Today's project, added trailer hitch to my 4 seater cart

[bronsonj]

I haven't seen how others attached their hitches to their carts. So I figured I'd do it and post the pics.

So I picked up two pieces of 1" square tube and the ATV trailer hitch adapter from Harbor Freight. I welded the HF hitch to the metal tubes, then welded the metal tubes to the bottom of the footrest all the way back to where it connects to the large flat bar that is under the footrest. The new tubes are longer, but they don't interfere with anything.
THitch2.jpg

When I welded the receiver to the tubes, I left a small gap so the hitch pin would still fit through the holes and not be blocked by the square tube. I took about a dozen hex nuts and just spread them on the table under the adapter before I welded and that gave me the gap I needed.
THitch3.jpg

I put it upside down on purpose, so the ring can be used to attach to the lawn cart I have. And my utility trailer isn't huge, so I am not worried about the thicker metal now being at the top of the HF receiver tube. Then I hosed the entire thing down with spray on bedliner from HDepot.
THitch4.jpg
THitch5.jpg

Now I just need to modify the tongue of my lawn cart to reach as high as this cart sits! I did a cheesy test fit with a hook and a replacement chain link just to see how it would sit. Even with the hook/chain lowering the tongue about 6 inches it was still about 15 to 20 degrees up...

[ducowti]

(Dragging this back up from a year ago) Nice engineering. Am looking for something like this to frame mount on my cart under the rear seat/platform since I really don't want to mount to the platform.

[bronsonj]

Thanks!

I had the same issue, didn't want to mount to the platform. This has held up well. I am pulling a 20' long trailer turned parade float with it this weekend!

Right after I welded it all up, I put the trailer on it, stood on the hitch and bounced as hard as I could... And I am closing in on 250lbs so I think that was a good enough initial test. Figured if it was going to break, better in my yard than on the road. No issues then and still is great.

Still haven't added the wiring for trailer running lights, but that's on the to-do list.

[bronsonj]

So I've used the cart to pull the Christmas float ever since I put this hitch on it. Here's the 2017 float.

[bronsonj]

And during the day

[bronsonj]

Sorry about the picture size, that was my first time posting from my phone...

[Dixie Chopper]

Nice work man! Is that a boat trailer?

[bronsonj]

Thanks!

Yes! It is a boat trailer. It was a pontoon boat trailer that the prior owner destroyed so I got it for a song. I fixed the frame, cut 5 feet off of it and slid the one remaining axle forward about 22", then put a flat bed on it. The bed is now about 14' long, 20' overall (ish).