I know this sounds stupid but hear goes…
A member of our team accidentally cut up our trailer hitch spacer and the rules say we MUST use the one provided in the KoP. So now we have to decide what to do… Is there any way to buy one, or any other options for our team? Is there anyway FIRST would possibly let us fabricate one? Thanks for the help, as you can tell we really need it!
I’m afraid you will not be able to compete this year 
I wouldn’t worry too much. Someone will post what size and hardness steel stock you need and you can cut a new one.
If I were you, I would contact FIRST ASAP to find out what to do. I would guess that they will tell you what metal you will need to make another one identical to the KOP one. At any rate, they will be able to help you.
I’m sure you won’t be the only team to cut up or loose this piece. Why don’t you do a service to the FIRST community and ask the question in the official Q&A so others can benefit from the answer.
The trailer hitch spacer provided in the kit is a piece of one by one 1/16 wall mild steel square tubing seven inches long. I wouldn’t be surprised if you cut a new one from similar material that you would pass inspection without any questions asked. This is not official, but my opinion.
I posted this exact question last week. Checking right now if there’s an answer
No answer yet, hopefully soon
yea agreed, they arent going to go analyze the construction of the metal to see if its exactly the same…
As long as you are right on the money w the measurements n such you can do it i think.
But again in my own opinion, nothing official…
Thanks for the help! For now we will cut our own and contact first in the meantime to find out other steps to take.
The official answer: http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=11714
Also known as, make it the same as the one in the KOP and you’ll be fine.
Thanks a million!!!
umm, sorry for hijacking this thread, but one quick question. The position of the screws on the spacer and frame material does not matter, does it?
Wait, the hitch was supplied in the kit?
I KNEW I was missing something when I came into the lab and the kit was spread all over…
the spacer was, 7inch long 1inch diam steel… Sort of dark ish color…
is that the hollow bar of metal? o_O
for our team we didn’t know what was it for and we just used it as a whacking tool
yea my bad its hollow also, and yes thats the one… rofl nice usage 
it didn’t have any holes pre-drilled, and for that reason we didn’t know what it’s for and we use it as a hammer whenever we can’t find it oO
and our team call it the smacking bar
well retrieve ur “smacking bar” asap lol
and may i suggest writing on it “NOT A SMACKING BAR”
LOL
And write, on all four sides, in caps: “DO NOT CUT!”
The other part of the hitch is also included in the KOP. You need a 7" length of C-base rail.
Also, for dani190: I don’t see any rules that govern where the holes are drilled. If there aren’t any in the drawings, then I would simply suggest using the ones in the C-base. Also, make sure that you can easily get to the other end for removal…
can anyone upload a picture of their trailer hitch? cuz i have no idea how to make it, and our team just can’t find the trailer pin.
Guess it’s that time…
The Game Manual, Section 8, can be found at http://usfirst.org/community/frc/content.aspx?id=452. Field drawings are listed under Section 6, and you will need drawing GE-09040. The rule on the trailer hitch is <R18>. According to <R18-C>, the pin is McMaster-Carr part # 98416A009.