I've been shopping around for a front hitch receiver for my new truck and the only thing I can find is from Curt Manufacturing and it is only for 4wd vehicles. I just assumed that there would be hitch receivers on the market for 2wd F150's, as that is what I have on my current truck. I really need the front hitch as I use it a lot getting my boat in and out of a tight storage space. Has anyone here put a front hitch on a 2010 supercrew 2wd? If so, did you have to fabricate it, or was there something on the market?

 

Did you check on the Draw-Tite 65054?

Per the installation instructions:

Front Mounted Receiver
Installation Instructions
Ford F-150, 2WD & 4WD Models

 

Here's another thought -- what about a Yakima roof rack to carry them on the roof? The SuperCrew roof is definitely big enough to accomodate bike racks. I'm thinking about a set of Yak racks for mine in the near future for extra cargo capacity.

 

Shotgunz,

Thanks!

 

I have considered about everything. We don't have room inside our travel trailer for one bike, let alone four bikes. To fabricate a rear hitch on our trailer with a frame that is so lightweight and full of holes (like a truss) will cost close to $500 as we have to go way up on the frame near the axles for support. That leaves either mounting them on the trailer tongue (racks for there are about $950), on a front receiver-mounted rack, on the roof of the Supercrew, or on the fiberglass lid of my Supercrew. All Yakima/Thule options approach $850, as well.

And... not to change this post Ioriginally started... I weighed my trailer set-up last weekend. I crossed the scales at 8100 pounds GVWR w/o the WD hitch. Yes, 8100. Way over the 7700 pound rating of the truck, and 7800 with the WDH. I am heading to the scales this morning, again with a hitch reconfigure and an EMPTY truck. If I again hit these numbers close to the GVWR, I will wait on the bike rack and deal with it in fall 2010 /early spring 2011 with a Superduty. This will be the second time I have been burned by a 1/2 ton, and i just can't figure out why. To camp with nothig in the bed of my truck will be stupid, and I don't think I can anyway. The scale will tell.

 

I installed that Curt 31368 front receiver on my 2010 FX4. It installs nicely and is very solidly built. A couple things about the installation I'm not thrilled with is that it sits a good six inches behind the front surface of the license plate bracket (my most forward obstruction for anything that goes in the receiver) and it's angled up instead of being level with the ground like the rear receiver.

Since most hitch mounted bike racks come with the capability of installing to either 1.25 inch receiver without an adapter and an 2 inch receiver with a slide-in adapter, buying a 2-to-1.25 inch adapter like at U-Haul is a simple way for you to get an extension and an adapter while elminating one piece of hardware. Rattle eliminating pins or locks are a must though.

The up angle on the hitch puts the bikes higher in your field of view but I think you can get a bike beam and attach it between the stem and seat post of the bikes to lower them a few inches for a better view. Not sure what other problems the up angle will cause but in my opinion, this is a design flaw. Curt's design has the receiver parallel with the mounting plates and doesn't account for the slight up angle of the frame. I don't know how important this is on a front receiver as it's mostly for short pushes or accessories, never had one before.

As are as the air dam is concerned. Didn't really like removing it either. However, I think you can get some heavy duty rubber sheeting (something like you can find in tires or a mud flap), drill some holes in back of the crossbar of the receiver, and mount it back there with three or for large sheet metal screws, and some fender and lock washers to get your air dam back. It'll probably do a better job of surviving off-roading than the original air dam too (just don't off-road with your bike rack--you'll tear it up). If you do a good job cutting the rubber to fit, it should look pretty good given it's relatively hidden location.

Check out NC-2x-Platinum's profile. His pix show my installation too. Except my tow-hooks are black.

I have mixed feelings about mounting the bike rack in front but the receiver is a versatile option to have. Assuming you have a grand to burn on a winch too.