Vannin' Home
Posted By: OkanaganVanClub 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 10th 2017 11:12 pm
No frame (Unibody) on my newly purchased 1993 GMC G2500 Palm Springs Edition.
No hitch available
Can someone fill me in ?...

Attached picture 60ABBB.PNG
Attached picture 60ABBbbb.PNG
Posted By: frscke1 Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 10th 2017 11:32 pm
Welcome to the site ....

Yes you can have a tow ball ...

http://www.autoanything.com/towing/GMC/Vandura/110A50740A0A0A116A9189A1.aspx

Posted By: newkirkinc1 Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 11th 2017 11:17 am
welcome to the site good to have ya aboard.
Posted By: Dyno_Dave Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 11th 2017 5:36 pm
Welcome aboard!

[Linked Image]

I towed with my '95 for years. A good hitch and you're in business,

Posted By: Wedgy Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 11th 2017 9:42 pm
Hideho OkanaganVanClub,

Welcome to the site. Clean little GMC, nice find!. Should be fun, especialy with a 350. Sturdy Class III hitch, make sure all systems are good to go, I would think you could tow 4000 pounds no problem. Might be rated for more, but Conversions weigh more, good to have a margin for safety. And! As Always, Safety First.
Posted By: OkanaganVanClub Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 12th 2017 12:02 am
Wedgy...thanks for your responds
My main concern is not the strength of the hitch, but what it is fasten to. No frame, but unibody

Thank You All, for the warm welcome
Posted By: Dyno_Dave Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 12th 2017 5:24 pm
That unibody is tough. GM used to sell them as cutaways...cab and chassis with just the sub-frames and rear floor...for motorhome companies to build on. There's plenty of strength there, with the proper hitch.
Posted By: Lettercraft Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 12th 2017 9:24 pm
How did you get the van in the email thread?
Posted By: 1959 Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 12th 2017 9:33 pm
I have towed with my 88 GMC 2500 many times. Heaviest was rented trailer carrying 1940s Chevy truck. Towed fine, only problem was the great gas mileage.
Posted By: OkanaganVanClub Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 12th 2017 11:00 pm
Thanks for your comments and suggestions...Hitch shop won't touch it..went to a fabricator shop and he will fit one for me, but had the same concerns of the unibody and it's already extended for a larger fuel cell...

Attached picture 60AAAAABBB.PNG
Attached picture 60ABBbbb.PNG
Posted By: CatFish Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 12th 2017 11:40 pm
Whew....! rolleyes
Let me see if I can be nice here.
Uni-body is just a term, it could as well be "uni-frame".
There is a frame on the van.
The frame and the body are made (joined) together during manufacture. Just because there is no space between the frame and body doesn't mean there is no frame.
I currently have receiver hitches on two on my '90's GM vans, one '95 Chevy G20 (with the 33 gal tank) and one a '94 GMC G1500. They are bolted to the frame in the locations specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
Hitch companies have been manufacturing, marketing and selling hitches for these vans for years. They bolt to the frame.....just like the vehicle manufacturer (G.M.) planned and designed. That's why there is a towing capacity listed for the vehicle. And why the dealerships sold receiver hitches for them when they were new. They also sold step-bumpers for them. Some vans have both.....

I've heard that in some parts of Canada, unlike the US, hitches must be inspected after installation. That it has to be installed by a certified installer and that the hitch must be new. I learned this from some Canadian vanners who have receiver hitches on their third gen Chevys and they tow with them. rolleyes

I sometimes use the GMC as a basket carrier...
[Linked Image]

And we tow our little FunFinder with the G20, no problem.....
[Linked Image]
Posted By: frscke1 Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 13th 2017 12:52 am
There are bolt holes in the rail under the van for a hitch .... you can get one & bolt it up yourself !
Posted By: Wedgy Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 13th 2017 1:30 pm
Look at your GVWR. Look at the factory listed Maximum Combined GVWR. Subtract the difference. 1993 G20. Stock. The number is your tow rating. All my vehicles are rated to tow 5000 pounds. All have hitches, and are capable of towing, Including the 3 Vans.

The Van you have, I'll guess is rated similarly. Look at the construction drawings in the FSM. The exploded drawings should convince you the "frame," issue is an non issue. The frame is there. GM did it right. There is a lot of metal in there. It's sturdy. It's just built into the body shell. There's nothing wrong with it. At all.

I'd love to have that 93 to tow my boat, which weighs just under 4000 pounds, loaded with trailer. Like I said.
350? No problem. Guys on here are towing way more with less. What is it you would like to tow?

Look it up on the Internet or a factory Owners manual. Properly equipped, GM says you can tow.

Posted By: Lettercraft Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 13th 2017 1:55 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZx4brnn34o

I believe this is a unibody trailer hitch.
Posted By: Lettercraft Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 13th 2017 2:01 pm
Another video that might be helpful

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEme2BZdPho
Posted By: CatFish Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 16th 2017 3:01 pm
Tutorial:
https://www.etrailer.com/tv-hitch-install-1994-gmc-van.aspx
Posted By: Turnkey Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 16th 2017 3:08 pm
Thats interesting to find out that Canada has regulations on hitch installation. I removed a few homeowner hitch installations in the past that were just frighteningly poorly done. I can understand why they went that direction. Can you imagine being on the freeway at 70 when somebody's 6 thousand pound boat package pulls loose hitch and all!
Posted By: Doc 2% of Canada, EH!!!! Re: 1993 GMC G2500 Unibody - October 16th 2017 8:26 pm
Used hitches cannot be sold by wreckers in several states and some provinces. Hitches in Ontario are inspected during safety inspections annually on Commercial Vehicles and when a vehicle is transferred to a new owner. I have always installed my own, but it was torqued to specs, and re torqued every time I re torque the wheels. I installed my own on a Dodge, Chev, Ford and two mini vans. Never had one fall off yet..

Interesting fact. If you are insured by Haggerty, towing any trailer is a NO NO
© Vannin' Community and Forums