Tone's Hitch... Question

[SilverBullet75]

I have Tone's hitch (in bumper) on my '01 VX.
I just purchased one of those Hitch Mounted Cargo Carriers.
It sticks out about 2 ft. from the VX.
It holds upto 500 lbs., but I tried standing on it and bounced gently and watched the receiver hitch bounce too (not a lot, but maybe 2-3 degrees-ish).
Before I go taking the bumper off to see if I'm breaking something, my question is...

Is it just the fame that's twising a little? Is this normal? (I'm 210... empty).
It's supposed to be a Class 3 hitch... By the way, I plan to mount a 260 lb. Jet Ski on it.
thanks!
---JIM---

[tom4bren]

I've never jumped up & down on mine so I can't say if any flexing is normal. I've towed with mine tho & haven't noticed any shifting. My guess is that you should pull the rear cladding and make sure the bolts were all installed properly and that they are still tight. Lemme know what you find.

[Bulldoggie]

260lb jet ski?
My 650 sx stand-up was over 400lbs.
I have the same hitch, it was bent downward when I was rear-ended.
Totaled the boat.
I was able to straiten it out by putting a long bar (like the cargo tray) in and putting a jack under the end and hopping up and down till it looked strait.
I still trust it for towing my boat (replaced), but I would not trust it for a heavily loaded cargo deck. I have one too. I was going to put my mini bike on it. but while testing it held the weight but would bounce way more than I would trust for long distance.
The weakness is the 90 deg. angle between the bolts and the receiver.
if the corner was gusseted, or the deep end of the receiver was welded to the backing plate of the hitch mount it would not bend.

But your frame might????

[SilverBullet75]

260lb jet ski?
My 650 sx stand-up was over 400lbs.


Mine is a 550JS... the 260 lbs. I got off of NADA.com.
I know it's definately lighter than the 650s though.

I just hate taking the stink'n bumper cladding off. PITA!

[99VC]

Don't be messing up my next VX........................ Buy a full size truck for the toys.. Not that you asked but that's what I think..

[tom4bren]

Status??? Did you ever pull the cladding to find out if the hitch was installed properly?

[SilverBullet75]

Not yet... sorry.
I've been slammed with other stuff. I hope to do it this weekend.
I've been thinking about it a lot though... and I believe the frame is twisting with the length of the carrier basket as a lever.

If so, I may be up to selling the Tone-Hitch and replacing it with an standard bolt-on under bumper hitch.

(hint, hint: Circmand)

I'll let you know...
:)

[Jay Dunford]

... and I believe the frame is twisting with the length of the carrier basket as a lever.

Yep, that cross member doesn't have much twisting resistance. Mine would flex down with any large tongue weight and I even torqued it up a couple of times when dropping off of ledges and dragging the hitch. A long pry bar got it back level and I never noticed any front to back movement, so the tow rating is probably not affected too much. The Dylan style bar will eliminate that problem, I just didn't want to give up that small clearance difference.

[Bee Sting]

There is a big difference between load on a hitch with a ball and a carrier. The load point with the carrier is well out from the back of the VX and will apply a torque (vertical force x lever) while the load on the ball is much closer and puts a much smalller torque on the frame. Ball lever is inches. Carrier lever is feet.

If towing 3000 lb and say 15% tongue weight and if is is 6 inches from the frame the Torque on the frame is 3000x0.15x6 = 2700 lb in

For a carrier with the load centred 18 inches out and say 300 lbs, the Torque on the frame is 300x18 = 5400 lb in. The more your carrier sticks out the worse it gets.

Caution required?

[pbkid]

if you decide to sell the tone hitch......im interested!!! PM me!

[etlsport]

There is a big difference between load on a hitch with a ball and a carrier. The load point with the carrier is well out from the back of the VX and will apply a torque (vertical force x lever) while the load on the ball is much closer and puts a much smalller torque on the frame. Ball lever is inches. Carrier lever is feet.

If towing 3000 lb and say 15% tongue weight and if is is 6 inches from the frame the Torque on the frame is 3000x0.15x6 = 2700 lb in

For a carrier with the load centred 18 inches out and say 300 lbs, the Torque on the frame is 300x18 = 5400 lb in. The more your carrier sticks out the worse it gets.

Caution required?

wise words :thumbup:

[pbkid]

silverbullet.....

im gonna be driving through vegas on sunday....ill be MORE than happy to take it off your hands, then you can order the new one that will work for the application you are desiring.

eh? eh? eh?

[SilverBullet75]

Oh.. the pressure!:o
LOL
I want to see if I can brace the rear bumper from the frame first...
I'll have to let you know.

[pbkid]

k....ill also be coming back through on the 30th or 31st...

[SilverBullet75]

Ok, I've done some examining...

Verdict....... No can do.

The frame does twist.

Now... question... Can I mount a "standard" hitch in addition to Tone's hitch??? It would only be for when I want to mount the jet ski carrier. I just tried the carrier on my wife's Grand Cherokee. Works GREAT with a Uhaul hitch. Only problem is that her car is the "baby-mobile".

Sorry, PBkid, I want to keep Tone's hitch. Would love to hang out when you come through town though!

[Ldub]

Now... question... Can I mount a "standard" hitch in addition to Tone's hitch???

