lowering ball hitch?

[Rose Mary]

Hi group

Just went thru getting a blue ox system set up so I can tow a CRV
behind the bird.....
I had ordered the aladdin for ease of use and weight..
I took the coach by so they could see/measure etc. I was told with the
rollers etc and current hitch (which I told them could go away) the
mounting plate for the 2" receiver wouldn't work, would need some
major modifications $$$. Went for a second opinion, ditto.

Ok I had the acclaim style sent. In the meantime the CRV was set up
with wiring and baseplate. When the acclaim came in yesterday I took
it and the coach in. Problem, the bird's hitch is too high and the
ball is also about 2" extra high. They couldn't get the ball off and
didn't have time( were short handed as well as Short Friday) to torch
the ball off and repair any possible collateral damage. Changing the
ball alone would only gain about 2 inches or less. @#!@#

There is about a foot rise, blue ox recommends only 7" max. How can I
get a drop hitch type setup.....I have a welder but my skills with it
are minimal and physically not up to it right now.

Have to head to Bend tomorrow for a 2 week job then was supposed to go
to Washington for another. Bend is about a 4 hour drive and they told
me it would be okay.....don't want to damage anything....#@!#
I get so tired of incompetency, anyway with all you folks towing,
didn't think it was such a problem with the bird. Is this hitch a
factory setup? Heavy channel iron welded to the frame and bolted to
the bumper?

Thanks
Rose Mary
82 FC 35
Oregon

[mbulriss]

Rose Mary,

You need to go to a competent trailer hitch shop. The standard plate
style hitch on the old Birds was rated for plenty of strength to otw
about any reasonable load, much less a rolling small toad.

Here's what I did on my 83 PT (and most other people did the same when
converting). I bought a standard 2" tow hitch receiver. I removed
the ball from the current mounting plate, it's just screwed on with a
big nut on the bottom, and then had a welding shop weld the receiver
to the top of the plate where the current ball mounts. I think I paid
the welding shop $15-20. You can then go to a good trailer supply
place and get whatever length drop mount you need to assure a level
fir at the height that BlueOx recommended. See this site to examples
of drop hitches available: http://www.etrailer.com/c-BM.htm

Get the proper drop hitch (at least a class IV in my opinion), insert
it in the receiver, screw in the ball and hook the toad up. The load
distributing drop hitches are god if you need to adjust the ball
height for several different types of loads or toads requiring
differing ball heights, but they are a tad more work when adjusting
the heights.

Good luck,

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rose Mary"
wrote:
>
> Hi group
>
> Just went thru getting a blue ox system set up so I can tow a CRV
> behind the bird.....
> I had ordered the aladdin for ease of use and weight..
> I took the coach by so they could see/measure etc. I was told with the
> rollers etc and current hitch (which I told them could go away) the
> mounting plate for the 2" receiver wouldn't work, would need some
> major modifications $$$. Went for a second opinion, ditto.
>
> Ok I had the acclaim style sent. In the meantime the CRV was set up
> with wiring and baseplate. When the acclaim came in yesterday I took
> it and the coach in. Problem, the bird's hitch is too high and the
> ball is also about 2" extra high. They couldn't get the ball off and
> didn't have time( were short handed as well as Short Friday) to torch
> the ball off and repair any possible collateral damage. Changing the
> ball alone would only gain about 2 inches or less. @#!@#
>
> There is about a foot rise, blue ox recommends only 7" max. How can I
> get a drop hitch type setup.....I have a welder but my skills with it
> are minimal and physically not up to it right now.
>
> Have to head to Bend tomorrow for a 2 week job then was supposed to go
> to Washington for another. Bend is about a 4 hour drive and they told
> me it would be okay.....don't want to damage anything....#@!#
> I get so tired of incompetency, anyway with all you folks towing,
> didn't think it was such a problem with the bird. Is this hitch a
> factory setup? Heavy channel iron welded to the frame and bolted to
> the bumper?
>
> Thanks
> Rose Mary
> 82 FC 35
> Oregon
>

[davidkerryedwards]

I'm not sure I really understand your problem, but there are drop hitches that
slide into the
receiver. Lots of them are VERY heavy duty. If you go to Northern Tools or
Harbor Freight
and look them up, you'll see a lot of them. So, I guess, it seems to me you can
just slide in
a dropped receiver and be on your way. They'll be rated for far heavier loads
than your
toad so I don't see any problem with that.

