My wife and I returned from Indianapolis about 1500 miles were put on total with no problems to speak of from the chevelle. While in Indy she (my wife) started looking at trailers behind the other rods and now she wants one to haul more $!@& I admit we have had times we needed more space and a nice place for some tools would be ok. But will it look tacky having a hitch on the back when I am not pulling a small trailer? Does any one here have pics of something they did as I am sure I will have to build the hitch along with the trailer. I have found a Pepsi cooler that will need restored but it would look cool on a small framed trailer. We are getting closer to empty nesters and will be traveling more with the Chevelle so I think I will use it enough to warrant the hitch and trailer. On a side note I used to weld as a second job while she went to college and the shop is at my disposal. Thanks for any imput.

My buddy back in 1988 had one on his Chevelle when he bought it. The previous owner used it to tow his small fishing boat. The quarter panels were rusted, but the trailer hitch was just fine on it. I never really cared for it, but it wasn't my car. I have yet to see one now-a-days with a hitch...but to each his own. It's your car you should be able to decide what to do with it. I bet noone would even notice it anyway, I'm sure it's a nice looking Chevelle. :)

Sorry no pictures, but I had one made up around 1975. It's welded to the frame and made from channel stock. Doesn't look bad to me but I don't own a show car.
One thing to consider is to use a more modern 2 X 2 receiver so the ball sits back further. My ball is mounted on top of the channel stock. The Chevelle fuels behind the license plate. With the ball so close to the plate, it's hard to fuel the vehicle with something mounted on the ball. I think with the ball a little further back in the receiver, the license plate "door" would open a little more.

How about making one that is easily removable? Pull a few pins and pull it out. Just a thought, especailly since your going to be making a cutom one anyway. Pete

A couple guys here have hitches on their Chevelles...DZAuto and Onabudget are two that come to mind. Both are put to good use, too. ;)

If your not pulling the world,
Have a look around for a original factory or dealer installed hitch. I found one off Ebay for my 65 wagon for less than 35 with shipping (estimate on cost, its been awhile).
Enjoy.

When I got my Malibu it had one on it. You can have it if you want it.

http://www.454malibu.com/YbackO.jpg

Ever see those trailers that are made using the rear of a Chevelle? I would not use the rear frame, but graft the rear quarters/trunk/roof on a 5x4 trailer. Paint it to match, and make the trunk/back seat area your storage area, put diamond plate along the front of the rear quarters..

I did like Johnyac did,found one on E-bay,payed alittle more(60.00)but plan on using it on my '70 convertible SS clone.It's a aftermarket type with "1970 chevelle except PU" stamped label on the bar and the ball is mounted far enought away from the fuel door for easy access. I think it looks cool and I like the option of hauling more junk around w/o worring about messing up my trunk or interior.
Steve

I bought a original style hitch on ebay for 30 bucks. It was advertised as NOS and was in a GM box that was falling apart. I believe it was made for GM by one of the big hitch companies either way it don't really matter.

The hitch has a chrome toung and 1 7/8 ball. Its rated as 200 tounge and 2000 trailer. It mounts to the rear bumper, crossmember twice, and trunk pan. It bolts together and is an easy install.

I installed the brackets but instead of the tounge I bought a 2x2 receiver tube from a trailer supply house. I drilled it and bolted in place of the tounge and had the 'end' positioned tight up to the bottom of the rear licence plate. After bolting in place, I welded the receiver tube to the brackets for added strength. I did not weld the brackets so I could remove it if I chose to later.

I did however use some steel plates to re-enforce(sp) the holes that were drilled thorugh the trunk pan, to disperse the load over a larger area of the sheet-metal.

Its looks clean and un-offensive. Here are a couple of pics of it in use, I'll try to get some of the actual hitch on Saturday.

