Competition Rear Bumper Setup for Sled Pulling, Suggestions please

[Bobcat698]

I would like to modify this bumper setup to allow for a 2 or 2. 5" receiver, so I can adjust the height for towing and or sled pulling. The bumper is welded to the frame, so that is good incentive for me to keep this bumper setup.



Here is what is looks like now:

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Yes, I know the plate sticker isn't up to date (new sticker is in the glovebox) and the ball is rusty, but don't worry about it





Here is a rough idea of what I want to do. . Basically I want to remove the ball and weld a 2 or 2. 5" tube to have a receiver hitch and have it welded to the back plate of the bumper as well. I would then reinforce the bumper as need from behind.

I made 13 hooks last year off this bumper, using a clevis through the currently pictured ball-hole, with ~400HP. I'm a little higher now.



I want this to be DHRA compliant as I'd like to make a pull or 2 this year. The rules state it needs to be "Reese Style" so I imagine this would work, I would just build a custom slide-in receiver that would meet the 26" hitch-height criteria.



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If anyone has ANY better ideas (besides removing the bumper), I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions!

 

[Amish Elegance]

I'd be a little hesitant to throw a hook through a clevis dangeling off a bumper. Even one thats as tough lookin as that one is. Its difficult to tell where it would come through, but I would look for a route that would allow you to integrate a good quality class V hitch or fabricated equivalent that directly mounts to the frame and notch the bumper accordingly. If you can fabricate one that allows you to just flip the plate up and plug a receiver in, you'll be good to go. The Amish peek-a-boo hitch.

 

[Pawpaw]

Ranch Hand sells a receiver adapter that bolts on in that very spot. If you used grade-8 bolts and welded it in place as you describe, that might do the trick. You might still need that extra reinforcing though.



Go to http://www.ranchhand.com/accessories.htm and scroll about 3/4ths of the way down the page.



Bob

 

[DRadzierez]

I had the same bumper with the reciever kit and bent it to the ground when I put 2 diesel trucks on a 40' bumper pull. I had to weld huge channel gusetts down the frame rails and into the bumper to stop it from bending. I think you wuold need to do the same.

 

[jwilliams3]

Get rid of the bumper and go with a Reese Level 5 or OEM setup.

 

[Bobcat698]

What about possibly making a spacer plate and have a Level 5 receiver bolt up below the bumper step?

 

[Bobcat698]

I had the same bumper with the reciever kit and bent it to the ground when I put 2 diesel trucks on a 40' bumper pull. I had to weld huge channel gusetts down the frame rails and into the bumper to stop it from bending. I think you wuold need to do the same.

You bent it to the ground? As in the steel step plate broke or the whole bumper "V'd" downwards?

Did you replace the bumper and reinforce? You say you ran huge channel gussets down the frame rails to keep it from bending, did you do that will a new bumper? I wouldn't think a bumper that had been "bent to the ground" would be re-usable. .



Not trying to be a smart @$$, though it looks like it. . just curious. .



Also, 2 diesel trucks on a bumper pull trailer would have quite a bit of tongue weight, something that might be a challenge for even a V5 rated hitch. .

Sled pulling does pull down quite a bit, I agree with that, but more of the force is pulling back. .