Anyone have a tow hitch on their E body?

[cuda hunter]

@Mr Lee
That picture is of a 76 Town and country that I own. 
I will snap some better pics of the hitch if you would like. 
I would think that a station wagon tow hitch would be findable, especially if you ask over on fcbo. 
It is a really strong set up. 

I'm surprised no one has come forth with pictures of an actual factory tow hitch for an E body. 
Makes me wonder.  I looked and don't think I have an actual picture. 

[cuda hunter]

https://forum.e-bodies.org/new-members-introductions-roseville-moparts/3/new-norcal-guy/9545/msg132194#msg132194

Notice the trailer hitch on the second picture, first post.  That appears to be factory.  I"m not sure though.

[cuda hunter]

https://forum.e-bodies.org/your-restoration-project-roseville-moparts/10/1973-challenger-340-4-speed-rallye/6101/msg249148#msg249148

Reply Number 28.    You might hit up Mopar Mitch.  maybe he has a fender tag detail with the option on it and a picture or two of the factory hitch.

[cuda hunter]

https://forum.e-bodies.org/general-topics/7/show-or-tell-the-rare-option-your-e-body-came-with/1303/msg18226#msg18226

Note Catyclism's post number 56.   Information

[cuda hunter]

https://www.forebodiesonly.com/forum/threads/mine-since-new.13883/#post-78771

Check out the hitch on this 71. 

[cuda hunter]

https://www.forebodiesonly.com/forum/threads/aftermarket-hitch.11463/#post-63110

Here is an aftermarket set up that you can see clearly. 

[Mr Lee]

@cuda hunter   Thanks for taking the time to dig up all those links!  I appreciate it.  But more and more I think this is looking like a no-go unfortunately.  Might be more trouble than it's worth to me.  And it seems that drilling some holes in the bumper would be required and I don't think I wanna do that.

It would be nice to fab something that can bolt to the holes where the shipping brackets go but it would still need to be secured further back somewhere.  And I was just out in the garage under the car looking for ideas and didn't have much luck.  Could it be done?  Sure, but I don't know if it would be worth it.  This would likely be a one or two time usage thing for me personally. 


But for curiosity sake, can anyone tell me where the white and black ends of the pieces in this pic go?  I think I got the other holes figured out, yes?

[cuda hunter]

bumper brackets behind bumper?

I would think that the factory station wagon hitch would be the way to go.
No attachment to the bumper of valance. 
Still didn't get better pics but I did find these from when I was first looking at the car in the covered open barn.
Actually looks like it would work with minor modifications.   

[Mr Lee]

@cuda hunter
yeah, in a previous post, purple 1 had mentioned ... "A guy over in Europe made one that bolts behind the bumper brackets and has a receiver hidden behind the license plate."

Those pics you just posted are great. Thanks, but the back end of the challenger doesn't  have all that open space under there like the Town & Country does.   The valence panel is right there and it curls towards the gas tank and there is no space for any of that to hang down. 


@ZippyZoo   had mentioned in his post that "The "U" shaped piece bolts to the bottom of the bumper and holds the drawbar which also mounts through the bottom of the valence to supports which bolt to the rear of the trunk floor just ahead of the taillight panel."  But I don't really understand that.  "through the bottom of the valence"?  Does that mean you have to put a hole in the valence?

[Mr Lee]

internet pic

See.  It's pretty tight back there. 

[cuda hunter]

Yes, it is very tight.                 Ingenuity. 

[ZippyZoo]

@Mr Lee
Yes, you are correct, to use the hitch I posted and you also marked up in your post, two holes are drilled in the lower valence well below the license plate bracket.  So, if you do not want to drill holes in your bumper, valence, and trunk floor, this is not the hitch for you!
The "U" shaped bracket attaches to the bumper with two bolts in the license plate cut-out area.  The drawbar attaches to the "U" shaped bracket with one bolt which also hold the safety chain bracket.  The end of the drawbar with the two hole cross-brace, marked in red in your photo, attaches THROUGH the lower valence to the holes marked in white in the two support brackets.  The two support brackets run upright behind the gas tank.  The hole marked in black attaches to the trunk floor at the very back of the trunk immediately in front of the taillight housings and on either side of the trunk latch support. 
I will try to find some photos of the hitch installed when we get back home next week.

This photo, looking up from below, shows the two holes required in the bumper and in the trunk floor (where the bolts are sticking down).

[Mr Lee]

@Mr Lee
Yes, you are correct, to use the hitch I posted and you also marked up in your post, two holes are drilled in the lower valence well below the license plate bracket.  So, if you do not want to drill holes in your bumper, valence, and trunk floor, this is not the hitch for you!
The "U" shaped bracket attaches to the bumper with two bolts in the license plate cut-out area.  The drawbar attaches to the "U" shaped bracket with one bolt which also hold the safety chain bracket.  The end of the drawbar with the two hole cross-brace, marked in red in your photo, attaches THROUGH the lower valence to the holes marked in white in the two support brackets.  The two support brackets run upright behind the gas tank.  The hole marked in black attaches to the trunk floor at the very back of the trunk immediately in front of the taillight housings and on either side of the trunk latch support. 
I will try to find some photos of the hitch installed when we get back home next week.

This photo, looking up from below, shows the two holes required in the bumper and in the trunk floor (where the bolts are sticking down).

Ahhhh, I got it now.  Thank you for the explanation!