Kerry
82 FC 35
Denver

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rose Mary" wrote:
>
> Hi group
>
> Just went thru getting a blue ox system set up so I can tow a CRV
> behind the bird.....
> I had ordered the aladdin for ease of use and weight..
> I took the coach by so they could see/measure etc. I was told with the
> rollers etc and current hitch (which I told them could go away) the
> mounting plate for the 2" receiver wouldn't work, would need some
> major modifications $$$. Went for a second opinion, ditto.
>
> Ok I had the acclaim style sent. In the meantime the CRV was set up
> with wiring and baseplate. When the acclaim came in yesterday I took
> it and the coach in. Problem, the bird's hitch is too high and the
> ball is also about 2" extra high. They couldn't get the ball off and
> didn't have time( were short handed as well as Short Friday) to torch
> the ball off and repair any possible collateral damage. Changing the
> ball alone would only gain about 2 inches or less. @#!@#
>
> There is about a foot rise, blue ox recommends only 7" max. How can I
> get a drop hitch type setup.....I have a welder but my skills with it
> are minimal and physically not up to it right now.
>
> Have to head to Bend tomorrow for a 2 week job then was supposed to go
> to Washington for another. Bend is about a 4 hour drive and they told
> me it would be okay.....don't want to damage anything....#@!#
> I get so tired of incompetency, anyway with all you folks towing,
> didn't think it was such a problem with the bird. Is this hitch a
> factory setup? Heavy channel iron welded to the frame and bolted to
> the bumper?
>
> Thanks
> Rose Mary
> 82 FC 35
> Oregon
>

[mbulriss]

In reviewing some old pictures of Stagecoach, I believe the receiver
was welded to the *bottom* of the existing ball mount plate, rather
than on the top as stated in my first response. As I now recall, the
chrome brace from the bumper to the hitch plate precluded welding the
2" receiver on top of the plate. In any event, it was very secure and
I towed many much heavier loads than a CRV.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" <mbulriss@...>
wrote:
>
> Rose Mary,
>
> You need to go to a competent trailer hitch shop. The standard plate
> style hitch on the old Birds was rated for plenty of strength to otw
> about any reasonable load, much less a rolling small toad.
>
> Here's what I did on my 83 PT (and most other people did the same when
> converting). I bought a standard 2" tow hitch receiver. I removed
> the ball from the current mounting plate, it's just screwed on with a
> big nut on the bottom, and then had a welding shop weld the receiver
> to the top of the plate where the current ball mounts. I think I paid
> the welding shop $15-20. You can then go to a good trailer supply
> place and get whatever length drop mount you need to assure a level
> fir at the height that BlueOx recommended. See this site to examples
> of drop hitches available: http://www.etrailer.com/c-BM.htm
>
> Get the proper drop hitch (at least a class IV in my opinion), insert
> it in the receiver, screw in the ball and hook the toad up. The load
> distributing drop hitches are god if you need to adjust the ball
> height for several different types of loads or toads requiring
> differing ball heights, but they are a tad more work when adjusting
> the heights.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Mike Bulriss
> 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> San Antonio, TX
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rose Mary"
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi group
> >
> > Just went thru getting a blue ox system set up so I can tow a CRV
> > behind the bird.....
> > I had ordered the aladdin for ease of use and weight..
> > I took the coach by so they could see/measure etc. I was told with the
> > rollers etc and current hitch (which I told them could go away) the
> > mounting plate for the 2" receiver wouldn't work, would need some
> > major modifications $$$. Went for a second opinion, ditto.
> >
> > Ok I had the acclaim style sent. In the meantime the CRV was set up
> > with wiring and baseplate. When the acclaim came in yesterday I took
> > it and the coach in. Problem, the bird's hitch is too high and the
> > ball is also about 2" extra high. They couldn't get the ball off and
> > didn't have time( were short handed as well as Short Friday) to torch
> > the ball off and repair any possible collateral damage. Changing the
> > ball alone would only gain about 2 inches or less. @#!@#
> >
> > There is about a foot rise, blue ox recommends only 7" max. How can I
> > get a drop hitch type setup.....I have a welder but my skills with it
> > are minimal and physically not up to it right now.
> >
> > Have to head to Bend tomorrow for a 2 week job then was supposed to go
> > to Washington for another. Bend is about a 4 hour drive and they told
> > me it would be okay.....don't want to damage anything....#@!#
> > I get so tired of incompetency, anyway with all you folks towing,
> > didn't think it was such a problem with the bird. Is this hitch a
> > factory setup? Heavy channel iron welded to the frame and bolted to
> > the bumper?
> >
> > Thanks
> > Rose Mary
> > 82 FC 35
> > Oregon
> >
>

[mbulriss]

