U-Haul Trailer Hitch

[mental1896]

I went to the U-Haul website to see if they had a trailer hitch that would fit my Eagle and they (surprise  ) didn't. But they did have this to say:

If U-Haul doesn't have a hitch for your vehicle, nobody does!

Your vehicle requires a custom-built hitch which we will gladly fabricate for you. If you are able to bring your vehicle to our Tempe, AZ Research & Development facility we'll provide you with a free U-Haul custom trailer hitch, including free installation, and a lifetime unlimited warranty in exchange for the use of your vehicle to fabricate the trailer hitch. We'll need the vehicle for two to three days. If you are interested in this offer please complete the form below and we'll contact you to schedule your appointment. This offer is only valid until one customer per vehicle can fulfill our requirements.

Need a trailer hitch, but can't come to Tempe, AZ for a fabrication?

Please complete the form below, we'll contact you with trailer hitch options for your vehicle.

so I filled it out and received this reply the same day:

Hello,
        Unfortunately we don't have a hitch for a 1984 AMC Eagle Wagon. We can custom build one for $1000.00 or if you are able to come to Tempe Arizona we can build one at no charge, you will have to contact [email protected]. Have a good day.

So if anyone near Tempe, AZ wants a free hitch, check out U-Haul. But I think it's a one-off deal where the first one to show up gets a custom hitch and then they save the measurements for future fabs.

[Prafeston]

My guess is they would not honor the free charge to build a hitch as there just isn't the market out there for them to make any money once they have them made. Uhaul did make trailer hitches for the Eagle, but they stopped because demand was low. Someone bought the last one from them a couple years ago. I'm not sure how Uhaul does things, but you would think they would still have the plans somewhere for building one. Unless they just stopped making them and threw them out....

[BenM]

I bought a class III from them a few years back. It was also for Concords and may have been usable on a bunch more AMCs, I don't recall. I was surprised it was a class III. The factory made a class I bumper hitch and a class II frame mount. It looked much like the factory class II hitch.

If your bumper is good and you're not moving a big trailer you can find universal class I hitches fairly easily.

[BenM]

[mental1896]

None of the universal hitches I've found have my make/model in the compatibility list. Do you know of a specific one that'll fit an '84 wagon?

Preferably class II +

[BenM]

I don't know of anything specific. I do know I've seen universal bumper hitches on eBay that are similar to the factory class 1 hitch.

[mental1896]

Hmm. That kind of hitch attachment would make me nervous. I don't think I'll ever haul anything over 2k lb. though... I'll keep my eyes peeled. Thanks for the info.

[rollguy]

Every once in a while I see one on a car in a wrecking yard.  Most of the time I pull it and sell it here.  I think I have sold at least 2 hitches in the past.  They were all class 3 if I remember correctly, and specially made for the Eagle, not universal.....Rich

[rmick]

Easy enough to make one if you have a welder.
http://amceaglesden.com/guide/images/4/47/84880204.jpg

[maddog]

Easy enough to make one if you have a welder.
http://amceaglesden.com/guide/images/4/47/84880204.jpg

that diagram looks exactly like the hitch I have. here is a post I made about it that includes measurements.

[mental1896]

Well I don't know the first thing about welding but I might know someone who does. Sounds like a fun project anyway. Thanks for posting those plans, maddog. And thanks for that image, rmick. And rollguy: if you stumble across another, would you let me know?

[carnuck]

I had a Class 3 built for my previous wagon. Wish I'd kept it. I'd make one for my current wagon if I was feeling better.

[vangremlin]

I was at a local watering hole yesterday, and while visiting the men's room, there was an ad there for an independent hitch store, they said if they didn't have a hitch for your car, they could make one.

[mental1896]

Did you happen to grab a number, vangremlin? I would at least like to get a bead on how much a custom hitch might cost.

[carnuck]

I was told $500 installed here