small receiver hitch

I would like to install a small receiver on my TR4 so I can buy or build a bike rack to transport my folding bicycle. Anybody done this? Pictures would be nice.

Hi,

I've never put a trailer hitch on a TR4, but I know the type of bike rack you are talking about and imagine it would be possible to weld up a receiver frame that bolts to the body/frame mounts on either side at the rear, and maybe the bolt in the center of the spare tire well that goes all the way thru the frame tube. Definitely a custom job. The biggest concern would probably be ground clearance.


My solution for oversize items was just put the top down and put things in the "back seat", such as it is. But, looks like you have a surrey backlight, ruling that out.

Another type of bike rack might be possible to clamp to the sides of the trunk, much like a "ski rack".

Or, it might be possible to rig a roof rack that fits in the holes for the surrey top.

Good luck! Let us know what you end up doing.

Cheers!

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif.
'62 TR4 CT17602L

I have seen a ball type hitch for a Herald/Sports 6 that bolted to the rear frame, But you needed to cut a hole in the body.
Im trying to find a pic...But I think it could take forever.
Good luck, Im sure you dont want to cut a hole anyhow.
Have fun

Mark,
I have seen a TR6 with a receiver-style hitch installed. He welded a frame similar to the type that UHaul markets and neatly cut a small square hole in the belly pan below the bumper. He used the smaller square tube receiver rated for light-to-medium loads. He just slid in the hitch bar, standard, and pinned it for his small trailer. Note that the TR4/6 is not really rated for trailing, but I think you know that. The install was quite well done and virtually undetectable without the hitch. Very doable. The whole apparatus was not that heavy-looking and was bolted to the frame.

Bill

A custome one is easy to make (if you can weld) and all you want is to hold one bike. I made one once for a small Mazda I had. There were no comercial ones available with the big square receiver I needed for my bike rack. SO I made a moock up out of wood, took the woop pieces to the local metal suply guy and 35 bucks later I had a hand full of pieces that just needed to be welded together (he even drilled the big hole for the pin). One hour of welding and bingo all done. It worked fine and my rack held four bikes. I sed it for 5 years until the car wore out.

I had a hitch on my first TR6 I used to pull my 15' sail boat. I think I just went to a hitch shop and said do it and they did.