Convert a 123 300TD trailer hitch to a 123 300D?

[Ol' Yeller]

Lots of threads about trailer hitches on the forum. What I haven't been able to find is whether someone has adapted a 123 wagon's trailer hitch to a 123 sedan.

Here in the salt belt, rear bumpers fall off because of corrosion, hence a hitch that hangs off the bumper is bad juju. In contrast, the station wagon hitch hangs off the bumper bolts.

123 wagon hitch:
Trailer Hitch by Curt for 1983 300TD - C11805

123 sedan hitch:
Trailer Hitch by Curt for 1983 300D - 11614

Years ago, a local welder designed and made one for me from scratch for my '85 123 300D but unfortunately, he is long gone and I have no photos. Has anyone converted the wagon hitch to use on a sedan hitch/recall a thread where this is described?

Thanks!

- Neil

[smiffy6four]

I modified a 300td hitch to fit my 240D. I'll post pics later today.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Because at that time I couldn't find a wagon rear-bumper. I installed a sedan rear bumper on my '84 TD and the bumper-shock mounting is exactly the same. A hitch designed to fasten at the bumoer shock mounting-bolts and frame-rails is the way to go. Don't see why the wagon hitch won't fit a sedan.

The hitch Curt shows for the W123 sedan is a joke. It would interfere with the function of the bumper-shocks and transmit any rear impact directly to the trunk floor. Plus, I would never try to load the aluminum rear bumper that way on any of these - especially the later W123 bumpers that had the shock-pads molded on!

Happy Motoring, Mark

[MBeige]

The wagon hitch won't fit the sedan because in the sedan, the exhaust tip protrudes directly rearwards. In contrast, the wagon's exhaust tip "swerves" outwards.

The design of the hitch takes advantage of this curvature in the wagon exhaust tip, but in doing so, prevents compatibility to the sedans (and coupes). Basically, the brace for the wagon hitch will come into contact with the sedan/coupe exhaust tip if mounted on these models.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Would a wagon muffler fit a sedan, or at least, could an elbow be tacked on to replace the sedan's tailpipe?
An exhaust modification would certainly be preferable to trying to compromise the wagon hitch just to fit the sedan's exhaust.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[smiffy6four]

here are the pics; ignore the wire and zip ties. A friend backed into the car while I was in NY and busted the rear bumper off. I lashed it on to get home.

I made a couple of L shaped brackets that go over the 2 outer most bumper shock studs. I then cut of the original mounting brackets from the wagon hitch and tossed them. I bolted my L brackets onto the car, then tacked the hitch cross piece on. Everything was then removed and solidly welded.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Originally Posted by smiffy6four

here are the pics; ignore the wire and zip ties. A friend backed into the car while I was in NY and busted the rear bumper off. I lashed it on to get home.

I made a couple of L shaped brackets that go over the 2 outer most bumper shock studs. I then cut of the original mounting brackets from the wagon hitch and tossed them. I bolted my L brackets onto the car, then tacked the hitch cross piece on. Everything was then removed and solidly welded.

Was this just to clear the sedan's exhaust, or were there other fit issues with using the wagon hitch?

Happy Motoring, Mark

[smiffy6four]

The bolt pattern was different, that's why I had to chop the ends off of the wagon hitch and make my own brackets. If you need a pic without the bumper, let me know.

[panZZer]

Originally Posted by smiffy6four

here are the pics; ignore the wire and zip ties. A friend backed into the car while I was in NY and busted the rear bumper off. I lashed it on to get home.

I made a couple of L shaped brackets that go over the 2 outer most bumper shock studs. I then cut of the original mounting brackets from the wagon hitch and tossed them. I bolted my L brackets onto the car, then tacked the hitch cross piece on. Everything was then removed and solidly welded.

All the info makes no sense as far as a factory wagon hitch, it bolts up the the rear of either sedan or coupe just like the wagon- as long as your car has euro bumpers with only wiring block issues to be worked out.

[Ol' Yeller]

Hi Smiffy,

Thanks for your pictures.

MBeige,

Originally Posted by MBeige

The wagon hitch won't fit the sedan because in the sedan, the exhaust tip protrudes directly rearwards. In contrast, the wagon's exhaust tip "swerves" outwards.

The design of the hitch takes advantage of this curvature in the wagon exhaust tip, but in doing so, prevents compatibility to the sedans (and coupes). Basically, the brace for the wagon hitch will come into contact with the sedan/coupe exhaust tip if mounted on these models.

Is the area where the fore-aft bracing bolts up the same in the station wagon as it is in the sedan?

Thanks!

- Neil

[RavenTBK]

Wanted to bump this for clarification. If the exhaust is not a factor (what exhaust?), is there anything else that would prevent the curt 11805 from being installed on a 123 300D sedan? From all I've read it should match up to the shock bolts, and holes would need to be drilled for the supports into the frame rails.... Correct?

I really want something I can plug into instead of the permanent shin buster. Tired of not being able to drag my jet ski around with me.

[ROLLGUY]

Originally Posted by RavenTBK

Wanted to bump this for clarification. If the exhaust is not a factor (what exhaust?), is there anything else that would prevent the curt 11805 from being installed on a 123 300D sedan? From all I've read it should match up to the shock bolts, and holes would need to be drilled for the supports into the frame rails.... Correct?

I really want something I can plug into instead of the permanent shin buster. Tired of not being able to drag my jet ski around with me.

This is not a TD specific hitch receiver, but it was on My CD and worked great. I am planning on copying this and making them for sale.

It seems to work great pulling my trailer with an 800 pound grand piano on it (about 1200 pounds gross weight).

[RavenTBK]

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

This is not a TD specific hitch receiver, but it was on My CD and worked great. I am planning on copying this and making them for sale.

Looks like a standard drawbar bent slightly with a Harbor Freight receiver box welded to it. Doesn't really solve the problem of using a piece of trunk floor sheet metal to tow with. If all else fails with the TD hitch, that looks like a viable solution.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

This is not a TD specific hitch receiver, but it was on My CD and worked great. I am planning on copying this and making them for sale.

It seems to work great pulling my trailer with an 800 pound grand piano on it (about 1200 pounds gross weight).

Before you begin mass-production, I see a couple problems.
While some have had good luck using the aluminum bumper to support a hitch, it's been well documented how unreliable the bumper attachment is on many of these cars. Also, even if the bumper was up to the job, that design wouldn't work on the TD, as they have the fuel-tank in place of the 'trunk-floor'.
The Curt hitch that fastens to the bumper-shock body-studs, with reinforcements that go forward to the two frame-rails, is probably the best option for the US-market cars. If needed, modifying the exhaust to fit should be a relatively simple solution.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[RavenTBK]

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

Before you begin mass-production, I see a couple problems.
While some have had good luck using the aluminum bumper to support a hitch, it's been well documented how unreliable the bumper attachment is on many of these cars. Also, even if the bumper was up to the job, that design wouldn't work on the TD, as they have the fuel-tank in place of the 'trunk-floor'.
The Curt hitch that fastens to the bumper-shock body-studs, with reinforcements that go forward to the two frame-rails, is probably the best option for the US-market cars. If needed, modifying the exhaust to fit should be a relatively simple solution.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Mark,
So you're confirming the question I asked a few posts above? All thats needed to get the TD hitch to fit is simply reroute the exhaust tip? Thats great. What sucks is the price for the hitch has been jacked up another $25 since I last checked in August.