or you could just buy another bike holder that is flat mount, and attatches under the ball. I believe they are a dime a dozen, and it would probally not cost as much as mucking around with this one!
If it was me, i would just ditch the rack.. who needs a bike anyway! - but seriously, if you were dedicated to doing this, why not just have the piece of RHS coming from under the vehicle and out, rather than welding it onto some flat bar. Drill the holes through it, and weld in some suitable EWS tube to prevent crushing when tightening the bolts. If really needed, you could stuff the pipe with sand, and heat it up with the Oxy, then bend it to the shape you need. Before you cut it to length that is.
All in, it would be easier to buy one that is sandwhiched between the ball and tounge, as i mentioned before. it would save you allot of grief and cash, and would look better than some stupid contraption made from deep fried Chihuahua and the front quarter panel off a supra. Would be lighter than a slab of 20mm flat bar on the back also. that stuff isnt exactly the lightest. I know you are thinking "ill go to 10mm" right? Wrong. Even having 50Kg of bikes hanging off the end of this, with a 10Kg bike rack, after a few decent bumps at speed, unless you harden it, that steel will be bending over faster than elton john at a back door boys concert.
Sorry about my attempted "puns". there seems to be no cold beverages available tonight. and its still 33 degrees, at 9:00pm. what a crock! - No insults were intended (this time!)
