adding a front-end hitch reciever
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
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adding a front-end hitch reciever
on my e350, i've been thinking about adding a front hitch reciever for backing trailers into tight spaces and/or mounting a winch.
i already did some research with a tape measure and found that the frame rails are the same spacing front vs rear, so therefore a standard reciever off the rear should fit the front.
well yesterday found me at the junkyard, and i found a new-looking uhaul reciever with no rust, perfect paint, and a manufacture sticker from 2006. SCORE! rated 10k trailer weight, just like my rear one.
has anyone else installed one, and if yes, what challenges did you encounter?
i already did some research with a tape measure and found that the frame rails are the same spacing front vs rear, so therefore a standard reciever off the rear should fit the front.
well yesterday found me at the junkyard, and i found a new-looking uhaul reciever with no rust, perfect paint, and a manufacture sticker from 2006. SCORE! rated 10k trailer weight, just like my rear one.
has anyone else installed one, and if yes, what challenges did you encounter?
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 401
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I have them on all 3 of my vans. I have used the ones that are sold as "universal fit". They are adjustable for width. The real easy way to do them is to remove the front bumper; its only held on with 4 nuts. then insert the bolts through the frame and hold the bolt head with a box wrench while you tighten the nut on the bottom. trim the air dam for clearance.
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Postmaster
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man, if i do that, i'll be tempted to put on a new bumper too... but thanks for the insight, i was wondering how to get bolts up in there.
the one i picked up came with carriage head bolts and large rectangular washers to lock the bolts in place, so that makes it even easier
i've seen the adjustable ones, but i wasn't likely to find one for the $15 i spent on this one
the one i picked up came with carriage head bolts and large rectangular washers to lock the bolts in place, so that makes it even easier
i've seen the adjustable ones, but i wasn't likely to find one for the $15 i spent on this one
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Postmaster
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well i installed it tonight, it was actually pretty easy. i found that 2 of the holes i needed were already there from the factory, so i only had to drill 4 more holes to have the reciever mounted with 3 bolts per side as it "should" be.
i managed to rig up a crude imitation of a drill press to do the job, using a 1/2" drive drill and a scissor jack from some random car, i found myself jacking the drill into the work. it worked quite well, though i will admit to breaking several drill bits. but drill bits are cheap compared to the fight of doing the job entirely by hand!
removing the bumper was absolutely necessary, not just "real easy", though it did make it easy. with the bumper in place, there was absolutely no way to get the bolts inside the frame rail.
after a quick mock-up, i found that the pitman arm would just barely touch a part of the reciever when steering to the left limit, so i lit my cutting torch and solved that problem, leaving myself a good 1/2" of clearance, and of course some new paint on that part of the reciever.
with it all said and done, the reciever sticks forward of the bumper by maybe 1/2", or a touch less. it looks pretty good!
i managed to rig up a crude imitation of a drill press to do the job, using a 1/2" drive drill and a scissor jack from some random car, i found myself jacking the drill into the work. it worked quite well, though i will admit to breaking several drill bits. but drill bits are cheap compared to the fight of doing the job entirely by hand!
removing the bumper was absolutely necessary, not just "real easy", though it did make it easy. with the bumper in place, there was absolutely no way to get the bolts inside the frame rail.
after a quick mock-up, i found that the pitman arm would just barely touch a part of the reciever when steering to the left limit, so i lit my cutting torch and solved that problem, leaving myself a good 1/2" of clearance, and of course some new paint on that part of the reciever.
with it all said and done, the reciever sticks forward of the bumper by maybe 1/2", or a touch less. it looks pretty good!
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
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thanks for the reminder, almost forgot the pics
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/39418460/Pi...928_214139.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/39418460/Pi...928_215802.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/39418460/Pi...922_191336.jpg
that should do it for you. maybe when i have daylight i'll shoot a better-lit pic of the htich, but not tonight
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/39418460/Pi...928_214139.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/39418460/Pi...928_215802.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/39418460/Pi...922_191336.jpg
that should do it for you. maybe when i have daylight i'll shoot a better-lit pic of the htich, but not tonight
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,229
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From: Oregon
I put a receiver hitch on the front of my '72 E300, for the same reason.
Just remember not too get too heavy with it, to avoid any stress damage to the radiator.
Just remember not too get too heavy with it, to avoid any stress damage to the radiator.
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Postmaster
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i wouldn't expect any radiator damage, as the reciever mounts to the frame and has a fair bit of clearance off the radiator - almost an inch. of course, i don't plan to be carrying 5 tons up there or anything... 
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