Tow Hitch and Tow Bar I built today

[kartracer46]

Here is my tow hitch I built, I have towed a bunch of Festiva's and missed having at least one on a car to pull with. I have pulled as much as 3,500 lbs on mine. Yes a Festiva will do it! Festiva FTW!

http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz88/kartracer46/FestivaTowRig2.jpg

Here is my tow bar. I used a HF 5,000lb tow bar and made up a piece that bolts onto the factory tow hooks mounted on the body. I also use 3x3x1/4" angle iron to be sure they are sturdy.

http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz88/kartracer46/FestivaTowRig.jpg

[Pu241]

Nice work Jay!
How much was that HF tow bar?
Sometimes they have 20% off, too!

[kartracer46]

Nice work Jay!
How much was that HF tow bar?
Sometimes they have 20% off, too!

The HF tow bar was $79.99, normally $99.99, but I have seen them as low as $49.99 if you aren't in a hurry to wait for a sale. I needed mine so I went ahead and took one for $79.99 still a pretty good deal.

[Pu241]

The HF tow bar was $79.99, normally $99.99, but I have seen them as low as $49.99 if you aren't in a hurry to wait for a sale. I needed mine so I went ahead and took one for $79.99 still a pretty good deal.

Well worth it when a U-haul dolly is $100+ for a rental.

[Damkid]

Very nice :thumbright:

[kartracer46]

Very nice :thumbright:

Thank you, I luv me some fabricating and Festiva building.

[ckiesman]

Well worth it when a U-haul dolly is $100+ for a rental.

thats a rip off. It cost me 45 bucks each time i rented a dolly to get my festivas home

[Pu241]

thats a rip off. It cost me 45 bucks each time i rented a dolly to get my festivas home

One way 400+ mile rental rate!

[ckiesman]

lol, oh. Mine was under 100 miles and it had to be returned. That would explain it.

[kartracer46]

thats a rip off. It cost me 45 bucks each time i rented a dolly to get my festivas home

That's ok, my next project will be a Festiva or Aspire tow dolly. That way I have plenty of spare tires. I will use a set of rear spindles to build it. One day I plan to build a Festiva tow truck when I get some free time to build a scale size boom to fit in one.

[Charlie1717]

Was it this one?

http://www.harborfreight.com/5000-lb-capacity-adjustable-tow-bar-94696.html

[kumalaba]

great job jay & you didnt have to cut up the bumper? nice

wait for it, wait for it



yes my 1000th post

[kartracer46]

Was it this one?
http://www.harborfreight.com/5000-lb...bar-94696.html

Yes that is the one.

[FestYboy]

Jay, i like what you did there with the tow hitch, but there'a simpler way to go about it... remove the outer most plate/eyelet combo from the unit, get grade 8 bolts that will slide in the "tube" snugly and are about 2" longer. then get large fender washers (2 per side) that also fit snugly over the bolts and an appropriate nylok nut. take the bolt and add a washer and then one of the washer blocks that come with the hitch. slide the bolt through from the "inside" of the tube and then through the tiedown hole on the festy. add another washer block and fender washer and nut. tighten everything till there's JUST enough room for things to move without binding.

repeat for other side... voila! no-weld tow hitch!

[kartracer46]

Jay, i like what you did there with the tow hitch, but there'a simpler way to go about it... remove the outer most plate/eyelet combo from the unit, get grade 8 bolts that will slide in the "tube" snugly and are about 2" longer. then get large fender washers (2 per side) that also fit snugly over the bolts and an appropriate nylok nut. take the bolt and add a washer and then one of the washer blocks that come with the hitch. slide the bolt through from the "inside" of the tube and then through the tiedown hole on the festy. add another washer block and fender washer and nut. tighten everything till there's JUST enough room for things to move without binding.

repeat for other side... voila! no-weld tow hitch!

Those are not actual Festiva hitches, I build them. But I will keep it in mind for the next ones I build.