Corvette Trailer Hitch

[Paul Y.]

Re: Corvette Trailer Hitch

Paul I also installed one of the same hitches in 1968 on my 64 Corvette convertible to pull the smallest U-haul trailor from San Diego to Dallas. I had no towing problems to Dallas. I sold my 1964 in 1969 and just recently located and talked to the current owner who bought it in 1974. I asked him if it still had a trailor hitch on it when he bought it. He replied the trailor hitch is still on the Corvette. I don't want the hitch, but would like to have the car back.

Jim I sure would like that extra hitch. I remember pulling a 6X7 trailer from Mn. to Co. with two small block and two big block motors on it with some other misc. parts. You needed to allow extra stopping space and start out slow. That fuely would still get 17 miles per gallon. Paul

[Paul Y.]

Re: Corvette Trailer Hitch

What do you mean by the bottom of the spring perch? I am having a hard time envisioning it. Did the bolts go through both pieces of the bumper and then bolt or just one side and bolt in the middle?

Kirk

Kirk, Art's picture shows it pretty good. The only difference from the above mentioned one that you have, is that the U shaped unit connected to the inside rear bumper bolts. By removing and replacing those two bolts, it was bolted to the bracket that was bolted to the frame. The bar you can see underneath was sort of curved to follow the spare tire carrier and was connected to the spring perch with a bolt and L shaped brackets. The bracket on the back end next to the U shaped unit had a removable pin in it for easy removal and it dropped down to allow access to the spare. I bet this is clear as mud. I need to dig mine out and take a picture of it. There is some pictures in the archives. Paul

[Gerard F.]

Re: Corvette Trailer Hitch

Jerry,

Do you happen to have any close-up pictures of the hardware. I noticed with mine that it seemed I would need some sort of spacer as well, but someone mentioned adjusting the bumpers to fit. Would love to have pics and dimensions of the spacer plates and any specifics on the bolts that you might have.

Kirk

Kirk,

Here's I few pictures I just shot:










The bolts are 1/2" X 2" Grade 5 Zinc plated bolts, coarse thread. Washers inside and outside Stainless steel. Lock washer and standard nut inside zinc plated. These are standard hardware store items. Length of the bolt is going to depend upon the shim width, don't used a extra long bolt as it is very hard to hold the nut inside the bumper. What a pain getting the nuts started. I had to use one of those long pliers used for pulling spark plug wires.

The shim plates are 3/8" plate 2" X 4-3/4" with edges chrome plated. The plates could have been a little shorter as you can see on the bottom in one of the pictures. Fabricate the shims so that top and sides fit flush to the hitch top and sides.

The thickness of your shims may be different. These shims were fabricated when the car was fairly new in 1969, so I would assume the bumpers where in the factory positions.

I don't think rubber shims are going to work, as the hitch in use is under constant movement and varying stress. Structurally, I think you need a solid steel connection at the bumper.

Hope this helps.