Hi, I’ve got an 89 Ford F-150 and a boat that weighs about 1200 lbs. What are the thoughts on pulling this boat from the bumper? From that I mean the hitch ball is bolted directly into the bumper. With newer trucks this is not a good idea, but the bumper of this thing seems really solid. I rather not mount a hitch onto the frame if it’s not really necessary.

 

Is that a step bumper? If so it has a class 3 rating for towing up to 5000lbs.

 

I used to pull a Correct Craft Ski Nautique behind my '85 and '88 from the step bumper. That was pushing 4000# with no issues.

 

Without knowing what bumper it is, its hard to tell. There's nothing inherently wrong with a hitch ball on the bumper, as long as its rated for that weight. The ball on my Luverne drop bumper would give before the bumper itself would.