M931/32 2 inch receiver hitch

[maccus]

Has anyone come up with a good solution for a 2 inch or 2.5 inch receiver hitch for a M931/32 tractor? Off the shelf Curt hitches etc. do not work to well. I want to leave the existing pintle hitch on the truck. I will move the taillight stuff to another location.

I am thinking about fabricating a hitch made out of some sort of plate material.

 

[M35A2-AZ]

I put a Curt on my M923A1. But I used the 2" model.
Here is a thread where I got my info.
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?45005-Curt-receiver-hitch-for-the-Deuce-18-000lb-1-800lb

 

[maccus]

That is a nice hitch. I have used it on many trucks. I have one here at this time. It will not fit on a M931/32 however. The frame is way to short on the tractors to allow for a decent attachment. The rear axle is way to close to the rear frame cross member. And the Curt will not fit under the existing pintle mount anyway without some modifications.

 

[clinto]

I think you're going to end up with something like this:

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?46506-Deuce-removeable-hitch&highlight=hitch

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?65107-2-quot-removable-receivers&highlight=hitch

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...eiver-hitch-kits&highlight=hitch+pintle+built

 

[maccus]

I think your are on track Clinto. There is only 8 inches from the rear of the cross member to the flange on the differental. Flange is less than one inch from the front of the rear cross member. And about two inches below the rear frame cross member. Not a lot of area to work with. Thinking about something like the plate hitch one of the guys was selling for the Deuce. I can come 7 inches back from the rear center of the cross member, no more.

Good thing I got to looking into this deal. Noticed that the diff flange had hit the rear wiring as it moved up and down at one time in two places. Time to reroute the rear frame wiring I guess.

 

[quickfarms]

Due to the fact that the 5 ton mount goes back under the frame you will have to remove the current hitch to mount plate hitch

 

[maccus]

Due to the fact that the 5 ton mount goes back under the frame you will have to remove the current hitch to mount plate hitch

Yes unless I go around the existing pintle hitch. I am thinking about a plate around the pintle hitch and all the way to under the two clevis mounts. With a few bolts towards the center of the cross member. Should have enough beef that way.

 

[Hoefler]

I have just got my homemade hitch out of welding today. She is going on my M36A3 and will bolt to the rear frame rails-no new holes to drill. The cross bar is a 4" x 1/4 sq tube. Bought the recvr tube from E trailer-its a 3" so I can use big stuff. I will be bolting it up this weekend. Plan on making the exact same one for my M923.
I have also purchased a 24 to 12 volt trailer adapter set from a SS member. One end plugs into the truck multi pin trailer port. The other end has a box-thats where I plug my civi trailer into. Quality looks good-deliver was good to. The only thing that wont work will be the trailer brakes. I will post pics as soon as I get her installed.
Pete

 

[zebedee]

Tractor Pintle / Receiver hitch

Not sure if you are looking for a quick detatch (QD) and one that is almost unnoticable when not in use type deal, but I made one for my lighweight wrecker over 20 years ago. The drop frame hangs from the pintol hitch then bolt on braces go forward and up to brackets permanently fixed on the frame. When removed, there is almost nothing visible from the rear.

I'm sure it can be scaled up appropriately but the sketch below is an approximation.


The diagonal braces naturally need to be very rigid and resistant to compression - hence the tube in the diag.
I am not familiar with the underware on a M931/2, but I'm sure a little ingenuity could be applied and appropriate brackets could be fab'd.

Hopefully this has given food for thought.

 

[rrrr]

I'm also interested if someone finds something. I would love to have a standard hitch on my 932 tructor

 

[GHall]

I'm also interested if someone finds something. I would love to have a standard hitch on my 932 tructor

As well am I.. It'll be real nice to have one on the ole 932.

 

[bbuck7777]

Well this is what I did to mine:

 

[maccus]

Well this is what I did to mine:
View attachment 404958View attachment 404959View attachment 404960

Good Idea.

Bill I think your design is more or less what I will go with. It looks like one has to make less hardware changes with your design. And can use some existing holes with only a couple needed to be added.

 

[bbuck7777]

I used 1/2" side plates, a Harbor Freight 2" receiver hitch, 2" tube (should have gone 3"), 3/8" side angle plates, 1 1/2" angle for 45's and put one in front of the 2" tube to give more support since I should have gone with 3" tube. I'm going down to where it is stored to start and charge up batteries since it has been 2 months. I you need me to measure anything let me know. BTW - I have to eliminate the rear air line hook up points as the 45's were right on top of them.

 

[maccus]

Bill I picked up the steel to make a hitch pretty much like yours. I got a 3 x 3 inch tube for the cross member as you recommended. I noticed that my CURT class five hitch used a 3 x 3 also so if it is good enough for them I will go with that. Not sure how to attach the cross tube to the side supports. On my CURT they butt welded the cross tube the the side supports. I am toying with the possibility that it might be better to mill out the side support and insert the tube through the support then weld it. One of my buddies that makes logging trucks is coming over this weekend and I will leave that decision up to him, Boy is a real professional welder not a hacker welder like I am. He will also do the welding. Sure was surprised at the cost of steel these days, real money I thought.

Will hold off on the fabrication and installation of the hitch until I get the rear bumperetts installed. Will custom make the hitch on the truck so need the bumperetts installed first. Bumperetts should be here in a couple of weeks or so.

 

[Hoefler]

I have done a hitch to my A3. Used a 4" square tube cross member with end plates that allow tube to bolt to side plates. Makes assembly easier. After mounting, I discover that my cross bar is to low and would catch on things when off road. Have had two new 3/8" thick shorter side mounts made up and will install on my truck this weekend. I have found a source for drop hitch ball mounts-so going with that as opposed to whole hitch cross bar low height. Its this reason I have chosen to use a beefier 4" square tube-once you use a drop hitch, you are going to have more leverage force on that cross bar as opposed to using a short drop hitch. When in doubt, make it stout.
I plan on making the same set up for my 5-ton.
Pete

 

[jwesley74]

I had the same issue with my 923, I went to the local junk yard, bought a class V receiver hitch for $40. We needed to make the hitch narrower to fit the frame. You can see in the picture where we cut it to make it narrower. Once it was the right width it was still 2" short from reaching the frame and still be just under the pintle. So we added 2" square tube (1/4" axle tube) as a filler. Welded all of it together and when complete the receiver was 3/4" directly under the pintle. We did add a gusset on each side from truck frame angled to center by receiver just for added security. Sorry they're not in the picture. Pictured here it was just tacked in place. When it was complete we gave it several stress tests and would not move a bit. It worked out excellent.

 

[maccus]

Very nice looking hitch Pete. I put a class 5 CURT on my M35A3. Was about the right distance off the ground with just the tube.

 

[maccus]

My M35A3 with a class 5 CURT on it.

 

[Hoefler]

I likey-hitch and truck and the Black Hills!