I've never seen it done, but from what I've seen of the other type of frame mounted (lower slung) hitches, I don't see any problem with clearance.

[SilverBullet75]

I had such good luck with the hitch mounted carrier on my wife's Grand Cherokee that I wanted to just try it out on the road today on the VX. Here are some pics of it parked in front of my house. It's kinda obvious by the last few pics what the verdict is re: Tone's hitch and a Jet Ski. :(
It's just too much tongue weight for Tone's hitch + VX Bumper. While driving around the block, I was watching the ski bounce on drainage gutter/crossings, about 3 inches. Not good.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Copy_of_IMG_1671.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/15584) http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Copy_of_IMG_1678.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/15586) http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Copy_of_IMG_1674.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/15585) http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Copy_of_IMG_1680.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/15587) http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Copy_of_IMG_1681.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/15588)

SO... anyone selling a Curt/Uhaul style hitch? Wanna trade???

[vt_maverick]

I had such good luck with the hitch mounted carrier on my wife's Grand Cherokee that I wanted to just try it out on the road today on the VX. Here are some pics of it parked in front of my house. It's kinda obvious by the last few pics what the verdict is re: Tone's hitch and a Jet Ski. :(
It's just too much tongue weight for Tone's hitch + VX Bumper. While driving around the block, I was watching the ski bounce on drainage gutter/crossings, about 3 inches. Not good.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Copy_of_IMG_1671.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/15584) http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Copy_of_IMG_1678.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/15586) http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Copy_of_IMG_1674.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/15585) http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Copy_of_IMG_1680.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/15587) http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Copy_of_IMG_1681.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/15588)

SO... anyone selling a Curt/Uhaul style hitch? Wanna trade???

I've frequently seen Curt/Uhaul/Dylan hitches on eBay... maybe buy one there?

(Slightly) off subject, but how the heck do you plan on getting the jet ski into the water? Do you just pick it up and throw it in like a dead fish? :p

[SilverBullet75]

LOL. It actually works very well where I launch. I just back it into the water (I walk out my line first to make sure I'm not going into mud), and get it to where the water is just below the door line. Then I unstrap the ski and slide it into the water (water level is about 3 inches below the ski ramp at this point). Putting it back ON is the trick... I get a running start (3 steps) and at the last second lift the ski's nose with all my might. This gets it about 1 foot onto the ramps. I then hold the ski, and with the rest of my energy, move to the back of the ski and lift and PUSH! I'm exhausted by the end, but it works! :)

By the way... I'm entering and exiting the ramp from the SIDE... just to clarify. LOL :)

[vt_maverick]

WOW.

[Moncha]

you need a set of wheelie bars on the back

[99VC]

It might be time to get yourself a bigger SUV and pass your VX off to a good home. And I pass mine off to a good home as well...

[SilverBullet75]

LOL... My mind changes weekly... but at this point, I've pretty much decided to keep the VX. We are going to sell the amphib. ATV, so that just leaves the jet skis.. which are a summer sport only in Vegas. So, winter will be for VX off roading... with hopefully a newly LIFTED VX soon. Sorry to keep leading you around... I feel like I've "ding-dong ditched" you to death! LOL
:p

[99VC]

Well as long as you run the mods past me first for approval, we will be fine for the future purchase,:smilegray

[SilverBullet75]

you need a set of wheelie bars on the back

I could probably just add some heavy duty casters to the basket. If I do a throttle punch, I might actually DO a wheelie! LOL

[SilverBullet75]

A HUGE THANKS to Workmeistr, who traded me straight out, my "Tone" hitch for his Uhaul hitch!!! I installed it about 2 weeks ago and took one of my jet ski's to the river with it. The hitch itself was GREAT... the basket (Harbor Freight) was the weak link (go figure):upsetwgra
The basket tweaked sideways due to the weight of the motor on that end of the ski, by about 4 inches:eekgray: Other than that, and the fact that the ski's motor siezed after 3 hrs of running, and I had to swim it back 1.5 miles... the setup had GREAT potential!

So, to stop it from twisting... I did my OWN design, bought the steel (2x2x1/4" sq. tubing), had it cut: http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Jet_Ski_Carrier_6.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15838) ... then took it to a fab. shop to have welded. I was kinda stoked when the shop mgr. told me he liked my design... said it should hold 3 ski's... :smilewink 2 hrs. later, I picked it up: http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Jet_Ski_Carrier_7.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15839) Looked GREAT! Like an art sculpture! Great welder... http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Jet_Ski_Carrier_8.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15840)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Jet_Ski_Carrier_9.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15843)$80 for labor/mat.
So, I mounted the rails and tie-downs and got some spray on truck bed liner and... WAHLAHHH!!! http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Jet_Ski_Carrier_3.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15835)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Jet_Ski_Carrier_4.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15836)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Jet_Ski_Carrier_2.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15834)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Jet_Ski_Carrier_1.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15833)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Jet_Ski_Carrier_5.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15837)
Now when I jump on it, the back of the VX bounces... NOT the hitch! This thing is ROCK SOLID!!! :smilewink
Now, I'm just waiting for the new Anti-rattle/wobble device to arrive (tomorrow), then I'll take it for a test... Off-road with the Jet Ski on!