Reloacting axle breather tube on 9" ?'s...

Well my 9" 's breather tube is sitting damn near parallel with the ground. This is causing the tubing to get ripped off each trip out, and that needs to be pointed up anyways for better ventilation. Can I just drill a hole on top, and use a tap kit that I have (by hand) for the relocation? Would that work or would I need something else for working on the housing...?

i'd drill a hole and weld a threaded fitting over it and thread a nipple into the hole.

Any others...???