For those of you that tow with your bumper, what do you do for safety chains? Do you drill holes on each side of the hitch ball and put eye hooks in, what do you do?

 

If you look at the bottom side of the bumper, there should be a place to hook the chains. There is on the stock bumper anyway.

If we're talking about an aftermarket bumper then I'm not sure, but if it's rated for towing there should be a place to hook the chains.

 

Could you take a picture for me? I didn't see any when I looked on mine.

 

If you are laying on the ground looking up at the bottom of the bumper, look for two round holes about 2" in diameter right next to each other. (2 holes on each side of the ball so 4 total) The safety chains hook on the piece of metal between the two holes.

My 95 had it like this anyway, but I don't have it anymore so I can't take a pic.

 

I hope everyone realizes the holes in the bumper are for LITE duty trailer IE: lawn mowers, small dirt bikes ect.....please dont tow more the the bumper is rated forthis is very dangerous and God forbid there is an accident driver of the vehicle is liable. Be smart and safe get the proper equipment forless

 

If your hauling very much weight, I'd strongly suggest adding a frame mounted receiver hitch. If you have a stout enough bumper, then I'd suggest buying a bumper receiver hitch. Most of these also come with safety chain loops

I have a frame mounted receiver hitch that also bolts to the bumper safety chain holes for extra support

 

I have 2 holes in the bumper for other ***** to go but I don't like using them for that. When I hook up I just take some of those hiker clip things and clip the chain on then clip it to the bumper. Always worked for me on our 89 F250 till I can find a good hitch for it.
Personally I don't like pulling on the bumper unless I have to. I have torn bumpers to shreds doing that so that's why I get hitch receivers on all my trucks.
Trav

 

The factory step bumper is rated at 500lb tongue weight and 5000lbs pull but I wouldn't want to put that kind of load on it, it's perfectly fine for towing a pair of sleds or motorcycles, a bass boat, etc.

 

Lets face it, bumper rust out on our trucks. I have done it, pulled tractors and all but older and wiser now. Its actually even illegal in VA now i believe.

 

Actually the chrome bumpers are one of the sturdiest parts of these trucks.. you can go to scrapyards around here and see all kinds of these old fords with completely rotted bodies and pristine chrome bumpers. But of course the brackets that connect the bumper to the frame aren't as impressive so I stand by the advice already presented... use it for light duty stuff only.