Kerry,

I believe what Rose Mary is describing is that she has the original
platform style ball hitch that Bird put out. It was very strong, but
it did not have a receiver tube, just a plate that the ball screwed
into. I think she has to have a receiver tube mount installed before
she can use a drop hitch. This is a common change that owners made on
older Birds.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
wrote:
>
> I'm not sure I really understand your problem, but there are drop
hitches that slide into the
> receiver. Lots of them are VERY heavy duty. If you go to Northern
Tools or Harbor Freight
> and look them up, you'll see a lot of them. So, I guess, it seems
to me you can just slide in
> a dropped receiver and be on your way. They'll be rated for far
heavier loads than your
> toad so I don't see any problem with that.
>
> Kerry
> 82 FC 35
> Denver
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rose Mary"
wrote:
> >
> > Hi group
> >
> > Just went thru getting a blue ox system set up so I can tow a CRV
> > behind the bird.....
> > I had ordered the aladdin for ease of use and weight..
> > I took the coach by so they could see/measure etc. I was told with the
> > rollers etc and current hitch (which I told them could go away) the
> > mounting plate for the 2" receiver wouldn't work, would need some
> > major modifications $$$. Went for a second opinion, ditto.
> >
> > Ok I had the acclaim style sent. In the meantime the CRV was set up
> > with wiring and baseplate. When the acclaim came in yesterday I took
> > it and the coach in. Problem, the bird's hitch is too high and the
> > ball is also about 2" extra high. They couldn't get the ball off and
> > didn't have time( were short handed as well as Short Friday) to torch
> > the ball off and repair any possible collateral damage. Changing the
> > ball alone would only gain about 2 inches or less. @#!@#
> >
> > There is about a foot rise, blue ox recommends only 7" max. How can I
> > get a drop hitch type setup.....I have a welder but my skills with it
> > are minimal and physically not up to it right now.
> >
> > Have to head to Bend tomorrow for a 2 week job then was supposed to go
> > to Washington for another. Bend is about a 4 hour drive and they told
> > me it would be okay.....don't want to damage anything....#@!#
> > I get so tired of incompetency, anyway with all you folks towing,
> > didn't think it was such a problem with the bird. Is this hitch a
> > factory setup? Heavy channel iron welded to the frame and bolted to
> > the bumper?
> >
> > Thanks
> > Rose Mary
> > 82 FC 35
> > Oregon
> >
>

[Pete Masterson]

My hitch is also too high. In part, it depends on your tow vehicle.
The [Blue Ox] base plate for my Toyota Camry is rather low as
compared to some of the other base plate's I've seen on other vehicles.

The hitch receiver on the BB is, perhaps, higher than some other
coaches. (I don't know for sure as I haven't gone around measuring
them...)

A drop receiver worked for me... I first got an 8" inch drop (based
on what I measured when the coach was aired up with the toad in
position to get a level tow bar). Once the drop receiver (I have the
Aventa LX tow bar) was in place, I realized that it was _way_ too low
to allow for sufficient up-down movement of the rear of the coach
(and the 42' model has something like 10-11 feet of rear overhang).
So I ordered a 6" drop receiver and a (Blue Ox BX88198) roller hitch
protector.

In use, this seemed to work fairly well. The roller protector
"protected" the hitch on a couple of minor dips (at low speed). I
thought I was satisfied.

Then, while in Texas (where there is a _lot_ of drainage issues), I
was exiting a shop that had done some work on my car. I encountered a
particularly deep 'dip' in the driveway. (It was not the same one I
used to enter the property). I had dumped the tag axle to assist with
some tight maneuvers earlier in the property and I'd forgotten to air
it up again. (Can you guess where I'm going with this?) As I
accelerated to get across the busy road, the rear slammed against the
pavement quite forcefully. It gouged the pavement, completely
destroyed the roller protector, and bent the drop receiver beyond
use. Fortunately, we had decided we'd hook-up the car on a side
street clear of the shop, so the toad wasn't attached.

In the aftermath, the drop receiver wasn't usable, so I put the
Aventa directly into the coach receiver (that didn't appear to be
damaged by the incident). I've since towed the car 3000 miles in this
configuration without incident.

So, my observation is that a drop receiver (or drop ball hitch) may
be a problem, especially if you have a lot of rear overhang. Even
though the towing geometry isn't ideal, the system works reasonably
well without the drop hitch. (I will get a 4" drop receiver before
our next trip, however. This will bring the towing geometry to be
more inline with the level +/- 2 inches specification -- even though
it will be perhaps 4" high instead of 2"...). I don't think I'll
bother with the roller in the future. The weight of the BB is so much
that any serious strike will overwhelm it anyway (and it just reduces
the clearance).

