2000 Marquis Amethyst tow hitch

[Jeremy Parrett]

If anyone has advice or experience reinforcing the tow hitch, I would be very interested in how they did it.
My tow hitch has a 2 inch receiver tube butt welded to a 3 inch square cross bar.  There is a plate welded across the top of the butt weld area.  The cross bar has side plates that are bolted to the chassis.  I feel some strengthening and bracing of the butt weld area is very necessary to tow my 2004 F250SD 4x4 safely.

[Robert Mathis]

Jeremy, you are going to have a problem finding a reputable welding shop that will do anything to that hitch. One of my best friends is a welder and he refuses to weld on any trailer hitch. The liability is just too great. Your best solution is probably going to be finding a 10,000# rated hitch and replacing the one you have now. The heavier hitch should come with a 2 1/2 or 3" receiver and use a solid steel ball mount unstead of a hollow one. I had the same problem with my last large trailerable offshore boat. It weighed in at 13,000# on the trailer, full of gas, and I had the stock hitch on my F250SD replaced with the larger hitch. BTW, my new Duramax Chevy came stock with the heavier hitch.

[Glenn Perkins]

Jeremy,

I have had the hitch reinforced on our 99 Marquis to be more comfortable towing the 2 Hummer H2's we had before the Mini.  We had it done years ago by "Dewey" in Bend Oregon ... I don't have contact info but the folks at CoachMasters ((541) 330-6863) could certainly assist.

Although I agree with Robert's risk assessment, I never felt too much at risk because the hitch was not any more load bearing but rather provided increased "rolling" towing capacity for the 7K pound vehicles.  Since then, I have moved to towing a 10K car trailer for the Mini and have seen no issues with the tong weight either.

Good luck.

Thanks
Glenn

[Gerald Farris]

Jeremy,
I agree that you would be safer if you replaced the hitch assembly with a 10,000 pound rated unit, however I had mine reinforced, and I have had no problems. The method that I chose to reinforce the receiver was to have a plate welded across the bottom were the two inch square tube is welded to the cross bar. I also had triangular gussets welded in the middle of the sides of the receiver tube between it and the crossbar.

To me this reinforced the receiver to withstand the back and forth pull as well as the side to side thrust of  flat towing.  My original receiver cracked across the bottom and up both sides before I made the repair and reinforcements. It has been about four years since the repairs and I have had no further concerns, however I am towing a 4,600 pound Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Gerald  

[Bernie Vujicic]

Jeremy,

If your still in Desert Hot Springs there's a quality company in Riverside, CA. I beefed mine from 10K to 15K. They will not put a new stamp on it probably because of liability but they are highly recommended.


Riverside Hitch & Trailer
 
7304 Indiana Ave, Riverside, CA | Map it  

(951) 785-9353

[Jeremy Parrett]

Hi Bernie,
  Unfortunately we are back in Fort Pierce,Florida.   I would be interested to know what your original tow hitch was rated at??  There is no tag on mine.The 2001 Marquis Amethyst tow hitch was rated at 5000 lbs,so I expect mine is the same.  The  cross tube is 3 inch square. I am thinking all it needs is more plating around the receiver tube.
       Jeremy

[Bernie Vujicic]

Hi Jeremy,

Mine was rated at 10,000. You need to find someone like a Riverside Hitch that know what there doing so you feel comfortable with it. I would call Riv Hitch and see if they know someone down there. Like Gerald mentioned it doesnt take much to beef it up for a few thousand lbs. A good shop can look at it and tell you by the way it's mounted and thickness of the metal about what it can stand. More is always better, I don't have to tell you that. Riv Hitch told me what I had would easily stand 20,000 lbs but I don't want to find out. I pull a 15,000 lb stacker for the last 36.000 miles and no issues. I have some freinds down there and I'll ask for you too.

bv  

[Jeremy Parrett]

Hi Bernie,
  thanks for the info.  I have discovered that the dimensions of the cross bar are the clue.  3 inch square crossbars are rated at or over 10,000lbs.  I am going to measure mine today to be sure it is 3 inch.  If it is not then I need to buy a whole new crossbar and side plates.  I have found the right Curt adjustable tow hitch  http://www.etrailer.com/Specialty-Trailer-Hitches/Curt/15902.html
  Jeremy

[Bernie Vujicic]

Sounds good Jeremy, I think your on the right track.

bv

[Jeremy Parrett]

Hi Bernie,
  the cross bar is just under 3 inches......2 7/8th actually.   The receiver tube is butt welded onto the crossbar. There is a plate welded over the top of the butt weld but nothing else.  I am going to have a mechanic remove the whole tow hitch ( 4 x 1/2 inch bolts per side) .I will  take it to a machine shop and have a plate welded over the bottom of the butt weld.  Maybe some gusset plates will be added for overkill.
 This will make it very similar to the Curt Class 1V hitch.  We should be good to go.
               Jeremy

[Bernie Vujicic]

That sounds good, if you need it I have specs and diagrams on my 15,000 lb hitch which might give you some ideas. It's in a PDF format so if you need it send me your email address.

bv

[Jeremy Parrett]

Bernie,

My email address is svpelican1@hotmail.com   Looking forward to seeing your diagrams.  

Jeremy

[Jeremy Parrett]

Bernie,Glen,Robert and Gerald.
  Yavorsky's in Fort Pierce have welded a plate across the bottom of the butt joint.  They managed to do it without removing the hitch from the coach. I am told the hitch is now good for at least 10,000 lbs.
 One day I will get around to taking photos of the hitch and the new joints on the tag tie rods.