #7 – February 05, 2018, 11:08:14 pm I dunno . . . might be just right. My vintage!
Re: Need Hitch Shop Recommendation; SoCal, AZ, SoNev Reply #8 – March 11, 2018, 12:17:03 am I expect you’ve already finished this project. For future reference. I found reliable and friendly service for all my hitch and toad braking needs at:Brandon’s RV and Marine2750 Sweetwater AveSuite 7Lake Havasu City AZ 86406United States
Re: Need Hitch Shop Recommendation; SoCal, AZ, SoNev Reply #9 – March 11, 2018, 10:11:19 am Thank you for the reference, but yes, we are set for now. I am still using the factory hitch, but have replaced all bolts with #8s, as recommended here.
Re: Need Hitch Shop Recommendation; SoCal, AZ, SoNev Reply #10 – March 11, 2018, 11:52:41 am Next time you're in there, take a look to see if there's still an issue of torch-cut slots in extender frame members. It may have been addressed by the mothership by now (hopefully) but it can cause even the best of bolts to loosen over time. If the connection slides in the slots under heavy braking, there will be unhappiness. http://www.lazydazeowners.com/index.php?action=media;sa=album;in=525;nw;Look at the three "IMG 55XX" shots and captions.
Re: Need Hitch Shop Recommendation; SoCal, AZ, SoNev Reply #11 – March 11, 2018, 12:58:28 pm Thanks, Chip. Actually, I have seen all of the hitch pix on this site. That is how I got the idea. My bro-in-law and I switched them out. Everything is good so far, pulling Jeep Cherokee Latitude, but I will be monitoring things closely. This is a very resourceful group.