I am going to revive an old topic here. I would like to eventually get a period (or close to it) travel trailer for my 57 CS wagon. From previous ideas here it looks like I can max her out at #3500 (with a 312/fordo). Now I really don't want to go that high in weight, so I am thinking something from the 50's (13-14' range) to early 60's with a single axle should be fine.
Right now I have the stock brake set up but will eventually convert to front disk (at the min.) when I find a 14" set up. I really liked John Palmer's suggestions in another thread about towing with a vintage trailer (the system said I should start a new thread so I did). Does anyone make a hitch for our cars or do I have buy generic and modify?
Mike
I can't say for sure but I'd say you're on your own with a bolt-on hitch for a 57 Ford. Too bad I had 1958 Edsel Villager wagon years ago that had a frame hitch on when I bought it. Would have been an exact fit for a CS. I guess you're going to have to cut into the harness and mount a trailer plug also? Another suggestion might be to add a transmission cooler, couldn't hurt.
The hitch on the old Raunch Wagon. I only pulled a little wooden 4x7 trailer. Even with a small RV trailer, I would not connect to the bumper and do an all frame 2" receiver hitch.
Mike, I have an old tow hitch on my CS, that I bought off a Ranchero from California. probably an aftermarket hitch from the 50s or early 60s. it also had an og manufacturer tag on it. it is basically a heavy C channel with heat bends and it bolts to the rear bumper and bumper cross bracket ( which is spring steel) and it goes all the way under the tank and ties in to the tubular crossmember that only wagon chassis have in front of the tank.
I got mine inspected and transferred into the Austrian title and it is rated at 1.5 ( metric) tons, which translates into approx 2800 or so pds. (tow pull load). Unfortunately over here we are not allowed to have more tongue load than 75 kg ( 140 pds) which is stupid. I am positive a 57CS can at least take 300-400 pds tongue weight, when equipped with oem rear springs and maybe hijacker shocks.
I would suggest you go look for such an og/aftermarket unit in the usual online places. the hitch ball is just a bolt on item, that you can replace with any modern or (as required) specific ball , to your vintage trailer.
Yes, I did wire a modern socket from the rear wire loom/ tail lights and it is very basic and easy to do.
the C channel on my CS hitch is probably like a 4x2" C channel and I guess 3/16" thickness at least, but I can get those exact dimensions if you need them.
here's mine.
(https://up.picr.de/50045530lv.jpg)
(https://up.picr.de/50045531gr.jpg)
(https://up.picr.de/50045532mu.jpg)
(https://up.picr.de/50045533kn.jpg)
(https://up.picr.de/50045534jf.jpg)
(https://up.picr.de/50045535pu.jpg)
(https://up.picr.de/50045536ye.jpg)
it's plenty o strong. The trailer is at least loaded with a ton of old cr*p.
(https://up.picr.de/50045538nj.jpg)
(https://up.picr.de/50045539ih.jpg)
Great pictures, you always provide photos and information to answer questions!! When I lived in Florida, I always wanted to tow my Hobie Cat to the different regattas up and down the coast with mt 57, but staying in hotels there was no Worries with the pickup truck, Yours looks like a better setup than a bumper hitch ...
This is on my Fairlane. Pics aren't the best, but I can take my 35mm camera and get better ones.
It folds under the car when not in use...outta sight---outta mind. If memory serves it is frame mounted. This would be era specific. I have seen them on other cars from late 50's to early 60's.
Yeah from I have read here it looks like I will have to get a generic hitch and modify it. Then bolt it to the frame.
Just a note being that the frame at the rear is a C shape. It might behave you to weld in some plates and do a modern receiver style welded in right under the bumper. I mentioned in another post cheater slick culture magazine has a ranchero that towed a small dragster across from Texas to CA. I have to find pics of his set up.
I just happen to have a welded in Eckharts Trailer Hitch & Weld
Set up on my F150. It was priced but one of the best things I even spent on the truck and used to extreme.
Unfortunately Eckharts moved the Santa Monica location away. otherwise I'd go down and get a quote and opinion I'm my CS.
Also a hitch set up on a Ranchero at the wrecking yard.
Looks like it might have failed.
There is two Rancheros at a wrecking yard in SoCal. I been chipping away at.
as we can see in Abe's pics, the rear c channel cross member isn't a good chassis part to bolt a hitch to. the rear crossmember is very flimsy and only lightly gas welded to the main frame rails. A HD hitch has to be tied to the main frame rails and possibly also to the next ( tubular) cross member to take the tongue load.
when you look at my og 1950s hitch you will see that it is bolted both to the rear c channel AND to the bumper with a really thick and heavy bracket and bolt. The point is, that main center bumper bolt also attaches it to the spring steel center bracket which lies behind the 'chrome bumper skin'. that actual spring steel bracket ties it all into the main frame rails. so the hitch is actually fastened with 4 bolts to the rear crossmember, 4 to the main rail ends (via bumper center bracket) and 2 to the forward tubular cross member. this is just bullet proof.
imho, if you wanted to adapt a modern hitch with a thick wall tube and tie it to the main chassis rail ends. Make sure you add longer brackets that extend forward to the main rail bumper bolts. That way they act like levers to take up torsional load from tongue weight.
Thanks for all of the info guys-and pics. Looks like it is a bit more involved than I thought. But not to worry, I will keep my eyes out for an original hitch like your Gunther. And if nothing shows up I will look at modifying a modern one and bolting it to the frame in multiple places.
I don't plan to haul a huge trailer but I would rather overbuild a hitch than under build one.