I have to agree with HemiBuell on this one. I'm not knocking your work but be careful with safety items like a hitch.

I'm not sure but I'd bet that a hitch has to be certified due to the different classes of hitch requirements. If you ever have a trailer break loose from a homemade receiver you could be opening yourself up for a slew of law suits. I know the insurance companies would go after you. Hell, your receiver is probably stronger than anything you can buy but without it being certificated that doesn't matter.

If you're not going to get it certified stick to the cosmetic goodies. You do great work, just be careful.

H.H. :-)

BTW, It's receiver, not reciever....~just yanking your chain~

 

I understand where you guys are coming from,
and wouldnt trust many backyard welders to build hitches.
But i know my own experience and qualifications.
If i hadnt done structural welding for a career, for many years.
I wouldnt trust it either. I know what i will use it for, towing a small trailer with
firewood or a couple dirt bikes. I made one of these a few years back
for another truck i had, used it for some heavy towing, worked as good as any
store bought one guaranteed. "certified" or not, i am not worried.
I knew i would get a couple of these, its not safe posts, just the way it goes!

 

I would trust his work over the manufactured product anyday. Who is going to pay more attention if there is an issue during work, a machine of a career welder not moving 10k pieces a month. We close our eyes and assume that an assembly line is the best, I beg to differ. I would feel more comfortable buying a custom hitch from an experience workman anyday.

 

Thanks Monkey, well put!
Years ago i worked for a shop that did nothing but
bumpers and hitches. Man, halfbaked 17 year olds,
working there for 8 bucks an hour to make my stuff?
Dont think so.

I would never getting into selling these, the liability is
way too high, and cant monitor what people do with it.
The ball is rated for 5000 lbs. someone could hook up a trailer
with 20,000 lbs on it. Not designed for that.
But for my own personal use, and the little towing i do,
i have no worries.

 

But the nerf bars you could, with a lot less liablility.....Grill Guards, stuff like that... Plus what the dealers are wanting for those pieces you could make some real scratch.