My wife and I returned from Indianapolis about 1500 miles were put on total with no problems to speak of from the chevelle. While in Indy she (my wife) started looking at trailers behind the other rods and now she wants one to haul more $!@& I admit we have had times we needed more space and a nice place for some tools would be ok. But will it look tacky having a hitch on the back when I am not pulling a small trailer? Does any one here have pics of something they did as I am sure I will have to build the hitch along with the trailer. I have found a Pepsi cooler that will need restored but it would look cool on a small framed trailer. We are getting closer to empty nesters and will be traveling more with the Chevelle so I think I will use it enough to warrant the hitch and trailer. On a side note I used to weld as a second job while she went to college and the shop is at my disposal. Thanks for any imput.

I have a Class III on my 70 El Camino and I use it for towing my boat and Camaro's on my car trailer. I can take some good photos so you can see how it looks. It's tucked up in there very tight and I personally think it looks great under there. It may be overkill for what you want but at least you can see it. BTW, I think the hitch I used was from an Explorer. I took the measurments I wanted and went to the local trailer hitch shop and picked one off the wall that fit what I wanted.

Let me know if you want some photos.

I have a Class III on my 70 El Camino and I use it for towing my boat and Camaro's on my car trailer. I can take some good photos so you can see how it looks. It's tucked up in there very tight and I personally think it looks great under there. It may be overkill for what you want but at least you can see it. BTW, I think the hitch I used was from an Explorer. I took the measurments I wanted and went to the local trailer hitch shop and picked one off the wall that fit what I wanted.

Let me know if you want some photos.
Dave I would like to see it and get a part number of the unit you used. Thanks.

Dave I would like to see it and get a part number of the unit you used. Thanks.

I'll take some pictures first thing tomorrow and post them at www.barefootdave.com/elky/hitch (http://www.barefootdave.com/elky/hitch)

I'm not sure if I still have the P/N but I'll see if I can find the receipt. If not I'll gladly get any measurement you might want.

Nice looking car and boat. Have you done anything with the suspension? I would like to use the El Camino to tow the Nova to our local track, about 40 miles.

Nice looking car and boat. Have you done anything with the suspension? I would like to use the El Camino to tow the Nova to our local track, about 40 miles.

Hi Philip:

I've rebuilt the suspension and added boxed control arms but other than that it's all stock. The original air shocks had seen better days so I replaced them with new ones last year.

My boat and trailer probably weigh about 4500 lbs and I guess my car trailer with a Camaro on it weighs a little more. My car is a BB w/ TH400 and it tows just fine but I'm not sure how a SB w/ TH350 would do. The factory power brakes (disc front, drum rear) are sufficient.

My lowers are tubular, have a sway bar, air bags and 12 bolt 3.73. The TPI motor may do ok for the short pull to the track. Trailer and Nova would be around 5000 lbs. The towing it will see the most will be pulling our Harley to events. This last 300 mile ride in 100+ temps almost did us in. Thanks for the info.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/CB06trailer2.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/604370-R1-24-1A.jpg

Here is what I use a trailer hitch for (plus I also pull a jet boat sometimes).
I found the hitch for the 70 right here on TC. A few years ago I placed a WANTED AD for a hitch that was specific for a 70-72 Chevelle. The hitch that I bought is the typical Class II hitch which, depending on the specific car, usually attaches to a rear cross member and in some cases it also attaches to a bumper brace. Anyway, back in the days when cars commonly had trailer hitches, they were readily available through auto parts stores such as NAPA. The hitch on my 70 is literally a bolt-on hitch and can be easily removed/installed in a couple of minutes. When it is not actually in use, I simply remove the ball (it partially interferes with pulling down the license plate to put in gas). The big bar that the ball attaches to is chrome (most were) and it seems to look OK when not in use with the ball removed. You might place a WANTED AD here and see what you can locate.

In the 70's I built one for my 64 and towed a vw van loaded with car parts and tools from ElPaso to Ft. Hood and back. Still have the tow bar, hitch is long gone but it was 3/8" plate bolted to the frame with 2" square tube between and extended from cross bar past the bumper. Braced it back with 2" at 45 degree angles back. Welded on big chain links for the safety chain.

understand the 'need' and capability of the car but please don't do it. it's just not right. this is just my opinion. although that little stars and stripes trailer looks damn good.......

