Hitch Mount Portable Tire Changer Mod.....

Crow Horse · Jul 19, 2014

I needed to fab up a hitch mount for my Harbor Freight portable tire changer that would allow for the vehicle to be parked at an angle and keep the tire changer plumb. I was trying to do this as cheaply as possible, but I probably have $25-$30 into it. It killed me to have to buy steel at retail prices, but I didn't want to wait to get back into work.....

It's not completed yet but it's shaping up.......

Crow Horse · Jul 26, 2014

The first phase of this project is complete and pretty successful. I was able to mount a 235/75-15 without any difficulty. However, there are some refinements still to be made.

Fab or modify the original base. The one I received had a slightly distorted base plate caused by the heat from the welding. I tried to compensate with some ghetto "feet" but I was skeptical. I'm not sure if I'll make a new larger base from heavier material or make a small 30" x 30" platform for what exists.

Beef up or replace the bead breaker. Haven't used it yet but from what I've read, it is a weak point.

Fab up a new "cone" that holds the wheel in place. Again, from what I've seen, they can distort. Easy fab.......

Overall, I'm really please with the results......

I do have to admit that I couldn't figure out how to use the mounting rod properly and did use a spoon which was very easy to do.......

theoldwizard1 · Jul 26, 2014

Save your money for a NoMar Mount/Demount Bar - $125

Also Murphy's Oil Soap (the paste) is a great lubricant for tire mounting !

You can dilute it with water and put it in a spray bottle.

Crow Horse · Jul 26, 2014

I like that but it sure is a lot of loot. I'd have a hard time justifying pulling the trigger on that one. Maybe if it were half the price........

Farmall 1066 · Jul 26, 2014

Beef up the bead breaker BEFORE you bend it all to hell! I didn't and it would have been less work to have done it beforehand. Plated both sides of mine with some 1/8" sheet metal, it ain't bending now!

Nice job on the mount. I made mine with a piece of square tubing, with a vertical angle iron that clamps to the changer with U bolts. Base is bolted to a piece of 3/8 plate.

Crow Horse · Jul 26, 2014

Farmall 1066 said:
Beef up the bead breaker BEFORE you bend it all to hell! I didn't and it would have been less work to have done it beforehand. Plated both sides of mine with some 1/8" sheet metal, it ain't bending now!

Nice job on the mount. I made mine with a piece of square tubing, with a vertical angle iron that clamps to the changer with U bolts. Base is bolted to a piece of 3/8 plate.

Thanks.... Did you plate the bead breaker the entire length of the arms? I also wanted to replace the tube with some schedule 40 pipe....

Farmall 1066 · Jul 26, 2014

Yes, just scalloped it to clear the tube. I think if I'd have done it before it bent, one piece between, as a gusset would have been plenty. Left tube stock, and never had a problem, and I've done a lot of 30+ year old implement tires on it.

Crow Horse · Jul 27, 2014

I've got the bead breaker beefed up now. 1/8" steel on the back about 3/4's of the length of the arms and 2 pieces across the front. I think I should be good to go as far as this is concerned. Thanks for the heads up....

Farmall 1066 · Jul 28, 2014

Nice job, that'll keep things where they belong!

cheechi · Jul 28, 2014

If this is a dumb question, I'm just trying to learn not criticize. Why not add the hitch receiver equivalent to the wall of the garage, since you have the studs exposed just seems to make it easier and although your mod is neat, it's less necessary seems like.

Crow Horse · Jul 29, 2014

I had thought of that but when my stepson borrows it (which he will), he has cinder block walls in his shop.....

I might still do exactly what you said if I can find the correct size steel at work. In the interim, it's good to go......

cheechi · Jul 29, 2014

Cool. If you do please show us how it looks. I've been considering doing that since I only have a bumper mount anyway.

theoldwizard1 · Jul 29, 2014

Crow Horse said:
I like that but it sure is a lot of loot. I'd have a hard time justifying pulling the trigger on that one.

Some day you will want to do chrome/aluminum wheels. That is when you will really EED a NoMar Mount/Demount bar.

Crow Horse · Jul 29, 2014

You are absolutely right. I'll have to put it on my wish list (more like "the need list").....

volleyball · Jul 29, 2014

Make a plate that you can stand on to hold the unit in place. Have holes to be able to put spikes or screw into the current floor.

Bigblue&Goldie · Jul 29, 2014

What kind of tires do you typically use this for?

Farmall 1066 · Jul 30, 2014

Done everything from 13" car tires, to 4.00 x 19 tractor fronts.
Aluminum wheels on wife's truck still get remounted with spoons, but I have used the supplied bar, with a few wraps of duct tape to keep from scratching them.

Crow Horse · Jul 31, 2014

cheechi said:
Cool. If you do please show us how it looks. I've been considering doing that since I only have a bumper mount anyway.

I started the garage mount and it was pretty simple. Being that I made "tabs" from 1/4" flat stock for the hitch mount, I just made a bracket that has one backed by a 2x4 between the studs (I actually used "polyboard").... I'll finish it up at work tomorrow....

Crow Horse · Aug 2, 2014

I'm pretty much done with this project. Maybe a tweak or two but nothing major. I dismounted a tire and mounted on another rim. It worked perfectly. The base provided more stability and all it needed was one foot on it. I can see how valuable the No Mar dismount/mount bar is. The HF bar is pretty rough (casting) so I ground down the surfaces to make them mirror smooth. That's still no comparison to the No Mar as it's still metal on metal. I also covered the angle for breaking beads on the base with a thin strip of polyboard. Cut some thick rubber matting material for the rim to sit on. I'm very happy with it. I'm looking into some thermoform plastic to cover the ends of the mount/dismount bar to prevent scratching. If I can't do it on the cheap, I guess I'll be saving for the No Mar bar....

Crow Horse · Aug 3, 2014

I lied. This came to me last night and it was a no brainer. On the main arm I mounted the mini tire changer (with u-bolts)..... I'll finish it up at work tomorrow.......

Crow Horse · Aug 17, 2014

I found a piece of aluminum tubing that fit perfectly over the center post to act as a "bearing"......

Used some couplers to act as a "yellow thing" holder.....

Crow Horse · Aug 22, 2014

Finished... I know I went overboard. Finished making a mount/dismount/spoon bar holder which swivels. I used aluminum tubing, capped using 3/4" aluminum plate and it sits on a 1/2" thick "washer" made from plastic (the type elludes me now)........

Yes, I sprung for the No Mar mount/demount bar......

Hitch Mount Portable Tire Changer Mod.....

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