I am new to the forum, I tried to search this topic before posting but couldnt find what i was looking for. I have just bought a 2004 F150 STX single cab, with the 6.5' bed, it has a 4.6 with the auto tranny. It didnt come with the factory towing package, and i am wanting to install a hitch on it. Whitch hitches do you recomend i am wanting something that looks like a stock hitch. any help would be appriciated thanks.

 

Drawtite makes a good hitch. You should be able to order one online. You could also go to Uhaul and have one installed.

 

I also recommend Draw-Tite. I recently had their "Premium" hitch installed. I forgot the item number. But it's rated at 6000LBS weight-carrying and 10,000LBS weight-distributing. I have a pretty heavy trailer with 1000LBS tongue weight, and the hitch handles the load great.

FYI - My truck DID come with the factory tow option. But my tongue weight bent TWO OEM receivers. They're not that strong... The Draw-Tite doesn't appear to have any of the bending issues of the OEM receiver... Gotta love how Ford rates their trucks for almost 10,000LBS, but doesn't give you a hitch that will support the tongue weight of a 10,000LBS load.

 

I would say go with the hidden hitch as that is what I have on my truck. I ran into the same problem as you seeing as though I have your exact same truck just an 05 and supercab but it also did not come with tow package. I setup the hidden hitch and a brake controller and have towed some large loads. The hitch is also rated at 6,000 lbs weight carrying capacity and add a weight distributing hitch and it goes up to 10,000. In the winter I tow a 26' aluminum enclosed 4 place snowmobile trailer and in the summer an open 2 place snowmobile trailer for the four-wheelers. I don't know exactly how much the enclosed weighs in at with 4 sleds and gear in it, but I'm going to guess around 5500 (3500 for trailer, 4 sleds at about 485 each, and another 100 or so pounds worth of gear and misc sled parts). Obviously the truck is not a speed demon with a load like this, especially with the 4.6 (worst mistake of my life with this engine), but it can do the job. Any more info let me know what I can do to help.

 

http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2004_Ford_F-150.htm

 

Just stick with one of the big names... DrawTite, Valley, Reese, and HiddenHitch all will work just fine.

-Joe

 

I also forgot to add this. I know it sounds silly but the hidden hitch actually does "hide" itself much nicer than any of the other hitches I've seen or had in the past. This was a big selling point to me because I hate when you can see a huge 3" bar along the bottom of a trucks bumper or other bulky receivers. Basically all you can see with the hidden hitch is the absolute bottom of the receiver where you slide the bar into. Looks very clean.

 

thanks i think i may go with the hidden hitch because of the fact that it is hidden from view i am wanting to keep my rear bumber looking clean no big bars running beneath it does any body have a pic of the draw-tite hitch on the 04-07 trucks

 

I just did this with my truck.

I ended up going to Uhaul and they put on a reciever (It's a re-branded hitch that Uhaul sells) It's not as hidden as a hidden hitch, but it's also about 1/2 the size of a drawtite.

The one I got is rated at 6,000lb/10,000lb with WD.

I'm going to get an Equal-i-zer hitch so to have the anti-sway capabilities, however it's also a weight distributing hitch...

You'll need to swap out the rear 4-pin wiring if you are going to pull something with a 7pin electrical connection. It's a harness that is plug and play (though you'd need to mount the actual connector to your truck). You'll need to put in the relay for the battery charge line if you need that.

Electronic brake connector is already under the steering column. I got a prodigy.

www.etrailer.com is a good place to find some stuff at a good price.

 

Um..... ok.... I musta got a good one then!



I thought I'd try loading this dozer without putting cribbing under the back of the trailer...... Well the rear end of my truck ended up at about eye level.