Wasn't ambitious enough to drill a bunch of holes in the frame, so I went for a step-bumper mount bolt-up receiver.

Bought a new drill bit and drilled out the step. Due to existing holes, had to mount the receiver backward.



This Reese unit came with cad plated blocks to clear the existing trailer ball lug.



The receiver was still too tall for my ski boat, so I picked up a drop bar at Lowes:



Of course, the previous owner had made a mess of the wiring. The ground was looped around a screw drilled into the step. The three leads each ran through 3 scotch tabs into the harness. Cut all that crap out and installed a new harness, with a loop to a chassis ground:



Verify my work:

 

Personally, I don't trust those bolt-on plate receivers and went with a frame-mounted hitch from an 80s Bronco since I've got a factory style bumper. I'd put some red Loc-tite on the nuts for piece of mind.

 

I would keep a eye on the end of the tubing, without the reforceing ring on the end of it, I have hear of the tubing spliting on the seam.

 

They do put a nice finish on their products don't they? Nice pair of trucks there too.

I guess something went over my head .... why did you mount it backwards? I see the 4 bolts and the unused holes .... but it would have worked just as well turned around and the two close bolt still drilled back agaisnt the seam like you are now.

Oh well .... 'tis water over the dam now.

You might be OK in SW Az., but those Scotch Lock connectors are aweful for opening wires up to corrosion at connections and the blade is steel and the wire copper and then after some shaking and miles, strands that are nearly cut by the steel break increasing ampearge on remaining strands and increasing resistance. They are aweful IMHO. When ever I get something with them, I cut them out and make proper splices with solder and shrink tube and / or tape.

Still, I love the shots of the connectors .... been like 25 years or more since seen an unmolested Dent look that good underneath!

It'll do it too. You might not have a problem with a small trailer, but that drop hitch moves the ball further from it and just like a longer wrench on a nut, exerts more leverage on the reciever and bumper in your case. Look that bumper over really good and the seams where that hitch plate welds on.

 

I plan on putting a Class V receiver on the yellow truck, but this little receiver on the brown truck has really been getting a workout!

It hasn't been anywhere, but it's moved the boat and dragged the yellow truck around the yard several times - you see, there's been this issue with bees making hives in the boat and in the engine compartment...

 

Bought this awesome Curt 15012 for the yellow truck - but it didn't fit the 34" frame.

So I put it on the brown truck - 37-1/2" frame.