a single unit that can be installed on vehicles of varying dimensions the integral hitch and beam may reduce manufacturing time weight and parts thus reducing cost of vehicles with hitches the beam is cut to length depending on the rail distance of the motor vehicle application_number US 23133105 A description the following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention the description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims fig1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the integral hitch and beam 10 the beam 20 has two opposed end sections 40 and a receiver 50 disposed therebetween each end section 40 may be secured to a rail member 30 via a beam receiving aperture 120 of the rail member 30 in one exemplary embodiment the beam receiving aperture 120 may be defined by a rectangular shape thus each respective end section 40 may also be of a rectangular shape to fit within the beam receiving aperture 120 in one exemplary embodiment the end sections 40 may be secured within the beam receiving aperture 120 by a weld that secures the end section 40 to the rail member 30 at the beam receiving aperture 120 in one exemplary embodiment the weld may secure the end section.