No markings on the hitch. The extra receiver, is that factory or added? The welds are very good.

The tube for the main receiver extends back as shown and is welded up again. There are 5 bolts on each side securing the hitch to the frame, then 2 heavy ones going up into the original bumper hitch. Anyone know who made it? Or, at least confirm with me that this is a Class IV? I have 10k to pull 200 miles next month and want things up to snuff. Thanks

 

That is a home brewed hitch, since tongue weight is supposed to be around 10% of the load you should only have around 1000 pounds of weight on the hitch. After some of the stuff I have seen, your golden. I would over load that hitch and not even think twice about it

I once pulled 28,000 pounds of hay and trailer 75 miles when my neighbor's semi broke down, that was on my goose neck though. Think 35-36,000 gross would edit the DOT man off?!?!?

 

surly looks home built to me. And to me the way it is designed shows it. The part that scares me is the two bolts that go though the none structural bumper. They are holding most of the weight then it goes back what looks like at least 6" to the first real support. That 6" (how ever long it really is) adds a lot of extra leverage to the weight it is supporting thus decreasing the weight it can actually support. If it were me i would be replacing with something better designed.

 

That part that bolts into the bumper has a thick, stock piece that goes UNDER the bumper and to the frame. I think it's slightly gusseted for downward strength. The welds look like from a large, industrial MIG machine, not stick. Hence why I thought it was not home made... I guess not then!

Hopefully she'll do well for this trip. I'm going to be making a rugged pulling hitch someday, and I'll be designing it somehow so I can use it for towing as well.