Need Bay Area Fab recommendations, updates with more photos

Update 4/14 2:30p -

I found a hitch guy in San Carlos who’ll weld it up for me, and made it back to u-haul before the 24 hours was up.

will update Tuesday or Wednesday with a report of how good a job he does

the hitch came out of the tongue of my camping trailer on the highway, and the resulting road rash is severe enough that a new 2 inch receiver will probably need to be welded on. Does anyone know a fab shop in the Bay Area that could take this on?

I also need to drop it off today if possible, since I'm paying U-Haul by the day for the car trailer it's currently loaded on

(this is not directly tacoma related, but it was hitched to the taco at the time, so...

 

What city?

 

I'm mid peninsula, but am flexible.

 

Literally Bay Area metal fab….

 

well, grass valley is 135 miles away. it's closer to Nevada than SF. was hoping for something a little closer

 

I don't know of any shops on the peninsula, unfortunately. Maybe these guys? https://650autorepair.com/specialty/fabrication/

If you don't mind moving it, maybe give Schaffer's (Hayward) or Milogen (Milpitas) a call? https://shaffersoffroad.com/ https://milogenfab.com/

They moved to Grass Valley last year. No chance that Jerry would take this kind of job, anyway.

 

Agreed.

 

Please post pictures from a side view and stand back a bit.

 

do you think Milo would take it? He did excellent work on my taco

 

An hour with a drill, grinder and inexpensive sacrificial 2" receiver and it'd be good enough to temporarily tow around at slow speeds.

 

I'm sure Milo could do it, but not sure if he would do it or what his timeframe is. He's usually at least a month out for scheduling whenever I bring my truck in to him. I'd just send him an email and check.

 

How deep is the receiver (green arrow)?

what's the length of the damage to the lower square tube (red arrow)?

how far back is the hitch pin hole on the side of the square tube?

From the limited info here I don't see why you couldn't take a chisel and a BFH and beat the damage portion down to a point where it'd be usable.

 

done, pls see original post

 

<edited with accurate measurements>

the entire tongue is the center frame member and is made of 2 inch receiver, so 5 or 6 feet

what's the length of the damage to the lower square tube (red arrow)?[/QUOTE]
1.5 inches

how far back is the hitch pin hole on the side of the square tube?[/QUOTE]

2.5 inches to the center of the pin hole

From the limited info here I don't see why you couldn't take a chisel and a BFH and beat the damage portion down to a point where it'd be usable.
[/QUOTE]
temporarily, yes. am hoping for a permanent fix if possible.

 

CL for a mobile welder/welding service.

 

1. Really? awesome. What's your current hitch receiver look like.. there's obviously another square tube because your truck's hitch is female and your trailer is female so where's the double-ended dong that fits in each? picture would be nice to see if it could be part of the solution.


what's the length of the damage to the lower square tube (red arrow)?
1.5 inches

2. Ok, no major worries there. Buy a chisel and 3lb hammer and hit the damaged/scraped portion of the tube downward so you can fit a tube into the receiver. Note that I would recommend you not beat on the trailer tongue while the weight of the front is resting on the jack. The jack isn't meant to handle the sort of beating force that will require clearing the square tube channel.

how far back is the hitch pin hole on the side of the square tube?

2.5 inches to the center of the pin hole

3. Again this is good. The hitch pin merely keeps the tube in place (as you FAFO). So if you have 3/4" of undamaged metal or more between the hole and the damaged tube (which you obviously have) you'll be fine when using a long hitch receiver tube. I'd recommend an 18" receiver tube.. Harbor Freight sells one for $18 (although there's a lip that has to be either ground off or cut off.) We still want to see what your original looks like (from item 2 above.)

From the limited info here I don't see why you couldn't take a chisel and a BFH and beat the damage portion down to a point where it'd be usable.

temporarily, yes. am hoping for a permanent fix if possible.

 

You don't even need a welder for a permanent fix.

You need a long receiver tube (something like 18") and someone with a 5/8" drill bit and basic mechanical skills.

Just park it and return the u-haul. It really shouldn't be difficult to find someone to help you out.

 

Agreed

 

There's no reason you couldn't tow that trailer around short term with that damage. Return the U-Haul. That piece that is blocking the tube should easily either bend out of the way or even break off with a Channel Lock pliers or a Vise Grips. Then, find any welding shop. They will be able to repair that in maybe an hour...two tops.