Concealed Hitch Receiver Available Again!

[TheGanzman]

Hey guys & gals - I'm pleased to make available to you a concealed hitch receiver assembly once again! This assembly is fashioned after the Tone concealed hitch assembly, and is professionally made by my friends at Fat Man Fabrications in Charlotte, NC. It mounts exactly the same as Tone's fine receiver assembly, while incorporating some "improvements" such as being powder-coated for lifetime durability. For the record, I'm not getting a dime from Fat Man's - we're offering this as a service due to the untimely passing of Tone, to "fill the void" left by the product no longer being available. Same price as before: $229.00 shipped in the conus. Please be sure to specify with or without the safety chain loop - I had mine made without. Here's the link:

http://www.fatmanfab.com/

[circmand]

but I could not find anything regarding the hitch or even the VX

[TheGanzman]

but I could not find anything regarding the hitch or even the VX

And you won't for awhile - this is a BRAND new offering. If you need to see a close approximation, go to Tone's site - it is fashioned after that one. I placed the link so you folks could find the contact info for Fat Man Fabrications - feel free to order via phone or email.

[circmand]

I used to ride the short bus to school

[So-CalVX]

I used to ride the short bus to school

hahaha... i graduated... now i drive the short bus to work

[circmand]

hahaha... i graduated... now i drive the short bus to work

Is that You?

[IndianaVX]

Called fatmans today, actually just got off the phone with them.
talked to Brent, nice guy.
the scoop he gave me is about a three week turnaround from placement of order to ship.
now......
Ganzman, have you gotten yours installed yet? i was wondering about the pin, is it infront, or behind the cladding, and also how it looked. did you use tone's install instructions. just looking for an overview of the product.
im gonna need a hitch soon, and would really like tone's, or one like it, due to the hidden install.
i am looking to be towing my friends airstream!!http://basecamp.airstream.com/product/index.html
thanks.

David
IndianaVX

[TheGanzman]

Haven't installed mine yet - hope to w/in the next ten days. Here's a couple shots of it, all shiny powder-coated an' sh*t:




As you can see, I opted for NO safety chain provisions on my hitch receiver, as I plan on using it exclusively for my 1upUSA aluminum bike rack. Said rack doesn't use a receiver pin either, so really all I needed this for is a 2" square "tube" out the back of my VX. I'll post more photos of the install process after I complete...

[ScottinMA]

Hmmm, from the pic there appears to be no slots built into the hitch to connect the chains....or maybe I'm missing something here.

[CrnCnn]

Maybe its just me? I dont understand the price on this. Seems high for as small as it is.

[IndianaVX]

I dont understand price, or installation, i was thinking this was modeled off of tones, and i thought tone's had the "brackets" that bolted to the frame.....i dont think i would want to haul a trailer with that set up in the pic.
im not knocking what you have there, and it looks well made, it just doesnt look like what i thought the hitch ought to look like......

[tom4bren]

Scott,

I use a drop hitch on the one I got from Tone so prefer using the safety chain loops nearer the hitch ball anyway. IMHO, not needed at the receiver.

Clint,

Price is high - until you start trying to find someone to fab one up for you. It's a supply n demand thing more than a materials thing. Although the tolerances are fairly tight since 2 of the bolts use existing holes.

Tom

[CrnCnn]

I dont know, I am just not convinced. Not doubting any quality, or "supply n demand issues." It just seems too much to me.

[TheGanzman]

I'm reminded of the saying: "No good deed goes unpunished..."

1. Pricing - IDENTICAL to what Tone was charging, only this has the extra step (and expense!) of powder-coating.

2. Design -Virtually IDENTICAL to Tone's - same thickness materials - only better, stronger welds; did I mention - SAME price?

3. Installation - IDENTICAL to Tone's installation procedure; go to his website, see the photos, read the narrative...

4. If you take the time to READ my post(s), you'll see that I left the safety chain loops OFF of MY receiver assembly which is PICTURED above. You can request safety chain loops or a 1/4" steel plate with holes at the time of YOUR order.

Any questions?

[CrnCnn]

1. Dont take it the wrong way.

2. I never understood Tones pricing either.

3. I appreciate the effort made and am not saying its bad or that it is better or worse than the original.

4. Maybe I am naive about metal work but it just seems high.

5. Enough said, I am taking my ball and going home.

:gring: