Weld 2" receiver tube to radiator skid plate.

[PedalBiker]

I'm pretty sure that a front receiver hitch would use the same bolts as my radiator skid. I'd like to have a front spot for moving trailers and a recovery point would be nice as well.

I think that I could weld a 2" receiver tube to my radiator skid and get a front receiver without losing much ground clearance.

I'm curious if anyone has tried this. The Hefty skid is 3/16" thick, so it should be plenty strong enough. I've found 2" receiver tubes that should work on Ebay, but they would probably need to be cut to mate cleanly.

hitch receiver tube weld on | eBay

[frontear]

i dont think id trust it as a recovery point. with the reciever welded on to the skid, you be pulling on all the bolts that are holding the skid on. i know two should be drilled out to 1/2", but are the rest still m8 along the cross member?

it would probably be okay to pull a trailer in a parking lot though, but i dont think id want to get yanked out of the mud with it.

if you found a good front mount hitch that didnt hang so low, id bolt that up directly to the frame like it should, and to modify your skid to that.

[PedalBiker]

I have the Hefty skid that bolts up to the frame using the four large bolts that would be used for mounting a regular front mount hitch.

With the skid plate in place I don't think there is room to put a front mount hitch over top of it, but I could be wrong.

Since the skid uses those 4 large bolts, it seems that it should be pretty strong.

[Zedbra]

If it uses the large bolts that held the original tow hook, then I would think it might work. I know I have snapped some of the smaller bolts of the skid plate on the lower frame part.

[frontear]

im just thinking there isnt enough meat on that skid from frame rail to frame rail to be pulling from the center of it. i know its 3/16 but youd be pulling from the center of the skid 4" inches lower to where it mounts to the frame horns which seems like its going to pull the skid upwards. you wouldnt be pulling straight off the frame is what im think im trying to say.
im just trying to think this out. if you do it i hope it works, cause that would be awesome!

[PedalBiker]

Originally Posted by frontear

im just thinking there isnt enough meat on that skid from frame rail to frame rail to be pulling from the center of it. i know its 3/16 but youd be pulling from the center of the skid 4" inches lower to where it mounts to the frame horns which seems like its going to pull the skid upwards. you wouldnt be pulling straight off the frame is what im think im trying to say.

That makes sense. I would probably have to add some extra bracing as well.

I'd consider just getting a front mount receiver, but the Curt hitch comes in toward the bolts from the same direction as the skids, so the two won't work together and it would not be easy to get them to.

Nissan Frontier Front Mount Receiver Hitch & Accessories - JCWhitney

I know a new front bumper would solve this for me, but they're close to $1000 and that's not going to happen.