Well I really don't want to do it but yet it would be so nice to have a bigger space for a big beer cooler. I really would want to make it as invisable as possible or have it easy to remove as I dont want it showing all the time its not a numbers matching perfect show car but I feel it looks nice and I have a few trophies too. I just found that traveling with the convertable down you dont want to store to much in the seat and the trunk is full in short order on road trips. Thanks for everyones imput I have a number of offers pending allready, I was planning on just building it but that may change now.

My 70 Malibu was our family car and daily driver. We vacationed with it every year and could get enough luggage, tools and toys in the trunk for 2 adults and 3 children for 2 weeks. I have to think your trying to take to much with you on vacations :D. Of course I can honestly say that Mary will take as much stuff as the vehicle will hold. We just returned from a 4 day trip and packed everything needed, and a few things not needed, on our Harley Davidison; which shows me all the other stuff I have to pack in the truck or El Camino must not be necessary ;)

Bob,
You like the little stars and stripes trailer?
You should see my red, white and blue jet boat behind the 70!!!

Toplis,
That hitch on 454Malibu's Chevelle is EXACTLY what I have on my 70.

Back in 1970 I put a Chevelle specific hitch on our COPO Chevelle to pull snowmobiles around. It wasn't very obtrusive. Still have it. I couldn't find a class III-IV hitch for our '69 el Camino so I built one. It's pretty hard to hide one of these but it will be up to anything that the car/truck can handle.
A few years ago we bought a very nice survivor '67 Chevelle. The friend that we bought it from threatened to burn the car if it ever got a hitch. It didn't get a hitch.

64 Elcy HHmm to much? Quik run down of the trunk, Med size suit case packed full, Small tool box I made in shop class back in the day for me,2 foldup chairs,one small bag with toiletries,a small container just big enough for 4 quarts of oil,the container that holds the car cleaning supplies from adams,Full size spare. We put the towls and small cooler behind her seat.I can not down size the suit case any as it almost did not zip and not that much clothing(her thong takes very little space:) acouple sets of clothes and she always takes 2 pair of shoes. The reason we talked about the trailer was for a couple more tools for the just incase it happen to me, A small grill, bigger cooler, I mean we found the beer stand to be a little high $5.75 a can! Maybe a couple jackets would have felt good and a umbrela also as it was cold and wet in indy.We made it there and back it was just a thought after we seen the other cars with the trailers some of them were the small sleepers you see.
I hang out with a few bike friends and they get by with far less than 1 would think I am not sure how they travel so far with so little? I will never have a bike to travel in and may never get this trailer off the ground but all imput is good :)

understand the 'need' and capability of the car but please don't do it. it's just not right.
Yes it is. In the 60's these cars were used as tow vehicles, pickups were in the minority and SUV's not invented. You probably wouldn't happy with me driving my 64 in the winter with tire chains over the passes, taking out the back seat to stuff lumber through the trunk or hauling cement and sod in the trunk, but thats what I do. 7 thousand miles a year, 3-4 days a week, every week.

Yep sounds like you are needing a trailer.

I stopped carrying tools a few years ago. I figure if I don't carry spare parts I really didn't need the tools. :D

Spare tires are highly overrated as well. I flew up to Ottowa to buy a 64 SS from a friend and drove it all the way home without a spare.

I was told if you aren't living on the edge, you're taking up to much room ;)

If you can weld then you can probably build a light duty hitch that will suit your needs. Check out the small trailers for motorcycle usage. They are light, easy to tow and surprisingly roomy. It wouldn't take much of a hitch to tow one either.

My very first Chevelle had a hitch on it, when I originally bought it in '84. I may actually still have it. I know I didn't think of it when I sold the car last year.

I also parted out a car once that had a hitch installed, They bolted it to the lower valance,under the tag, and ran 2 more bolts through the gas tank, and caulked it real good with blue glue! I don't know how those idiots didn't burn the car down. You gotta be tough when you're stupid!

My 68 had a hitch on it, it was welded to the frame and whoever removed it did a crappy job. When I eventually pull the rear to paint up the rear of the chassis and tank I'm going to grind the rest of it off.

understand the 'need' and capability of the car but please don't do it. it's just not right. this is just my opinion.

