This site is so funny. I don't know how many times I'd be thinking something up or actually building something and quickly check in and see someone working on the same issue!
I think the OP has enough
from everyone else here so I'll show how I am working out the mounting cunundrum.
Check the pic's. Its still a work in progress. The 1/2 rounds are 3" ID tubing cut the long way. There will be a 1/4" x 2" bar welded tangent (ending tangent also) to the bottom half. There will also be 1/4" x 2" bar 8-1/2" long welded tangent to the top section that will be thru bolted to the two 1/2" bolts under the winch frame extentions. There will be 1/2" padding between the truck frame and the tow bar mount to extend this rig down to clear the 5/8" bolts under the winch frame extentions. There will also be 1/4" bar cut and welded into triangle shaped gussets to go from the flat where the bolts are and to the 1/2 rounds to brace the 1" bar for the bolts. The bolts are 1/2" x 20 and the heads will be tacked to the top unit. There is enough slack between the 1/2 rounds and the tow bars to glue some 1/4" rubber padding and I'll leave the bolts long enough to acomodate any padding. The nuts are security lug nuts from an auto store so no one can easily rip off the tow bar (and the gussetting also prohibits vice grips clamping the lug nuts). Notice the key in the pic. This is just an idea I came up with to mount the tow bar under the bumper. The length does not interfere with the tires or anything else. I wanted to use these same mounts to put the bars under the rear of the truck but I have other plans for that space and my 2" receiver makes removing the bars from that location more of a paint removing tool. I was going to use a hinge on one end and the locking lug nuts on the other, but with rubber padding the mount would pinch tight on the hinge side and be a bit loose on the bolting side. I was also going to ad a hinge to the top of one mounting bracket allowing the unit to pivot down from the truck (like a rail road baricade comming down - tow bar being the baricade). This would alow the feet of the tow bar to rest on the ground as you lift the lunette end up and strap her in then you raise the feet end and strap them in. (because ther' real heavy and I'm a one man show) I don't know, the jury is still out on this aspect. This would be way more complicated that I wanted it and I'd have to pad down the feet end to match the hinge thickness. Ratchet straps work wonders. I'll share when its done.
Just a tip.....seeing as its sooooo hot recently and the wives all want every window in the house to include an AC, welding has become interesting. Like what you say, like not enough juice to make penetrating welds. The welder almost ended up in the ocean before I could figure out what was going on. So now I weld with the genny running, real cool right, NO. Its a waste of fuel in comparison to the amount of actual arc burning time! But just trying to remind the neighbors why they love me!
P.S. don't tell anyone about the green drip on the frame cross member, thats a figment of your imagination!
