well there is 6 mounting holes in my hitch
Well you can't argue that 8 isn't better. I'm sure the extra length of the class III mounting points help to spread the load. The fact is that a class II is rated for less weight for a reason. Pulling a trailer with wheels is a lot different than having someone yank on an immobile XJ (or vice versa).
hitch pin? where would I put that? there is NO hitch tube
Oh I see what you did now. Since you ground off all the paint on the receiver hook and not on the hook itself, it looked like you slid the hook into some receiver tube and welded it on. I see now that you are covering alot more surface area by welding the whole hook and body to the crossbar. Your welding surface area is about the same as a typical hitch setup, if not more with those extra gussets that you added.
so you 'admittedly suck' at welding and you are giving me welding advice? Seems kinda shady if you ask me
Firstly, I never once gave you welding advice. I gave you advice on how to improve your design, as have others. I think that recommending a class III mounting system as a starting point is sound advice. As a flux-core owner myself, my only advice would be to pick up some anti-spatter spray from the welding shop. It does a really good job of keeping the spatter down, and makes for easier cleanup.
I am NOT a new welder... I am new to THIS welder and I am still using flux core with this welder... I just have not scrapped up the dough for a regulator and a bottle... but for doing thicker steel, honestly flux work pretty darn well... I would not use it on thin stuff though
Whether your welds are strong or not (they look better up close), I stand by my statement that they *look questionable. The fact is that a lot of experienced offroaders would be hesitant to hook a strap up to a hook with boogery looking welds an flux-core spatter all over it. It's a liability on their end, and they also don't want a hook through their head or windsheild. Likewise, although I'm a mediocre welder, I would never buy a used jeep suspension and fab parts with boogery looking welds and flux-core spatter. The welds could be just as strong as any, but flux-core welds relay two things for me:
* I'm too inexperienced to upgrade to a more expensive gas mig
* I can't afford a more expensive gas mig (what other concessions were made)
I'm referring to perception and not skill or actual strength. I know that flux-core has it's advantages, especially if you are outside and it's windy. However, there will be someone on the other end of your tow hooks who may be subject to said perceptions. If you are confident in your welds, you may wan to clean them up a bit and make your work look presentable. FYI - you can take a steel chisel and knock off the metal beads.
