I have been looking far and wide to find a "one-piece" all-welded 5000lb hitch for my Astro. BTW, what did the dealers install on them back in the day?
Draw-Tite makes a very nice plug and play 3500lb model 75122. It has great reviews, but living in MN, I may tow a boat or two on occassion that might be heavier.
Draw-Tite, Reese and Curt make universal 5000lb models. However, They are not "one-piece" and to be custom fitted and then bolted together. I am trying to avoid bolts with the risk they could fail, not to mention having to likely have to drill holes in the Astro Frame.
There was a member on here who had a "one-piece" "Hidden Hitch" 87516. It looks very robust and upon further research, it is rated at 5000lbs, but it got sold and they are nolonger available new.
So far I have not found any one-piece 5K units. Does anyone know of one? Or does anyone have one for sale?
Any help finding a 5000lb Hidden Hitch new or used would be great.
If I have to, I may. However, only after I have exhausted my resources of finding the Hidden Hitch one piece. I also cannot confirm that the bolted universal hitch will match right up. I have more than one reviews on Amazon stating it was a PITA to install because holes needed to be drilled in the frame....
This probably doesn't help, but I def didn't have to drill any holes in my frame for my hidden hitch, but it is an 10 year old model, and was heavy duty. I admit I am not sure what a 1 piece is, if I have one, or what you are looking for, so only here to see how it plays out. Good luck
A one piece is all welded together and whence, the term, one-piece. Reese, Curt and Drawtite make a "UNIVERSAL" hitch that is adjustable with extra holes to compensate for fit. The current model Draw-Tite is actually comprised of 5 pieces that bolt together.
Here is a pic of the 5000lb Class III Hidden Hitch that I am looking for:
Yep, the welded together ones are the way to go IMO. Best bet is probably just looking at junk yards, that is where I bought mine. I don't like the bolt together ones either, and the one-piece hitches are usually lower profile.
A one piece is all welded together and whence, the term, one-piece. Reese, Curt and Drawtite make a "UNIVERSAL" hitch that is adjustable with extra holes to compensate for fit. The current model Draw-Tite is actually comprised of 5 pieces that bolt together.
Here is a pic of the 5000lb Class III Hidden Hitch that I am looking for:
Oh yeah that is nuts I agree with you and Astro will, go with 1 piece, that is def what I have.
The junkyards out here never have anything worthwhile, but I am going to try and find a 4x4 transfer case in the next couple days, so will keep the hitch in mind for you.
Mine came from Pick N Pull as well- both front and rear. The hitch on the front of my van was attached to the mustache bar that came with a VW bus engine I pulled some years ago. I held on to it thinking I'd use it somewhere, eventually settling on the front of the Astro.
That is an all welded, custom fit, non universal hitch, rated at 6500lbs when using it as weight distribution.
And it is the cheapest. Know what you are comparing.
Don't buy a bolt together one.
That same hitch is sold as a different number with a lifetime warranty, and yet they are identical. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000E28...colid=6S2UTLMHCB34&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
If you think the hitch above is rated at HALF of the one you are after, you're nuts.
Both of the above have stickers on them stating 6000 lbs when used with wd hitches. 3500 lbs w/just tongue.
1/4" plate vs 1" plate, maybe. But that is not how it is.
To point a fine point on it, they're all the same. Adding the ability to bolt it to the bumper itself does not uprate it.
This is the hitch that came with my '93, got cleaned up and moved to my '99, then cleaned up again and moved to the '02:
That one is a Draw-Tite. In the horrible pic of the '05's hitch label, I can't see a manufacturer. Both are welded. Oh, and there's a heavy-duty welded hitch that came on the '00 with an 8-pin wiring connector and brake controller, but I've never taken a pic of that one. Again, it's raining its butt off or I'd go out and take pics.
Both the above are welded. You actually get better weight carrying (the lower numbers) than the welded hitches with the 'multi-fit' hitches. Both available Reese Multi-Fit (37042 and 37152) hitches are 500/5,000 lbs weight carrying, 600/6,000 weight distributing. My Draw-Tite is 300/3,500 weight carrying and 750/6,000 weight distributing.
(tongue weight/trailer weight)
The Reese TowPower 37152 is listed elsewhere as a Class IV hitch (Reese calls it a Class III) and Reese's specs say 'solid all-welded construction.' Odd.
Just got a new one YESTERDAY at my (not-so-local) Pick and Pull.
Upgraded from my Class III to a Class V
U Haul sold a Draw Tite Class V hitch that is a one piece unit.
Look in the pick and pull....
Here is an explanation of what V-5 signifies;
"
What does V 5 Mean on a trailer hitch?
Class V hitches are weight carrying (WC) and weight distributing (WD) hitches depending on the vehicle and hitch specifications. A Class V hitch has a 2-1/2" square receiver opening. Your ball mount and hitch ball need to both be rated for Class V to safely tow these weight loads...."
Fun stuff.I probably have been around,seen and installed more hitches than anyone here.and have never seen a problem with bolt together hitches,on any vehicle.I have seen the bolts to the frame fail,and frame sections fail,in bad accidents.Heck,5th wheel hitches are bolted together,and bolted on.
kinda odd to read this since I had the welded 5k hitch on parts van earlier this summer and offered it free you pay shipping back in like July to any member and no one wanted it so it went to scrap.
kinda odd to read this since I had the welded 5k hitch on parts van earlier this summer and offered it free you pay shipping back in like July to any member and no one wanted it so it went to scrap.
It happens, I was trying to give away an engine for the longest time and nobody ever wanted it. Once it was gone, then I had a few people ask if it was still available. Wasn't something I could just leave on a vehicle until it sold, as I had already replaced it with a v8.
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