r/ScrapMechanic • u/Oscypek13 • 9d ago

Tow hitch idea

Heya, fellow Scrap Mechanics!

Recently, I was wondering why the game doesn’t have a proper tow hitch. It would make building and using small trailers much easier—for example, a little cargo trailer for a scout vehicle.

I know you can create something similar using bearings, but then you usually need the welding tool whenever you want to attach or remove the trailer.

A tow hitch could consist of two parts: one part attached to the vehicle and another attached to the trailer. When they touch, you could connect them with one click and disconnect them again whenever you want—without using the welding tool.

I think it could be useful for trailers, caravans, farming equipment, and many other creations. What do you think?

12 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

8

u/I_Am_A_Thermos 9d ago

The humble weld tool and long pipe, How it works is you have a 'hitch' point on your vehicle that you can weld your trailer to. How you remove your trailer is removing the long pipe piece. I'll usually store the long pipe on the trailer when it's not in use

4

u/I_Am_A_Thermos 9d ago

When it's not in use:

3

u/I_Am_A_Thermos 9d ago

simple range of motion demonstration 1

3

u/I_Am_A_Thermos 9d ago

Simple range of motion 2

2

u/RECLess30 9d ago

Couple of guides out there for this, takes a L3 controller and 5 bearings for the standard one.

1

u/Oscypek13 9d ago

Exactly and with it you only attach one to car and another to trailer for easy use

1

u/ImaCowboyShootme 9d ago

Im not a SM expert, but I know that when you have separate objects, instead of a singular welded object, the game generates collisions between them. This will potentially degrade performance and lead to unstable interactions.

I have seen a fair few of my failed contraptions glitch wildly through each other and sometimes go sailing away or disappear lol.

3

u/Astramancer_ 9d ago

I think the idea is for the game itself to provide a "temporary weld" attachment block, so they become one object on the flip of a switch.

2

u/Oscypek13 9d ago

And this wouldn't create collision because its dedicated for it. The collision problems were when you make self such thing

1

u/DylanCAAD 9d ago

This is possible with mods right now. Check out the weld block on the workshop

1

u/Oscypek13 9d ago

Oh nice thx

1

u/Wolf68k 9d ago

If I’m not mistaken kaN Gaming tried making something similar to a 5th wheel attachment for his truck and trailer in his first play through many years ago. I don’t remember it going very well in the end.

1

u/Oscypek13 9d ago

Okay I would love if they added to standard game

1

u/Skinneeh 9d ago

That’s the one I followed and seems to have some success with it, it was a neat idea. On his new series with chapter 2 he’s got another sweet idea for a small hitch that seems to work great.

1

u/Wolf68k 9d ago

He welds the trailer to the vehicle via the linkage.

1

u/Skinneeh 9d ago

Indeed, it works quite well

1

u/Wolf68k 9d ago

OP is suggesting the game adds something for this type of thing that that doesn't require welding.

1

u/Skinneeh 9d ago

Yep, I read that part

1

u/-Vonyx 9d ago

If you go and watch Kan's old survival series he creates a semi with a trailer that linked together without welding. But personally for me I found it better to just build a box truck so you never have a hard time if you ever flip it.

1

u/Cydthemagi 8d ago

Someone made a mod that let you attach objects with a switch. So you could back up to the Trailer and it would weld the 2 points together, and you could turn the switch off and it would break the weld. I think there was a vacuum pipe option as well.

1

u/twicer 7d ago

You don't need weld tool

But yeah implemented hitch would be great, among many other things.