Removing welded receiver hitch, torch or cut?

[14-Bolt]

I can either torch it off or cut it off with air tools or cut off wheel on grinder. Torch is fastest but with the gas tank a few inches behind I am very hesitant. What would you guys do?

 

[Fordum]

It doesn't look like there is a real good answer. I'm like you, I don't like the torch. Grinder or cutoff wheel is only a little better. Still lots of sparks, just not as much heat and open flame.

Air chisel would be the safest I suppose, but probably really slow.

Looks like that one weld is ready to let go anyway. You could always use a hacksaw and lots of blades..........
Sawsall would do good, but not sure if you could get one in there.

 

[Jester1]

Plasma and hot blanket?

Sawzall and grinder to clean up?

Sell it a buy another thats not welded.

 

[big pappa b]

why not drop the tank the use whatever you want?

 

[imiceman44]

Obviously you don't have one since you didn't list it as an option but I like Plazma cutting in this situation.
Fast and clean and the risk of blowing up is pretty slim if you do it right.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Drop the tank. No worries, no danger, less than an hour of work.

 

[dremu]

Amen. Coupla chunks of 4x4 scrap lumber, and the appropriate jack, it's easy enough.

Unless the welded-on hitch is blocking the removal of the skidplate or something?

-- A

 

[63chevyll]

why not drop the tank the use whatever you want?

yeah...what he said.

i went through same thing and used torch, then hammer, than grinder, then flap wheel

 

[14-Bolt]

No plazma, if it drove i'd take it to my work and use theres but drivetrain is out. Never thought of dropping gas tank. I'm putting in ORD 1" body lift and new poly mounts, so dropping tank, would make that job easier to boot. Then I can torch of hitch in no time. Anything I need to look out for? I just detach all the lines at the top of tank.

 

[14-Bolt]

I thought about keeping hitch, but I didn't by this truck to tow ****. I bought it to have fun and build it for hardcore offroad. And tow it.

 

[ion]

A hitch can always come in handy in situations. They make decent recovery points, and A half way good spot to start a custom bumper off of.

 

[14-Bolt]

This hitch was a piece of crap and so were the po's welds, no way safe. Got it off this weekend, dropped the tank, bumper now on to the suprises, just lifted ok looking carpet to find a mess of ****. One more thing to fix, all these things just so I can puy my damn doubler in.

 

[14-Bolt]

Is the frame supposed to look all wavy? or is that way because of the weight of whatever was towed?

 

[imiceman44]

Is the frame supposed to look all wavy? or is that way because of the weight of whatever was towed?

The bump you see with a big hole in the middle is stock, no idea yet why they did that but it is on the K5.
That is why a regular hitch doesn't fit on a K5 from a truck