I want a Class IV or V hitch that will fit the narrow (34"?) '66 frame. I plan to install it so the receiver goes through the (contour) bumper and is hidden by a hinged licence plate. Is there a factory-built item that will work? I don't really want to make or heavily modify one.
Eric

 

Draw-Tite offers a Class III/IV hitch that is a confirmed fit for your 1966 Ford F-Series with the narrow 34" frame. Check out this article to learn more: Trailer Hitch for 1963-1983 Ford F-Series with Narrow, 34 Inch Wide Frame | etrailer.com

 

I realize this picture is nothing like what you are asking for, but it may give you an idea if you don't find what you're looking for. My hitch has the same specs as the Draw-Tite in the above post, but it's a Quality S, not a Draw-Tite. They look to be similar. Anyway, just a picture of a hitch installation on a '66 LWB F100 for you to contemplate.

 

Thanks fellas. I've shopped around and can't find anything so I might modify the one I have. It's about 38" or more and very stout. Sorry I don't really understand Class lll, lV, V, etc. My plan is to tow a car trailer which might weigh around 6000. What tubing size and wall thickness do you guys think I should have?
TIA Eric

 

Eric: At the risk of "telling my father how to make kids" this is my experience towing an 8000lb travel trailer.
We use a Class III hitch, that came with our 3/4 ton GMC Sierra.
A class III hitch comes with a 2 inch receiver. See excerpt below from a trailer hitch discussion site.

"Class III hitches can handle up to 5,000 lbs. GTW and 500 lbs. tongue weight. This type of hitch generally has a 2-inch rectangular receiver and is considered the "standard" type of hitch for general towing."

Also important to consider is having electrically operated trailer brakes and weight distribution bars & hitch ball bracket (that goes into the receiver).
As you probably know the brakes on an F100 are barely enough to stop it alone, so the trailer needs to be able to stop itself.
The weight distribution bars have the effect of forcing tongue weight back onto the trailer axles and brakes keeping the front wheels of the F100 firmly on the ground.
I have noticed U-haul sells & installs hitches, so they may be a good source for you.
My 2 cents + worth. Jeff

 

Both my hitch and the Draw-Tite mentioned above appear to be Class III + hitches with tongue weight listed at 600 pounds and a max trailer weight listed at 6000 pounds, which would seem to suit you. I took a rough measurement off of my hitch and found the wall thickness and plate thickness to be 0.25 inches, and the box tubing to be 2.5 inches square. So for yours you'd want at least that. My truck has an electronic trailer brake controller and has been converted to power front disc brakes. My engine is a custom built 390 and my transmission is an NV4500 5 speed with granny low. Rear gears are 3.50. Here's a picture of my truck hooked to my trailer with '63 Galaxie onboard. I have only pulled the trailer in town, not on the highway, but I'm happy with it so far. Hope this information is of some use to you.

 

Do you have access to a welder?...

 

Eric, I will share an experience from a few years back, I stopped in a place that sold hitches, the guy measured the rail width went inside and back out with a hitch in hand. He drilled the required holes and bolted it up. Been a while but I think installation was included in price.

Turns out it was a class IV hitch. I'm sure things are different from here in North Carolina but I would Google Class IV Hitch and see what is available in your area. There were several locations in my area when I did it. FYI



John

 

Thanks for all your excellent advice. My pal who welds says he can narrow my "modern" hitch to fit. It's about as stout as they come. Also looks like it can be mounted to place the receiver behind a hole I'll cut in the bumper behind the licence plate.
Eric

 

My two cents will be that a half ton truck is pretty limited in towing heavy loads. The cops and Transport Canada tend to enforce agreeing with me. I have known several people in the past whom had half ton trucks towing their race cars to Mission only to be pulled over and denied their licence plate to continue driving. The best advise I got was to ask a scale operator what your weight limit is as they will weigh your truck with all of your gas in the tank and you and your family in the seats. That weight should be subtracted from 10,000 lbs and whatever is left over is what you can tow including the weight of the trailer itself and what you put on it. Remember only a Transport Canada scale operator can fine you, NOT the RCMP. All a cop can do is instruct you to go to a scale or tow you there since they can`t guess the weight themselves.

 

Thanks for the .02, Man. I have my eye on an aluminum trailer with 4-wheel brakes, and the cars I'll tow are all around 3500#. I'll keep the speed down to 80 kmh so I think I'll be OK until I can pry loose my neighbour's Dodge Cummins!
Eric