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...

[vt_maverick]

WOW.

[Moncha]

you need a set of wheelie bars on the back

[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)
The basket tweaked sideways due to the weight of the motor on that end of the ski, by about 4 inches 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: ... 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... 2 hrs. later, I picked it up: Looked GREAT! Like an art sculpture! Great welder... $80 for labor/mat.
So, I mounted the rails and tie-downs and got some spray on truck bed liner and... WAHLAHHH!!!
Now when I jump on it, the back of the VX bounces... NOT the hitch! This thing is ROCK SOLID!!!
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!

[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

[99VC]

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