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Topic: Trimming down tow bar insert (Read 448 times) previous topic - next topic

Trimming down tow bar insert

So my trailer hitch sits a few inches too low, resulting in the tow bars pulling down on the front a bit and it's causing premature wear in my Jeep's front tires. I bought a hitch riser but it's not deep enough and the part of the tow bars that gets inserted into the hitch hits the bumper before the holes line up for the pin. The easy solve here is to just trim the end of the insert, does anyone see any issues with doing so? I
Would need to take 3/4" off.

The alternative is to adjust my ride height in the back but I'm leery of messing with the 30+ year old valves this far from home.

Edit: I guess I could put a hitch extender in there too. I'm not in love with adding another piece though...starts to feel hacky
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Trimming down tow bar insert

Reply #1 –
I don't see any issue as anything that sticks out the back of the riser is not giving any support. Do not mess with ride height as drive shaft angle is figured into ride height.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Trimming down tow bar insert

Reply #3 –
If you were dealing with a sliding fit less than 2x the width or height I would worry about binding. But not in a stationary pinned case.
Just getting the bar in will take some caution.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Trimming down tow bar insert

Reply #4 –
You could always notch the bumper. I did this on mine to fit the bike rack so I didn't have to modify the bike rack and it would still fit on the car. But trimming 3/4" off the back of the hitch won't hurt anything.
1991 U300 Side Aisle 6V92 Silver #3897
2004 U320 40' #6246

Re: Trimming down tow bar insert

Reply #5 –
I have the NSA Hercules and use an extension so that the bar can be folded and clear my bumper (not a rise) - had to trim it as well so everything would fit together.

Cutting a quarter inch off of something sticking out the back side of that upper tube will not impact any integrity.

I hear that a lot of people need to cut down the extensions themselves because they bottom out before you can get the pin holes to lineup...I used a band-saw, cleaned up the edge, and then painted it.     

*** Don't forget, you may need to tweak the brake cable adjustment. 
2000 Foretravel GV320 4010 #5717
"SuperDutyFiver" on most other boards

*** East coast based - literally "all over the east coast!"

Re: Trimming down tow bar insert

Reply #7 –
Like Nike says "Just do it"
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel