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Hitch help, please.

1165 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  Jluvs2dive, 
BustedKnuckle
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Please help me identify this hitch. It came with the bike ('99 SE) and I'm trying to decide if I need a new hitch or not. It doesn't look like any ball mount I've ever seen, so I'm thinking it's some sort of swivel hitch.

From the looks of the connector it's from RIVCO, but I don't see any obvious markings. The mudflap mounted on it says Khrome Werks.

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Silicon Sam
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I can't find any information either but I have seen it before.

I believe it is a hitch for a single wheeled trailer. The design allows the trailer to sway back and forth, but the hitch design does not allow the trailer to tilt to one side like a ball hitch would.

You unscrew the top part, put the trailer hitch on, and screw the top part back on. That's the way it looks to me anyways...
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Jluvs2dive
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I think it's a Bushtec hitch for the Bushtec trailers.
http://www.bushtec.com/tri-glide.html

John
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AZgl1800
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Jluvs2dive wrote:
I think it's a Bushtec hitch for the Bushtec trailers.
http://www.bushtec.com/tri-glide.html

John
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I tend to agree with you. And I caught this in their brochure which makes me not want one of those hitches.


CAUTION: The heim joint can be bent if the captured ball is forced to travel beyond i
rotational limit. Approach steep incline changes (driveway to street) at an angle to allow the swivel portion of the coupler to engage the change rather than the captured ball.

Catch a severe dip in the pavement with traffic on either side of you..... might just bend it?
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Silicon Sam
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Uses a Heim Joint on the trailer. Not such a good idea to use an oddball joint. If someone else needs to tow your trailer, or vice-versa, you're probably SOL.
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Jluvs2dive
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Silicon Sam wrote:
Uses a Heim Joint on the trailer. Not such a good idea to use an oddball joint. If someone else needs to tow your trailer, or vice-versa, you're probably SOL.
Click to expand...
Yeah that was one of my first thoughts when I saw that setup. I hate it when companies do stuff like that.

John
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BustedKnuckle
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Sure looks like the Bushtec, thanks! I was leaning heavily towards replacing it anyway.

I'd prefer a receiver-style hitch, any suggestions?

I'll bring up the right oil to use later. :D
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Bagmaster
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It appears that the plate that hitch is welded to will come off with just 3 bolts. Fight a piece of good flat steel and duplicate that plate and weld a inside diameter 2 inch square tube to it, bingo, 2" receiver hitch!

Here's my home made 2" receiver.
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2slim
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Do like Bagmaster suggested, except just remove the existing plate
that is held on with the three bolts, grind off the safety chain
loop and grind the area flat. Cut off the hitch on top. Then weld
the receiver hitch tubing to the underside of the plate. Or......, drill
a hole in the plate and mount a standard trailer ball.

Unless, of course, you want to keep the heim hitch intact. Then do
exactly what Bagmaster suggested.

If the heim hitch type is suspect at best, then you're not losing
anything by using the original steel plate.

IMHO
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BustedKnuckle
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If I still had a shop with a welder and drill press I might just do that. At this point in my life I'd rather replace the draw bar (if possible) or buy an entire new hitch.

I've seen vertical and horizontal receivers and accessories for both. I'm leaning towards the vertical as it is less noticeable. Is there a particular brand I should steer clear of?
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Jluvs2dive
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I'm pretty sure they sell a standard ball mount drawbar for that hitch. A bike another forum member bought here locally came with a Bushtec trailer and that style of drawbar. The seller also had a standard ball mount drawbar for it. I assume you get those from Bushtec too. Might be less expensive to have a local shop build you a drawbar for it though but I have no idea what Bushtec would charge for one.

John
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