Hitch Mounted Shooting Bench

[Lerk]

Anyone ever built a hitch-mounted shooting bench? I'm constantly plagued at my house by not having a proper bench to shoot from, and I usually resort to pulling the truck in back to use the bed to hold everything I'm using. As I can't build a permanent bench, and anything I do build has to be able to be put away and stored in a shed, I thought a hitch mounted shooting bench would be slick. Don't laugh at my petty drawing, but this is what I imagined:



If you went really overboard, you could design it offset on one side so you don't have to straddle the center post, add adjustable support legs, top height and length from tailgate adjustable, and add footpegs for bracing on. In reality it wouldn't even have to be that large a top surface, something like a 2'x2' or 3'x3' space would be perfect and give you plenty of room for bags, position angular, and give you space to put a box of bullets and your arms. You could even build a mount for spotting scope

I'm getting excited now thinking about this, I may have to build this since I'm laid up anyways from my leg surgery, it would be the perfect time passer.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I use a ironing board. The tapered end works great for sitting beside to bench a rifle.

 

[Lerk]

I use a ironing board. The tapered end works great for sitting beside to bench a rifle.

That is genius, I may have to keep a lookout at garage sales for a cheap one.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Yep, the older ones usually are built outta heavier metal.

 

[whanson_wi]

It looks very practical, but illegal where I am (WI).

 

[Lerk]

Illegal you say? From a hunting perspective I guess I can understand that it could potentially constitute as firing from a vehicle, but I can't really see it posing any problem on personal land and for practice sessions only.

 

[RX-178]

http://shooterest.com/main.sc


Here ya go. Not that I'm trying to discourage you from building your own, though, I'd kinda like to see that anyways.

 

[beatledog7]

Without some sort of platform for the shooter's feet he will be unstable as heck.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I don't think having your shooting bench attached to a big windsail on springs is a good idea.

Maybe have a bench that is simply transported via the hitch and then remove it, set it up and then shoot with it on the ground.

 

[Lerk]

RX- I know that some companies made them, but that thing is pretty nifty, but I'm sure it's not cheap.

Beathledog- I had thought the same thing about foot support, that's why I mentioned adding foot pegs. It wouldn't really be all that difficult to create a length and angular adjustable foot pegs setup.

Certaindog- I understand your point about about it catching the wind and the spring compression factor. But normally I don't shoot on very windy days and it's not practical for me to shoot past a range of 400yds-500yds, once I go past that there starts to be natural obstacles that limit it from going any farther.

I'm kinda of looking at this as a "just cause" project. Who knows, might just decide to save my time and grab some 2x4's and plywood and build a simple bench.

 

[Blackrock]

Add a couple trailer tongue jacks from Harbor Freight for stabilizer and it oughta work just fine.

 

[osprey176]

You don't want to use your truck for a rest,it isn't stable.If you don't believe it,just bump it and watch it shake.I built a portable bench from plans on Larry Willis' website. A double layer of 3/4" plywood glued and screwed,and cut to shape makes up the top. 1.5" pipe make the legs.the legs unscrew for storage and portability.I put a sturdy handle on the front to hang it up against my garage wall.I just use a five gallon bucket with a swivel top for a seat.My rest,sandbags,chronograph,and staple gun all fit in the bucket.The bench is plenty sturdy and stays out of the way when not in use.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I've built one before ant it worked fairly well. Ill look for a pic

The trick to stability was to lift up on the stand and put a jackstand underneath it.




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complaints about

 

[R.W.Dale]

Here it is.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=424682




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complaints about

 

[Rembrandt]

On B-17's that was known as the tail gunner position.....suppose if you had a sun roof you could have your own ball turret.

 

[Krogen]

Back in the day, a buddy and I built a plywood "lid" for the box of my Ford pickup. It was perfect for our varmint safaris. The lid was hinged so it could be lifted as needed. It protected our guns and gear, and was a great shooting bench. We just leaned against the side of the truck and used bags or rests on top of the lid. Very wide field of fire. It was plenty stable provided somebody else wasn't trying to get into position while you were shooting. A lot of vermin was converted to magpie food with that setup.

 

[homatok]

A friend of mine built a bench top with a 2x4 on edge attached to the middle on the bottom. The 2x4 clamped into the jaws of a Black and Decker "work mate". Worked well, easy to assemble, transport and store.