Trailer hitch w/ORD shackle flip

[andyblack]

My '85 shortbed half ton truck has an ORD shackle flip and I want to put a standard receiver hitch on it, but the hitch won't clear the flip brackets. I did a search and found a thread from a couple of years ago about this. Several members said they had to cut notches in their hitch to get the clearance they needed, but others said that their's went on with no modification. Does anyone know if there is a brand of hitch I can install without having to cut it up to fit around the shackle flip?

 

[EIB8400]

I just installed a DIY4X flip kit and ran into the same problem. Thought about spacing the hitch down and drilling a hole through the new bracket to use the original hole for the receiver.

 

[andyblack]

I'd like to try to avoid having to drill through the bracket if I can. I think I would actually rather grind on the hitch. It would be less trouble.

 

[cdoggwsu]

I asked this a year or 2 back and the general consensus was that notching the hitch bracket is perfectly acceptable while cutting, grinding or drilling on the shackle flip bracket isn't recommended.

I couldn't say for certain but I would imagine the difference between hitch brackets that fit or ones that require grinding would depend on the class of the receiver. I have a class 3 that would definitely interfere with a shackle flip bracket, but a class 2 may not sit as deep on the frame.

 

[andyblack]

Thanks. I'm not really intersted in pulling any heavy trailers with it, probably just boat trailers. The main thing I would use the hitch for is to put one of those recovery hooks in the receiver in case I need to pull anyone out ('cause I never get stuck and need a tow). Does a class II hitch have the same size receiver as a class III? I was thinking a class II just had the hole to put a ball on it. Or is that class I?

 

[lectric80]

Class I is usually just a hole to mount the ball to, usually used on small cars towing very light loads. Class II is typically a 1" ball mount, used on smaller trucks to tow slightly heavier loads up to about 3500 lbs. Class III is a 2" ball mount and is up to 5000 lbs.

 

[andyblack]

I guess the class III is the one I need then.

I need to make up a funny name for my truck like "Krusty." Hmmm....how about "Oldie." Or "Junky." I just don't know. I've called it plenty of names before, most of which I'm not proud of.

 

[lectric80]

She was named in honor of the crusty, rusty crap that falls in my face everytime I am unfortunate enough to have to work underneath. Right now is particularly bad because I am pulling the trans out and I went and played in the mud. Now I have rust, crust, and large dirt chunks falling in my face. But, I still love her more than any other vehicle I have ever owned.

 

[andyblack]

Right on! I always have to wear safety glasses when I'm under mine so I won't get all that dirt in my eyes. You can always tell where it's been parked because of the dirt clods on the ground. Maybe I can call mine "Cloddy."