I have an 8" drop receiver available if anyone wants it... Say $50
+shipping (that's about 1/2 price), or make an offer. Let me know....

By the way ... I've seen some set-ups installed at the local
CampingWorld that seem to be _way_ out of level (and spec). I'd
expect that CW would try to sell a drop hitch, if they could get
(scare) the customer into it...

I would observe that a ball-hitch may be (much) less forgiving to
poor hitch geometry than the direct-receiver type tow bar I have.

I can't comment on the type of factory hitch you may have on your
'82. On my coach, it's welded onto a cross member that runs between
the main frame rails. It appears to be quite robust. My end caps are
fiberglass, so the receiver just sticks through the "bumper" and is
not connected to it in any way.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
El Sobrante CA
aeonix1@...



On Aug 25, 2007, at 8:51 AM, Rose Mary wrote:
> <snip> Problem, the bird's hitch is too high and the
> ball is also about 2" extra high. <snip>
> There is about a foot rise, blue ox recommends only 7" max. How can I
> get a drop hitch type setup.....I have a welder but my skills with it
> are minimal and physically not up to it right now.
>
> Have to head to Bend tomorrow for a 2 week job then was supposed to go
> to Washington for another. Bend is about a 4 hour drive and they told
> me it would be okay.....don't want to damage anything....#@!#
> I get so tired of incompetency, anyway with all you folks towing,
> didn't think it was such a problem with the bird. Is this hitch a
> factory setup? Heavy channel iron welded to the frame and bolted to
> the bumper?
>
> Rose Mary
> 82 FC 35



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Rose Mary]

Hi group
just returned back home with the coach after having a 2" receiver
welded on top of the hitch. Cut it off a tad so it wouldn't affect the
bumper bolts.
The drop hitch I have for my pickup makes the level perfect tho the
end of the ball is about a 1/2-1" lower than the rollers. Sometime I
will get another drop hitch just a bit shorter. For now I'm going with it.
So tired of the incompetents .....why couldn't someone at one of those
shops figured something like this out.
The ball was not difficult to remove with a cheater bar...
thanks Mike B and all for your help!

On the road tomorrow pulling a toad!
Regards
Rose Mary
82 FC 35
JP's White Bird

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
wrote:
>
> My hitch is also too high. In part, it depends on your tow vehicle.
> The [Blue Ox] base plate for my Toyota Camry is rather low as
> compared to some of the other base plate's I've seen on other vehicles.
>
> The hitch receiver on the BB is, perhaps, higher than some other
> coaches. (I don't know for sure as I haven't gone around measuring
> them...)
>
> A drop receiver worked for me... I first got an 8" inch drop (based
> on what I measured when the coach was aired up with the toad in
> position to get a level tow bar). Once the drop receiver (I have the
> Aventa LX tow bar) was in place, I realized that it was _way_ too low
> to allow for sufficient up-down movement of the rear of the coach
> (and the 42' model has something like 10-11 feet of rear overhang).
> So I ordered a 6" drop receiver and a (Blue Ox BX88198) roller hitch
> protector.
>
> In use, this seemed to work fairly well. The roller protector
> "protected" the hitch on a couple of minor dips (at low speed). I
> thought I was satisfied.
>
> Then, while in Texas (where there is a _lot_ of drainage issues), I
> was exiting a shop that had done some work on my car. I encountered a
> particularly deep 'dip' in the driveway. (It was not the same one I
> used to enter the property). I had dumped the tag axle to assist with
> some tight maneuvers earlier in the property and I'd forgotten to air
> it up again. (Can you guess where I'm going with this?) As I
> accelerated to get across the busy road, the rear slammed against the
> pavement quite forcefully. It gouged the pavement, completely
> destroyed the roller protector, and bent the drop receiver beyond
> use. Fortunately, we had decided we'd hook-up the car on a side
> street clear of the shop, so the toad wasn't attached.
>
> In the aftermath, the drop receiver wasn't usable, so I put the
> Aventa directly into the coach receiver (that didn't appear to be
> damaged by the incident). I've since towed the car 3000 miles in this
> configuration without incident.
>
> So, my observation is that a drop receiver (or drop ball hitch) may
> be a problem, especially if you have a lot of rear overhang. Even
> though the towing geometry isn't ideal, the system works reasonably
> well without the drop hitch. (I will get a 4" drop receiver before
> our next trip, however. This will bring the towing geometry to be
> more inline with the level +/- 2 inches specification -- even though
> it will be perhaps 4" high instead of 2"...). I don't think I'll
> bother with the roller in the future. The weight of the BB is so much
> that any serious strike will overwhelm it anyway (and it just reduces
> the clearance).
>
> I have an 8" drop receiver available if anyone wants it... Say $50
> +shipping (that's about 1/2 price), or make an offer. Let me know....
>
> By the way ... I've seen some set-ups installed at the local
> CampingWorld that seem to be _way_ out of level (and spec). I'd
> expect that CW would try to sell a drop hitch, if they could get
> (scare) the customer into it...
>
> I would observe that a ball-hitch may be (much) less forgiving to
> poor hitch geometry than the direct-receiver type tow bar I have.
>
> I can't comment on the type of factory hitch you may have on your
> '82. On my coach, it's welded onto a cross member that runs between
> the main frame rails. It appears to be quite robust. My end caps are
> fiberglass, so the receiver just sticks through the "bumper" and is
> not connected to it in any way.
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> El Sobrante CA
> aeonix1@...
>
>
>
> On Aug 25, 2007, at 8:51 AM, Rose Mary wrote:
> > <snip> Problem, the bird's hitch is too high and the
> > ball is also about 2" extra high. <snip>
> > There is about a foot rise, blue ox recommends only 7" max. How can I
> > get a drop hitch type setup.....I have a welder but my skills with it
> > are minimal and physically not up to it right now.
> >
> > Have to head to Bend tomorrow for a 2 week job then was supposed to go
> > to Washington for another. Bend is about a 4 hour drive and they told
> > me it would be okay.....don't want to damage anything....#@!#
> > I get so tired of incompetency, anyway with all you folks towing,
> > didn't think it was such a problem with the bird. Is this hitch a
> > factory setup? Heavy channel iron welded to the frame and bolted to
> > the bumper?
> >
> > Rose Mary
> > 82 FC 35
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[davidkerryedwards]

