DIY Hidden Hitch

[Wheelin98TJ]

More lift and bigger tires. Only what it will make a difference on the gladiator. If your not dragging ass your on your belly lol.

The belly gets lifted too. You don’t just do a half makeover. ?

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[Dickster]

The belly gets lifted too. You don’t just do a half makeover. ?

Tummy gets tucked.

 

[Dickster]

The belly gets lifted too. You don’t just do a half makeover. ?

4.5in lift with 38s and I still managed to break my muffler and bracket.

 

[west_bymidwest]

Great work! I’ve been wanting to do this/pay someone to do this ever since I got my JT. Now to find a welder and show them this post

 

[Pilsner]

Hitch extenders reduce your hitch capacity, don't they? And pretty quickly as you add length if I remember right.

Also, how hard is it to get at the hitch pin? Looks pretty tough from the few photos up so far.

I do have to say, though, great welds on there and supports.

Just curious of how easy to use a mod like this would be if you tow more frequently and what you lose in the process.

I had one on my last truck and it was great. I just used a flip up plate holder. These sit so high in the rear that the pin should be pretty easy. I was looking at doing this, but had 2 concerns. First, I drag the hitch a lot and with it gone, I think I will drag the thin OEM bumper and destroy it. Second, I was concerned I could not fit the spare any more. I don't have a ton of space when I put the 37 under there. I may end up doing this to an aftermarket bumper or making one.

Really nice clean work though. Would be nice if the OEM bumper didn't have that step below where the hitch is and you could just use a standard drop hitch.

 

[tobyw]

Realized that I never addressed the concern brought up here about safety chains... Simple as a couple of holes and quick links:

I built a quickie hitch extender that incorporates a sliding wedge to keep things rattle free:

And here it is in full plumage ready to hook up:

 

[PW45]

The below are my personal opinions only... I despise debates on forums on the interweb, but I figured I'd address your comments just to shed light on the fact that I'm doing this for my specific use case. What I do isn't what anyone, and I do mean anyone, else should do.

The problem with adding a skid to the hitch is that you are making the problem worse... the point of my modification is to get it out of the way so that it doesn't hit in the first place. My issue isn't so much with coming directly down on the receiver hitch, it's when you can't scale an obstacle on the first crack and the receiver, being ~3" lower than the bumper, becomes a pogo stick that prevents you from backing up and realigning. I'm simply not a talented enough driver to make everything in one shot, so I find myself backing up for attempt #2, #3, #4..... Coming down backwards onto the relatively smooth underside of the bumper will help me greatly.

All of this applies to going forward as well, of course. Not having to contend with that extra 3" (or more if you add a skid plate below it) can make all the difference in the world.

LOVE IT! just had my hitch look similar to that a couple weeks ago, packed tight with this cascade concrete...

 

[T-Rock]

Realized that I never addressed the concern brought up here about safety chains... Simple as a couple of holes and quick links:

I built a quickie hitch extender that incorporates a sliding wedge to keep things rattle free:

And here it is in full plumage ready to hook up:

Now the ball will drag! LOL just silliness on my part. Looks like a great job and totally works for your setup.

 

[MPMB]

Now the ball will drag!

all our balls drag. <rimshot>

great solution. what about the spare? Or is that in the bed?

re: chains - they don't always work. Years ago we were leaving a cabin with snowmobiles on a small 2-place trailer. Hooked it up, latched it up and took off up the hill.

Unfortunately there must have been some snow/ice in the locking mechanism, and the trailer never latched around the ball. So a big dip made the trailer bounce, lift off the ball, and because of the incline, roll backwards and off the side of the road. The chain hooks straightened right out.

 

[Jaxmax]

Chain links or forged hooks don’t straighten out, but most trailers come with the bent 3/8” rod “S” hooks, can’t blame trailer guys people just want the lowest price.
Really nice job with hitch and follow up!…..Jack

 

[tobyw]

great solution. what about the spare? Or is that in the bed?

Relocated the spare up into my "bed rack"... I don't know what else to call it since it's just something that, again, I fabricated for my specific application ?‍

 

[MPMB]

Relocated the spare up into my "bed rack"... I don't know what else to call it since it's just something that, again, I fabricated for my specific application ?‍

fabricators are a dangerous breed.

 

[Splenda]

I'd finally had it with the low-slung factory receiver hitch:

I spent a couple hours pulling the factory rear crossmember/hitch, carving off the receiver from below the crossmember, and gluing together a new one above the crossmember:

Nice job! I am not a fabricator and wish someone made a bolt-in replacement hitch that achieved this. I hate that low-hanging hitch receiver! I wonder if this hiddent receiver would work with the stock bumper. Add-On Accessory Hitch for MTO Series Gladiator Rear Bumper

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