Here are the pics of my hitch. The receiver type is much less 'in your face' when your not using it.

Like allot of guys I need the extra storage. Check the pic of my trunk, its "empty". Before packing my stuff... I have a donut spare, 6 chairs, 2 tables, 6, umbrellas, tool box, box 'o' parts, cleaning supplies, flashlight, rain gear, and a fire extinguisher.

Don't worry about the naysayers, I often use the slide in receiver cargo tray or pull a utility trailer. I've loaded it up pretty good and had no problems. I wouldn't pull a car with this type hitch.

My suspension has HD coils, boxed lowers, sway bar, hop-stop bars on the uppers, and air bags in the coils. The air bags are piped to a schrader valve hidden on the rear crossmember right behind the bumper. After loading up the cargo tray or the trailer I add air to the bags to compensate for any sag. Usually 5-15 psi depending on the load. Under normal conditions the air bags have 0 psi.

OORAH DZ!! I'd love to see pics of the jetboat! I see the points for putting hitches on Chevelles, and they make sense, and you talented guys do a great job with putting on discreet, functional hitches, but I just think it detracts from the (what I thought was the intended) 'look' of the muscle car. Just my opinion.

I'll take some pictures first thing tomorrow and post them at www.barefootdave.com/elky/hitch (http://www.barefootdave.com/elky/hitch)

I'm not sure if I still have the P/N but I'll see if I can find the receipt. If not I'll gladly get any measurement you might want.
Dave thanks for posting the photos. That fits real nice, I'll have to check into getting something like that for my El Camino that won't interfer with my exhaust pipes.
My owners manual states that towing is possible but suggests getting with the dealer for optional equipment.

OORAH DZ!! I'd love to see pics of the jetboat! I see the points for putting hitches on Chevelles, and they make sense, and you talented guys do a great job with putting on discreet, functional hitches, but I just think it detracts from the (what I thought was the intended) 'look' of the muscle car. Just my opinion.

Hey Bob, are hitches on Elky's OK? Doesn't this look beautiful? It's a perfect fit! Hopefully your not a Mastercraft guy! :D

http://www.barefootdave.com/elky/tn_dsc04971_jpg.jpg

There is NO WAY I would pull a trailer behind my car. NO WAY. :sad:

Dave thanks for posting the photos. That fits real nice, I'll have to check into getting something like that for my El Camino that won't interfer with my exhaust pipes.
My owners manual states that towing is possible but suggests getting with the dealer for optional equipment.

No problem Philip. Let me know if you need any measurements or have any questions about my setup. I forgot I have a bunch more pictures of it towing at http://www.barefootdave.com/elky/towing/

Good luck with whatever you decide.

BTW, I think my original owners manual says the car can tow up to 6000 lbs.....and it has with ease! :thumbsup:

Do you mean that a MUSCLE car pulling a MUSCLE boat is not OK?????? I mean, how much better can that be?

BarefootDave,
This picture of your Elky and boat is so good I put it as my background. Very nice!

http://www.barefootdave.com/elky/towing/1tow.jpg

Hitch, with and without a ball and from below.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/hitchball.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/hitchnoball.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/hitchbelow.jpg

Is this an acceptable use of a trailer hitch on a Chevelle?????????

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Rear70boat.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Front70boat.jpg

Tom I couldn't think of a more classy way to get the wette vette to the lake :thumbsup:

Is this an acceptable use of a trailer hitch on a Chevelle?????????


That's beautiful!!

By the way, this is the boat that has the 420 SB (built with small journal 327 rods).

By the way, this is the boat that has the 420 SB (built with small journal 327 rods).

Hey Tom...that boat must fly! My Malibu has an Indmar 350 w/380 HP and it does 50+ at the 5600 RPM rev limiter.

you can have the trailer hitch. cant hardly see in pic. 1972 ss. its hard to see but its there.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y291/ford-six/100_0238.jpg

Check out the link http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-Chevelle_W0QQitemZ270000341032QQihZ017QQcategoryZ6 164QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Nice rear shot of a Chevelle with a hitch.

LK