Need truck hitch advice

[zman]

I have a 90` f150 with a tow package, that is to say it has light hookups and a hitch on the bumper. The bumper isn't a 3 piece thin design but a solid 1 piece , the hitch platform itself is a 1/4 inch squared off "U" shaped bolted to the frame, looks heavy duty enough for a motorcycle trailer or a 5X8-10`foot flatbed problem may be it sits 22-1/2" from the ground and not sure if that would put the trailer tongue up too high for safe towing , haven't actually tried fitting a trailer but with trailers that have 14-15" wheels when level the tongue looks lower then the hitch I have, Not looking to buy a reciever hitch but if I have to I can I just want to keep it in my budget and buying a new reciever hitch takes from my trailer fund.
Maybe there is a receiver that bolts to the bottom of the plate my ball is bolted too? I haven't seen one yet but that would lower it.
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Terry]

It is best to have a receiver hitch.
The thing is, with a receiver you can buy different pinnable hitches with the proper drop to level out your trailer.

Better to have a trailer tail high and hitch low than a hitch high and a trailer tail low.
Lightened tongue weight causes an unsafe trailer that weaves and whips back and forth at speed.

Maybe they make a bolt on bumper hitch thats the proper drop for your trailer. I haven't seen or used one.

 

[Bogardicus]

I used one of these on a S-10 I had.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/rees ... h+reciever

I used a straight reciever to pull my 10' trailer with 15" tires.
I used a 2" drop reciever to pull my 6' trailer with 12" tires.

edit: forgot to add it comes with 4 bollts and nuts and 4-1/2" shims.
I could only use 2 bolts and nuts, I used all 4-1/2' shims to lower the reciever further.

 

[dan filipi]

Bogardicus » 8 minutes ago[/url]":2cojaxo5]
I used one of these on a S-10 I had.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/rees ... h+reciever

I used a straight reciever to pull my 10' trailer with 15" tires.
I used a 2" drop reciever to pull my 6' trailer with 12" tires.

edit: forgot to add it comes with 4 bollts and nuts and 4-1/2" shims.
I could only use 2 bolts and nuts, I used all 4-1/2' shims to lower the reciever further.

Good choice. That should fit bolted to the bumper step.
Use case 8 or better hardened bolts for sure.

 

[zman]

Bogardicus » Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:42 am[/url]":6ap19z8j]
I used one of these on a S-10 I had.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/rees ... h+reciever

I used a straight reciever to pull my 10' trailer with 15" tires.
I used a 2" drop reciever to pull my 6' trailer with 12" tires.

edit: forgot to add it comes with 4 bollts and nuts and 4-1/2" shims.
I could only use 2 bolts and nuts, I used all 4-1/2' shims to lower the reciever further.

Nice!..Thats just what I was looking to find, been all over the internet and did not see one like that.

 

[brianinpa]

Jeff, if you look, you might find the capacity of the that bumper is probably 2500 to 3500 pounds. If that's the most you plan to tow fine, but if you ever hook onto something heavier, you risk leaving the bumper behind. At U-Haul, there are limits to what a customer can tow if using a step bumper hitch bease of that.

 

[zman]

brianinpa » Sun Mar 20, 2016 1:58 pm[/url]":3mbiqmvd]
Jeff, if you look, you might find the capacity of the that bumper is probably 2500 to 3500 pounds. If that's the most you plan to tow fine, but if you ever hook onto something heavier, you risk leaving the bumper behind. At U-Haul, there are limits to what a customer can tow if using a step bumper hitch bease of that.

Thanks Brian, I am considering that, might maybe just go with a class 3 or 4 after all.

 

[OldWrench]

One of the problems you would encounter with the hitch being much higher than the trailer tongue is the trailer will want to wonder. What you are looking for is 10 to 12 percent of the gross weight being on the trailer hitch, otherwise your trailer no matter how light will not tow right. Ideally when your trailer is hook to the truck it should sit level.

 

[zman]

OldWrench » Sun Mar 20, 2016 9:05 pm[/url]":1o220qvo]
One of the problems you would encounter with the hitch being much higher than the trailer tongue is the trailer will want to wonder. What you are looking for is 10 to 12 percent of the gross weight being on the trailer hitch, otherwise your trailer no matter how light will not tow right. Ideally when your trailer is hook to the truck it should sit level.

I`ll get it level for sure, thanks OldWrench.

 

[AApple]

I have a good friend who actually puts a looong level on his trailer to confirm it sits level when loaded! :hihihi: I thought he was nutz the first time I saw him do it, but by golly his trailer always pulls straight.
On my 'Burban, I have a receiver hitch, and it puts the tongue of my car trailer down too far....if I don't load the car edzachary perfect, the dang thing will whip back/forth like crazy. :whip: