I am thinking of adding a Class III trailer hitch to my 52 F3 and wanted to see if anyone has done such a thing. I would only tow light duty, maybe motorcycles, riding lawn mower etc....My truck is down to the frame and almost back to a roller and I thought now would be the time...
Any thoughts, advice are appreciated!
w

 

I made one for my Panel out of a jeep wrangler hitch,and I tow all the time.I have a 16 ft trailer that I have used to move cars,one time over a 100 miles.I also tow my 20 ft bow rider SEA RAY,to the boat launch.

 

Wade, I've seen these used, did not look bad. I've personally cut a hitch built for a wider frame truck down to fit the narrower frame of an S10. Just a couple options.

Link: Class 3 Universal Trailer Hitch | Truck n Tow.com

 

Something I want to throw out there for reference sake. Even though modern Ford trucks are wider than our 34" frames, Ford still makes a 34" in their Cab and Chassis Trucks. Some of the reese hitches out there built for 34" Cab/Chassis trucks will work. Look at 97-2002 Ford F250 Cab/Chassis hitches. Good luck.

Something like this... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevy-GMC-Fo...18847b&vxp=mtr

Not a bad price and free shipping.

 

Thanks guys, i have located a used hitch for 50 bucks from a Ford F150 that is 36"? wide....may pick it up and work with it.
w

 

I found a mid 70s hitch that was 'supposed' to fit and ended up butchering the heck out of it to make it work... i also had to work around the rear mount fuel tank..... fun

this might help some


installing a trailer hitch in a '53 f-100
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john

 

Wade, I don't remember what I used on Homade, had to remodel it, just make sure you get the receiver centered so it pulls better, I pull my 12 ft. trailer with the Hummer on it everywhere, Doc's, Piegon Forge with no problem. One time in a parade I pulled my 16 ft. car hauler and the 12 ft. single axle hooked together behind Homade, Garry

 

John, that's a nice write-up on exactly what I want to do!
Thanks,
w

 

I found a commercial hitch that fit my 56 perfectly, even used two of the stock frame holes. Since I planned to tow a 7000# capacity enclosed car hauler I wanted to be sure to use a hitch rated for the weight. Here the DOT pulls surprise roadside inspections especially on main routes around a racing venue, and your hitch better have a sufficient rating stamp on it for your trailer weight (yes they put the trailer on portable scales to see if it is overweight too.) We had an autocross at a venue that was near Rockingham dragway when they were having a big event and several AXers I know got caught in the inspection and ticketed for unrated homemade and modified hitches and overloaded trailers or beyond the towing capacity of the tow vehicle. The make and model # of the hitch I used is in the captions of the install pictures in my gallery.

 

Good info. Ax, I found what I think is a Reese brand class III hitch that will need to be modified at the mount points....although it looks like it may fit as is. I am going on Thursday to look/measure it out.
Thanks for the info.
w

 

Here's mine: It's a Drawtite 40050. Note how it had cutouts that straddled the spring hangers like it was made for it and the front mounts tie into the rear crossmember and fit perfectly with the rear pan. I drilled 4 holes and bolted it on.

 

I plan on putting one these on my rig
I will not have a weight tag on this because I'm making it out of 3/4 steel plate. would they go off the ball then ?

 

I don't think so, the attachment to the truck is what they want to have a rating plate that says it has been load tested and certified. Since that plate is not part of the original structure and the attachment and fabrication is not rated, it would not be technically legal, essentially a homebuilt hitch no matter how heavy the stock is.
Can't you buy a hitch like that to go into a hitch receiver?
In NY state you cannot drive around with a hitch ball in the receiver when not towing.

 

I will check with the manufacture tomorrow . Thanks ! I ll let you know what they say!

 

AX,
I've been looking to put a hitch on my panel also. The Drawtite 40050 looks like the perfect fit. Are you running stock bumper and bumper mounts? It looks like a long reach from the receiver to behind the bumper on mine. Do you use a extension?