Vehicle hitch assembly

A vehicle hitch assembly for mounting on a vehicle, comprising:

• a stamped sheet metal cross tube having an elongated shape that extends laterally with respect to the associated vehicle, and the stamped sheet metal cross tube including a central hitch support section as well as including a pair of laterally extending ends that project laterally away from the central hitch support section for mounting on the vehicle;
• the stamped sheet metal cross tube including a pair of stamped sheet metal members of the same construction as each other, said pair of stamped sheet metal members each having an intermediate portion that projects away from the other stamped sheet metal member so the stamped sheet metal cross tube has a hollow construction, and the pair of stamped sheet metal members each having spaced peripheral flanges that are engaged with and secured to the peripheral flanges of the other stamped sheet metal member;
• the central hitch support section of the stamped sheet metal cross tube having a hitch ball support for mounting a hitch ball on the hitch assembly;
• and
• a pair of vehicle supports that respectively support the pair of laterally extending ends of the stamped sheet metal cross tube on the vehicle.

A vehicle hitch assembly for mounting on a vehicle, comprising:

• a stamped sheet metal cross tube having an elongated shape that extends laterally with respect to the associated vehicle, and the stamped sheet metal cross tube including a downwardly projecting central hitch support section as well as including a pair of laterally extending ends that project laterally away from the central hitch support section for mounting on the vehicle;
• the stamped sheet metal cross tube including a pair of stamped sheet metal members of the same construction as each other, said pair of stamped sheet metal members each having an intermediate portion that projects away from the other stamped sheet metal member so the stamped sheet metal cross tube has a hollow construction, and the pair of stamped sheet metal members each having spaced peripheral flanges that are engaged with and secured to the peripheral flanges of the other stamped sheet metal member;
• the downwardly projecting central hitch support section of the stamped sheet metal cross tube having a hitch ball support embodied by a hitch receiver tube for mounting a hitch ball on the hitch assembly;
• an auxiliary chain connector including a connection plate welded to the downwardly projecting central hitch support section and to the hitch receiver tube, and the connection plate including a pair of auxiliary chain connection openings;
• and
• a pair of vehicle supports having openings that respectively receive the pair of laterally extending ends of the stamped sheet metal cross tube to provide support thereof on the vehicle, and welds that secure the laterally extending ends of the stamped sheet metal cross tube to the pair of vehicle supports.

A vehicle hitch assembly for mounting on a vehicle, comprising:

• a stamped sheet metal cross tube having an elongated shape that extends laterally with respect to the associated vehicle, the stamped sheet metal cross tube including a downwardly projecting central hitch support section having a downwardly opening formation, and the stamped sheet metal cross tube including a pair of laterally extending ends that project laterally away from the central hitch support section for mounting on the vehicle;
• the stamped sheet metal cross tube including a pair of stamped sheet metal members of the same construction as each other, said pair of stamped sheet metal members each having an intermediate portion that projects away from the other stamped sheet metal member so the stamped sheet metal cross tube has a hollow construction, and the pair of stamped sheet metal members each having spaced upper and lower peripheral flanges that are engaged with and secured by welds to the upper and lower peripheral flanges of the other stamped sheet metal member, the upper peripheral flanges having straight shapes extending continuously between the ends of the stamped sheet metal cross tube, and the lower peripheral flanges extending along the ends of the stamped sheet metal cross tube and having inner portions that extend downwardly at the central hitch support section and have lower ends that are spaced from each other with the downwardly opening formation of the central hitch support section therebetween;
• the central hitch support section of the stamped sheet metal cross tube having a hitch ball support embodied by a hitch receiver tube received within the downwardly opening formation of the central hitch support section between the lower ends of the inner portions of the lower peripheral flanges and having welds thereto so as to mount a hitch ball on the hitch assembly;
• an auxiliary chain connector including a connection plate having a horizontal portion welded to both the downwardly projecting central hitch support section and to the hitch receiver tube, and the connection plate having an inclined portion welded to the hitch receiver tube and extending downwardly to the rear from the horizontal portion and having a pair of auxiliary chain connection openings;
• and
• a pair of vehicle supports having openings that respectively receive the pair of laterally extending ends of the stamped sheet metal cross tube to provide support thereof on the vehicle, and welds that secure the laterally extending ends of the stamped sheet metal cross tube to the pair of vehicle supports.