frame/trailer hitch issue

OK, so I got the hitch ball that I mentioned in my previous post removed (the less said about that the better, but it involved a very large Crescent wrench, a pipe wrench, and a 4 foot cheater bar)

Now I find that I have another "opportunity" as the motivational speakers would say.

The truck in question is a '93 F-150, extended cab 2WD if it matters. The challenge that I'm having is that this trailer hitch that I have is obviously intended to be located by drilling out two existing holes in the truck's frame to 1/2", and then drilling two additional holes on each side. Insert hardware, torque down, et voila. Easy, right? Welll... not so much.

It is imperceptible to the casual observer, but placing the hitch under the truck reveals that the driver's side frame rail is ever so slightly curved in at the very end - not surprising, as I know that the truck was rear-ended at least twice prior to my acquiring it, both time requiring replacement of bumper braces (the main reason I wanted to have the Class III hitch on there; I don't care what the rating on the bumper says, if it folds up like wet cardboard when hit from behind, I don't particularly want to rely on it for a connection to a trailer.)

So one of the holes that I need to drill is about 1/4" or so from where it should be. Obviously I can't enlarge a hole off-center, nor do I have a porta-power.

Any ideas how I can rectify this myself, or should I just take it to a frame shop and likely spend about what the truck is worth just to mount my cheap used trailer hitch on my cheap used truck? Do you think a sledgehammer is even worth trying?

nate

Reply to
Nate Nagel
Loading thread data ...

never mind...

I couldn't believe that the frame was tweaked that much and I couldn't see it, so I just took some careful measurements - frame is straight BUT those holes do not line up. So I either have to wait until I can get over to my friend's place and use his die grinder OR go buy a 1/2" hole saw, if such a thing even exists.

nate

Reply to
Nate Nagel

After bolting it to the other holes that line up, take a die grinder and make the other hole fit. It will be fine.

Reply to
willy

Right, but I have no air tools :( I really need to work on that, because if I *had* air tools, I'd be out in the driveway mounting my trailer hitch rather than surfing Usenet.

nate

Reply to
Nate Nagel

Nate Nagel wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news6.newsguy.com:

How about this: Find the center of the hole position you need. Punch a center mark. Starting with a 1/8" drill bit, make successively larger and larger holes until the holes merge with each other. Then use files to finish off the new slotted-hole.

Tedious, I know, but I've done exactly this when I needed a hole just slightly off from the existing one, but not far off enough to allow a completely new hole.

Reply to
Tegger

Step drill would do it if you drill the new hole and use the hitch to help align the step drill.

Reply to
Steve W.

I just threw it in the bed for now, I'm hoping my friend calls and/or emails me and tells me that he's going to be around tomorrow so I can use his superior tool technology. I'm kinda lazy.

nate

Reply to
Nate Nagel

willy wrote in news:b09ffcec-0847-4266- snipped-for-privacy@19g2000yqu.googlegroups.com:

just use the hole and drill it out off center no big deal. Your makeing this a big deal over nothing. KB

Reply to
Kevin

A rat tail file will do it. cuhulin

Reply to
cuhulin

Frankly, this doesn't sound like an improvement to me. I'd rather be doing almost anything else rather than mounting a trailer hitch.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

Let Harbor Freight ship you a Port-a-Power clone, they are incredibly useful for all kinds of things.

Reply to
Pete C.

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.