[Custom] DIY Tow Hitch

So you have a trailer or caravan but no way to tow it as the cast you have dosen’t have a tow hitch. Well this could be the post you’ve been waiting for. Even if you don’t normally do customs I have two methods of doing this and it can be done with household objects. First some pictures then I’ll try and explain the two methods.

Ok so it’s pretty straight forward as you can see. Well if you have a cast that’s screwed together. If not there’s an alternative method that requires no drilling or screws. They both start out the same so let’s get going.

Step 1: Straighten out some thin wire. I’ve cut this to about 150 mm or 6” long but the finished part uses around 35/45 mm.

For this I used some thin soft wire that I’ve used many times in the past here for various purposes. Things like custom axles to lift cars, brackets for roof racks, or a stand for a jump shot or two. It’s very versatile stuff. I got it at a hardware store years ago for attatching chicken wire to larger wire supports. Anyway it’s sold here as ‘twitching wire’ but it’s basically 0.95 mm galvanised wire. Because it’s soft you can rebend it many times before it fatigues and snaps it is handy for the constant ‘adjustments’ needed when making custom stuff.

Alternatively you may be able to use a paper clip that’s been straightened out. A half decent pair of pliers are required, I used pointy nosed pliers but any normal type plier would do the same job but not as easily.

Step 2: Bend the wire roughly in the middle.

Keep bending...

Step 3: Squash the bend as tight as you can get it.

Like this.

Step 4: Bend the end at right angles (90 deg) about 4mm (1/8”) in from the end.

Step 6: Then using your judgement or measurements start to bend the wire out at the point required for the cast you are ‘hooking up’. Ok so if your cast isn’t screwed together or you just want to glue it on then skip ahead to Step 17.

Same thing different view.

Step 7: Bend one of the legs like this.

Step 8: Trim to length. This part wraps around the screw so is entirely determined by the cast used.

Step 9: Bend the other leg to match.

Step 10: Trim the second leg to length.

Step 11: Check out your brilliant tow hitch! Adjust as needed.

Step 12: Remove the screw.

Step 13: Re-fit screw with tow hitch. Obviously. ;)

Step 14: Notice that the hitch is way to long. Remove and adjust...

Un-bending...

Might be ok now?

Step 15: Re-fit screw. Thumbs up!

Step 16: Admire handy work once more.

Ok that’s all fine and dandy if your cast has a screw in the right place. Here’s another way to do this with out any screwing around. This method is held in place with super glue so anyone should be able to do this.

Ok so after following the steps through to step 6 you should have something like this. If not you screwed up and need to start again. It’s no big deal as paper clips and wire are cheap and if you don’t tell anyone you screwed up no one will laugh at you.

HERE IT IS!!!

Step 17: so now bend the legs at 90deg like the one above. The length of the neck on the hitch is dependent on the cast and personal preference.

Step 18: Bend the wire like shown above. This will give a stronger point of contact for the glue to hold on and a stronger hitch.

Step 19: Bend the other leg to match.

Step 20: Place on cast and trim legs to required length.

Looks like a bought one! Now is the time for fine adjustments to make sure it will sit straight on the cast.

Time for super glue!

Step 22: After test fitting and adjusting position and glue!

Step 23: Let it set and tow something!

Ok so now you can build some hitches if that kind of thing floats your boat, it does mine. Finished off with some black paint and it looks almost factory!