front hitch options: homemade with bull bar?

[Thorne]

I know there are a few commercial options for a front hitch for my 2011 SMB Sprinter 2500 2x, but they all seem to be part of a bumper.

My question is: has anyone welded up a hitch tube to one of the bull bar setups? This would be for a light wooden boat trailer under 1000 lbs, just to get it up a driveway with a roughly 8' rise over 50'. My van came with the bull / pusher bar, which the PO welded to the frame under the engine.

Or is there a front hitch receiver being made by one of the custom van outfits that's not part of a bumper? Thanks!

[velo47]

I think both Aluminess and VanCompass make front hitches for the Sprinter.