I searched this site, but I didn't find the answer I was looking for.
Sorry if this is in the wrong conference.
Can I pull a 12-15 foot boat on the trailer with the bumper hitch? I don't know the weight of the boat and trailer. I know that the class III hitches have a lot of advantages such as bike racks and other goodies, but they are costly.

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Black 98 F150 XL Sportgroup
2WD 5spd 4.6L Triton V8
Reg. Cab Short Box 3.08
Air, Sliding Rear Window,
Boxliner,

 

Is your bumper a factory? I wouldn't take the chance. I can easily pull with my Bundy Drop. It is way tougher than my factory was.

 

OK, I towed 2000 lbs with the step bumper on my Toyota for years with no problem. A 12/15 foot boat can't weigh THAT much(more). I hope Ford put that hole in the bumper for SOMETHING.

Measure how high the ball will be when it's on the bumper and see if this height is acceptable for the tongue of trailer. If the tongue is too high you may get some fishtailing.

A ball costs 8 bucks. Give it a try. You'll still need the ball with the Class III so it's no loss.

 

The factory step bumper on my truck is rated for 500/5000. If you have this particular bumper and your boat, trailer, fluids and gear are under 5000 lbs., I see little reason why you should install a frame mounted receiver, unless the bumper tow height is too high for your particular needs.

 

I tow a max of 3500 lbs and my small boat once in a while. I have done it with the bumper with no ill effects but the height was a little off so I got the hitch. For some reason I find that it's easier to back a trailer up now,

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99 2wd S/C s/b XLT 4.6 Triton auto. w/3.08
BONE STOCK...for now
and
2000 Lariat 5.4 4x4

 

The factory bumper is more than capable of pulling all but the largest boats I've been pulling a 17' foot tracker and an eighteen foot bassmaster for eleven years with my 87 Ranger and never any problems. But do check for proper tonque height.

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kingwc 2000 XLT F150 5.4, 3.55 LS, Chestnut color, Runs better everyday.

 

Cool.
I'm not sure about the height, but I don't think it should be a problem. This might sound nuts, but what I might do is get a friend to hitch the boat up to his (class III) and take it to a dump station near where I live and see what the sucker weighs. I'd be suprised if it was over 3500 or 4000 in total. I mean, it's only a bow rider with an Evinrude 60 on it. My father used to tow it with a class I hitch and his plymouth reliant K-car!

Incidently, what is "tonque" height exactly?

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Black 98 F150 XL Sportgroup
2WD 5spd 4.6L Triton V8
Reg. Cab Short Box 3.08
Air, Sliding Rear Window,
Boxliner,


[This message has been edited by defacto (edited 01-13-2000).]

 

Tongue Height - When hitched, if the trailer frame sits "level" you have the correct height. Too much "out-of-level" could cause problems. A little bit won't matter.

 

Most hitch dealers shoot for 17" to 18" tongue height. Oh by the way step hitch bumpers were designed for just this purpose and the F150's bumpers are rated class three.

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kingwc 2000 XLT F150 5.4, 3.55 LS, Chestnut color, Runs better everyday.

 

They make a little reciever hitch that bolts right up under the two factory holes in the bumper for about $30. Its a good name brand but I can't remeber which one right now. It is, I think, class II (?) or 350/3500 rated. This would allow you to use a drop and save a few bucks. Found mine at Walmart.

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97 F-150 SC Lariat, Styleside, White over Gold, 4.6L (Windsor), Automatic, 3.55 rear end, electronic 4X4, w/ every option of Lariat and ORP packages except the 17" wheels (I even got the OR decals now!), MOD's so far: K&N air box mod, Gibson Super Truck, clear Bugflector II, Leer TSC 600 hard cover, Bridgestone Dueler OWL ATP 265/75 R-16's, TrailMaster Invader N7 shocks, Smittybilt step bars, Ford moulded mud guards, "White-white" head lamps, Cloud Rider Design's SS Grill and bumper opening "Summer Grill's", Bosch platinum + 4's.

 

kingwc

Are the step hitch bumpers the standard bumpers on f150's? Mine is an 98 XL. So would it be a step hitch bumper? (sorry, i'm new to all this) And that's cool if it really is a class III!


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Black 98 F150 XL Sportgroup
2WD 5spd 4.6L Triton V8
Reg. Cab Short Box 3.08
Air, Sliding Rear Window,
Boxliner,

 

I remembered. It a Reese (sp?)

 

My bumper states that it is rated for 5000 trailer weight, with 500 lb tongue weight. (This is a correction from what I had previously posted).

Anyway, with the 4.6 engine, auto trans, and 3.08 rear end, my truck is rated for less than the bumper! (love the mpg though). I checked the owner's manual, and it is rated for only a 2000lb trailer.

Still, based on past experience, I would have no qualms about pulling a typical 14-18 ft ski boat, bass boat, or pop-up camper for up to a couple of hundred miles with my truck. If it were a lot farther or on a daily basis, I would be concerned, but if I did that I would have gotten the tow package, 5.4L and 3.55 rear end.

I have also been thinking about getting the little receiver box that bolts to the underside of the bumper. I have seen a Reese at Kmart for $49. I don't like to use the bumper alone because of the height issue and how the license plate and stuff nearby gets dinged up while hitching, despite my stellar reverse mode skills.

My only concern is that some idiot will see the 2 inch receiver someday and hitch a humongous(sp?) trailer to it and gut the transmission.

You know the little voice in your head that says, "yah, but I can get away with it just this once..."



[This message has been edited by BarryH (edited 01-15-2000).]

 

BarryH,

Yes thats the one I have but I only got it to get the drop. On my 4X4 and pulling my little Scotty (about 2000 pounds) the rear of it would scrape. A 6 inch drop leveled it right out. But really, as soon as I get around to it I am going to put a full framer on. I am doing the Tranny cooler first. I think a lot of people have found frame hitch recievers for under a hundred bucks.

Everyone brings up a good point. Check your weakest link. If any component in the link is rated lower then that is what you are stuck with. If my bumper says 500/5000 but this little reciever or the hitch bar says less then I am down to that.

 

defacto the bumper should have the rating stamped on top. The bumper on my y2k is 500# tonque and 5000# trailer which is class three. Check yours and see what it says and let us know good luck.