Front license plate mount.

[jarek m]

It's going to serve three purposes:

One... It'll provide four point mounting/full backing plate for the numbers plate. Anyone that ever hit high water at any momentum can attest to the need of that kind of support.

Two... Quick snatch point. Over the years I've seen dozens of SUVs flooded because of the amount of time it takes to utilize submerged loops that require use of D shackles.

Three... Easy access to the front hitch reciver for winch tray. Winch tray makes sense for us since 98% of the time the truck is a shool bus.

Parts needed, old hitch and ball, little sheet metal, rebar.

[PaHumBug]

I'm not picking up what you're puttin down... More explanation or pics please?

[jarek m]

Busy, busy, busy... I'll move it along today, promise!

[SummitUp]

So I guess you'll be drilling the tongue on that ball mount to work with the H2's front receiver's vertical hitch pin arrangement (I assume you want the ball upright)? And unless you have the original H2 articulated hitch pin which drops in from the top you'll have to use soemthing like the Bully Locking Hitch Pin which is a PITA to access under the truck to work the key.

I went with the Gobi spring loaded flip-up front license plate holder. Makes for a neat solution, and mounting my winch cradle is quick and easy.

[jarek m]

I like the Gobi piece, if mine looks horrific that's what I'll go with. For the pin I'll go to local Tractor Supply, they have a wall of that stuff to chose from.

[jarek m]

Well I tried things up but looks like I'm going to have to wait for the grill to be done with paint and installed to check for clearance when opening the hood.

[SummitUp]

Originally Posted by jarek m

I like the Gobi piece, if mine looks horrific that's what I'll go with. For the pin I'll go to local Tractor Supply, they have a wall of that stuff to chose from.

The only hitch pin that will work from the top is the factory articulated (hinged) pin. A straight pin that would be long enough to go through the receiver from the top can't be inserted because of interference of the grill. The only pin that can be used from the bottom has to be a locking pin to keep it from falling out (you can't get to the top of the receiver to insert the clevis into the hitch pin).

You can still get one of the H2 Trailering Accessory Kits on eBay which includes the articulating hitch pin.



Or you can get just the articulated pin from GM Parts Direct; Part No. 15059236 ($36.78).

And yes, you'll probably find that you cant open the hood all the way with a ball mount hanging off the front receiver.

[jarek m]

Since I have to wait with the front I redid the rear mount. After an accident body place trashed the bumper mount and permanently installed the plate behind the spare tire, making it impassible to take the spare off. Genius!




This one is going to go on the swing away passenger side, out of the way.

[jarek m]

Drilled two holes in the tire carrier, instated pair of rivnuts and bolted the plate mount with couple 1/2" spacer washers behind it. This way dirt won't get trapped betwen. After shortning the light wire by a mile I was done.





Tomorrow back to the front one.

[jarek m]

Well... I got it welded up but it's not looking to hot. Leaning more at Gobe now.

[SummitUp]

Can you still open the hood all the way?

[jarek m]

Originally Posted by SummitUp

Can you still open the hood all the way?

Last picture is with it up all the way, forcing the springs I can get it to about half an inch from the plate.

[jarek m]

The end product would be POR15ed ball and hitch, but still... What you think?

[guruerror]

IMO...good idea, but I think I'd just go with the Gobi. It's got a cleaner look.

[Crush'em]

I'll third the Gobi plate mount. Looks hella clean and very practical...