Alright, I may just be stupid, but I have no idea what it is. I have a hitch that should fit my truck- however, on the left side (Right side laying underneith truck looking up) right after the bracket that holds the leaf springs, is some other bracket with this like round wheel-like thing in it with a little notch. You can move the round thing with your hand a little bit, but it looks like it's held back with spring tension or something. Its mounted to both the frame and to the leaf spring bracket, but I don't see anything else connected to it, and it seems to ofar back to be anything to do with braking or something.

I thought this was something with the leaf spring settup at first, but it's not on the other side, so that doesnt make sense. Theres no mention of it in the installation instructions, and it is RIGHT where it says to mount one of the brackets. Anyone know what this is? Can I remove it to install my tow hitch or not?

Thanks!

 

How about a pic

Maybe it's your description...but your description might be right on.

I'm sure with a pic you'll get an answer real quick.

 

Someone just please tell me how stupid I am!!!

below is a picture I took. On the far right is my rear bumper. That is the LEFT leaf spring (when sitting in the drivers seat)

 

Just checked my 99' doesn't have it.

 

That is a vibration damper Ford installed on the 04-05's to absorb some of the vibrations people were complaining about. Some got installed at the factory and others were installed after people brought their trucks in complaining about vibrations.

 

so I can safely scrap it?

Thanks for the info!

 

You can take it off but you may notice more vibration once it is gone. Also it is held on by 4 or 5 bolt in some of the hardest-to-reach locations you can imagine. Unless you need the room for mounting something else it is more trouble to remove than it is worth.

 

Well, since I don't know any other way you can install a hitch to it without it gone, I guess I kind of have to! Thanks for the feedback, maybe I can try to reinstall it on top of the hitch?

~B

 

I think the factory hitch is designed to work with it. I had one of those dampers installed on my 04SCAB and it had the big factory hitch on it as part of the tow package. Might be worth looking into the factory hitch.

 

Are there any good places to get a ford factory hitch for a better price than the dealers will charge? I've made the jump from GM to Ford, and not yet familiar with good factory part dealers.

 

Junk Yard but go inspect it first and see if it was installed with the vib damper.

 

Is the round thing what you guys are talkign about? I dont think my truck has one.

 

Yes, the round weight in the cage. Some do, some don't.

 

I must say it is a pretty creative quick fix.... Go ford.

 

I would check the classifieds on he site here and ebay..

The dealer is going to want $500 for the hitch and I think that was what the tow option cost on the truck new. But you got a larger batt and rad with that. So its not worth going to the dealer.

I got my factory hitch off the board for a great price. I think like $80 + shipping. Could not be happier with it since it does not hang down below the bumper like that aftermarket hitchs do.

Oh I forgot... My truck has that damper thing and I added the factory hitch with out any problems.