tow bar

[Four by Girl]

I'm getting ready to make a couple of tow bars for a guy so he will be able to move a couple of truck around at competetions without having to fire them up and get the engines warm before needed. What would be better to make them out of: square tubing or solid stock? (These trucks weigh 6200 lbs.) I am having a hard time deciding which would hold up to the stress better, would be easier to haul in the trailer, and etc.
Thanks in advance guys!

[BillC]

If you are just pulling a truck around a field then square or round tubing should be fine and much easier to work with. Are you talking something like the triangular towbars used to flat tow cars?

[Four by Girl]

Nope...The one I'm fabbing is for a guy to pull/push a 4wd pullin truck around at the pulls with...hitched to the bumpers/frame.

[Four by Girl]

I got the design off one of the 4wd pullers who fab'd his. The one he had made from round tubing didn't hold up (or course, he didn't do any bracing on it either). The problem with the one out of solid is wrestling it around while transporting with his semi trailer.

[BillC]

We'd be glad to try to help you out, but we need a little more information. If it is NOT a triangular type then what does it look like? Are you really going to push with it? That is much different than pulling...

I can assure you that solid bar offers no advantage to you. If your buddy's version failed then it was undersized and/or underdesigned... What failed? The welds or the members?

[Dan]

Square tube will be strong enough. It just needs to be properly sized for the job it is performing. Can you post a sketch or a picture that closely represent what you are wanting to fabricate? Also, what welding machine are you going to be using ?

[Guest]

If you're just doing positioning of the 3 ton truck, 2 x 2x 3/8" wall shoud be fine. I assume a "Y" configuration would be appropriate, but I'd add an "X" brace inside the "Y" and 3/8" fish-plates where needed at the apex, and round the corners to eliminate stress risers.

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[Four by Girl]

Thanks for all the help guys. I almost have them done now and have taken pictures. When I get them done and my film back, I shall post them. I used the SAE 400 Lincoln welder that is on the bed of my work truck. Again, thanks for the help guys.