Now I get it. Previous owner must have installed a receiver on mine.

Kerry
82 FC 35
Denver

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" <mbulriss@...> wrote:
>
> Kerry,
>
> I believe what Rose Mary is describing is that she has the original
> platform style ball hitch that Bird put out. It was very strong, but
> it did not have a receiver tube, just a plate that the ball screwed
> into. I think she has to have a receiver tube mount installed before
> she can use a drop hitch. This is a common change that owners made on
> older Birds.
>
> Mike Bulriss
> 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> San Antonio, TX
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
> wrote:
> >
> > I'm not sure I really understand your problem, but there are drop
> hitches that slide into the
> > receiver. Lots of them are VERY heavy duty. If you go to Northern
> Tools or Harbor Freight
> > and look them up, you'll see a lot of them. So, I guess, it seems
> to me you can just slide in
> > a dropped receiver and be on your way. They'll be rated for far
> heavier loads than your
> > toad so I don't see any problem with that.
> >
> > Kerry
> > 82 FC 35
> > Denver
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rose Mary"
> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi group
> > >
> > > Just went thru getting a blue ox system set up so I can tow a CRV
> > > behind the bird.....
> > > I had ordered the aladdin for ease of use and weight..
> > > I took the coach by so they could see/measure etc. I was told with the
> > > rollers etc and current hitch (which I told them could go away) the
> > > mounting plate for the 2" receiver wouldn't work, would need some
> > > major modifications $$$. Went for a second opinion, ditto.
> > >
> > > Ok I had the acclaim style sent. In the meantime the CRV was set up
> > > with wiring and baseplate. When the acclaim came in yesterday I took
> > > it and the coach in. Problem, the bird's hitch is too high and the
> > > ball is also about 2" extra high. They couldn't get the ball off and
> > > didn't have time( were short handed as well as Short Friday) to torch
> > > the ball off and repair any possible collateral damage. Changing the
> > > ball alone would only gain about 2 inches or less. @#!@#
> > >
> > > There is about a foot rise, blue ox recommends only 7" max. How can I
> > > get a drop hitch type setup.....I have a welder but my skills with it
> > > are minimal and physically not up to it right now.
> > >
> > > Have to head to Bend tomorrow for a 2 week job then was supposed to go
> > > to Washington for another. Bend is about a 4 hour drive and they told
> > > me it would be okay.....don't want to damage anything....#@!#
> > > I get so tired of incompetency, anyway with all you folks towing,
> > > didn't think it was such a problem with the bird. Is this hitch a
> > > factory setup? Heavy channel iron welded to the frame and bolted to
> > > the bumper?
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > > Rose Mary
> > > 82 FC 35
> > > Oregon
> > >
> >
>