Bigfoot frame reinforcement for stronger hitch?

[snorth88]

Hello everyone,

I recently had the bright idea (or not so bright) to build a custom receiver for the rear hitch on my 1997 Bigfoot. This was to incorporate both retaining the current hitch ball and mounting an aluminum rear carrier.
This basically meant welding up an extended hitch that fit into the stock receiver and allowed the 2" ball hitch to be received into the end of that, and had a 15" vertical section with another receiver to allow the carrier to slide into.

It worked great... until I realized if I put any weight into the carrier I would end up flexing/twisting and/or breaking the frame because of the extra leverage....it's not strong enough.....I didn't even realize the stock hitch assembly is really quite weak, I can flex the rear frame with it just by pushing down on it with my foot only. I don't remember my early 90's 8-wheeler having this weak of a hitch.

Has anyone ever "beefed up" the stock hitch/frame to accommodate leverage.....if so how? Welding and plastic don't exactly mix too well.....
Or is this something that should be avoided, and just stick with pulling a tub trailer for extra cargo capacity?

Thank you all for any thoughts, ideas and opinions.

[twinlakemike]

it should be tied into the frame, if not do it and if it is than adding a couple of gussets should do the trick. I am fulling the frame on mine and building it up so that it is a lot stronger and the trailer hitch is one of the points that is getting a lot of attention.

[rodp]

I've just beefed up the tow hitch on an older one, as much to support the winch mount as anything else. I used two lengths of angle welded edge to edge, that's held in place by an angle bracket each end bolted to the frame. The spacer behind the frame was boxed, this adds a lot more strength.
Most of this was fabbed outside the tub, welding in the tub was kept to a minimum.

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[snorth88]

Thanks for the Ideas......i'll see what I can come up with!